Mark Russell Smith: Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring

Mark Russell Smith will discuss Igor Stravinsky’s masterpiece, The Rite of Spring (Le Sacre du Printemps), with musical examples performed by University of Minnesota students.

The Paris debut of the ballet Le Sacre du Printemps in May 1913, choreographed by Vaslav Nijinsky for Sergei Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes with stage designs and costumes by Nicholas Roerich, caused a riot and changed dance forever. This year, Northrop Dance marks the centennial of this path-breaking work with a performance by the Joffrey Ballet (Ashley C. Wheater, artistic director) featuring a recreation of the original Nijinsky/Stravinsky version. Mark Russell Smith will conduct the University of Minnesota Symphony Orchestra for this performance on Tue, Feb 26, 7:30 p.m., at the Orpheum Theatre.

Also on the program are Son of Chamber Symphony (2013, choreography by Stanton Welch, music by John Adams) and In the Middle, Somewhat Elevated (1987, choreography by William Forsythe, music by Thom Willems).