Igor Stravinsky

composer · modernist · 20th century · music pioneer

Changed music forever. Stravinsky wrote pieces that sounded completely different from anything people had heard before. His wild rhythms and unexpected melodies made audiences gasp, but also made him one of the most important composers ever.

Lived across continents. Born in Russia, Stravinsky moved to France and later to America as he created music throughout his long life. His travels gave him fresh ideas and helped spread his revolutionary style around the world.

The Rite of Spring. One of his most famous works was so shocking and strange when it premiered in 1913 that it actually caused a riot in Paris. Today, people celebrate it as a masterpiece that changed classical music forever.

Worked with dancers. Stravinsky created brilliant music for ballet, working with talented dancers and choreographers to make stories come alive on stage. His ballets combined music, movement, and art in thrilling new ways.

Always reinventing himself. Throughout his career, Stravinsky constantly experimented with different musical styles, never staying stuck in one way of composing. This made him exciting and sometimes confusing to listeners, but always fascinating.