Igor Fyodorovich Stravinsky (17 June 1882 – 6 April 1971) was a Russian-born composer and conductor, naturalized French (1934) and American (1945). He is widely considered one of the most important and influential composers of the 20th century.
Stravinsky's music is characterized by its use of complex rhythms, melodies, and harmonies. He was a pioneer of atonality, a style of music that does not use traditional tonal harmony. Stravinsky's music has been used in a wide variety of contexts, including ballet, opera, film, and television.
Stravinsky was born in Oranienbaum, Russia, to a family of musicians. He studied music at the St. Petersburg Conservatory, where he was a student of Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov. Stravinsky's early works were influenced by the music of Rimsky-Korsakov and other Russian composers.
In 1910, Stravinsky composed his first ballet, The Firebird, for the Ballets Russes, a company founded by Sergei Diaghilev. The Firebird was a huge success and made Stravinsky famous overnight. Stravinsky went on to compose several more ballets for the Ballets Russes, including Petrushka (1911) and The Rite of Spring (1913).
The Rite of Spring was a controversial work that caused a riot at its premiere in Paris. The work's use of atonal music and its depiction of pagan rituals shocked and offended many people. However, The Rite of Spring is now considered one of the most important works of 20th-century music.
In the 1920s, Stravinsky moved to France and began to experiment with a new style of music called neoclassicism. Neoclassicism is a style of music that borrows from the music of the past, particularly the music of the Baroque period. Stravinsky's neoclassical works include the opera The Rake's Progress (1951) and the ballet Pulcinella (1920).
Stravinsky continued to compose and conduct until his death in 1971. He was one of the most important and influential composers of the 20th century. His music is still performed and enjoyed by audiences all over the world.