The University of Melbourne Symphony Orchestra: Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring

However, in 1913, audiences (not accustomed to hearing such dissonant and paganistic music) rioted at the world premiere, rather than listen. Full of ritualistic and frenzied dances, it ends with “The Chosen One” dancing to her death, to appease the God of Spring. Afterwards, Puccini stated that The Rite of Spring was “the work of a madman” and Saint-Saëns declared (and referring to the opening high bassoon solo) “if that’s a bassoon then I’m a baboon”. Jonathan Cross now suggests that the infamous riot occurred at the second performance, not the world premiere, and may have been a carefully orchestrated (and very successful) publicity stunt by Sergei Diaghilev, founder of the Ballet Russes.

The world premiere of Barry Conyngham’s Full Moon (scored for two orchestras) will open this University of Melbourne concert, after which they will be joined by Richard Narroway, to perform Elgar’s divine Cello Concerto.