Stravinsky: The Rite of Spring and Perséphone

Hear the sounds of a musical revolution alongside a rarely heard gem not performed in Australia for over 50 years. The course of music was changed forever with the premiere of Stravinsky’s Le Sacre du printemps at the Champs-Elysées theatre; its frenetic rhythms, unexpected dissonance and swinging dynamics causing the auditorium to erupt. A new age of 20th century composition was ushered in with a young girl dancing herself to death. Separated by 21 years, The Rite of Spring and Perséphone both depict a sacrifice for the sake of renewal, the former borne of brutality and the latter of compassion. Commissioned by Russian actress Ida Rubinstein, Perséphone sees the second rite of spring plunge the world into winter when the eponymous goddess descends below the Earth, promising to bring hope and new life when she returns. An enormous musical undertaking, Sir Andrew Davis is joined onstage by not only the musicians of the MSO, but 180 choristers; the 120-voice MSO Chorus appears alongside the Australian Girls Choir and National Boys Choir of Australia, with mezzo Lotte Betts-Dean and tenor Paul Groves in Perséphone. PROGRAM STRAVINSKY Perséphone STRAVINSKY The Rite of Spring ARTISTS Sir Andrew Davis, conductor Paul Groves, tenor Lotte Betts-Dean, narrator Melbourne Symphony Orchestra Australian Girls Choir National Boys Choir of Australia Melbourne Symphony Orchestra Chorus Perséphone. Composed by Igor Stravinsky. By permission of Boosey & Hawkes Music Publishers Ltd. All rights administered by Hal Leonard Australia. Rite of Spring. Composed by Igor Stravinsky. By permission of Boosey & Hawkes Music Publishers Ltd. All rights administered by Hal Leonard Australia. Sir Andrew Davis appears with the kind permission of Chandos Records.