Quick, tell me three things you know about Igor Stravinsky…
I’ll tell you what, come back after Jason Hardink’s lecture on Tuesday to answer that question. I guarantee you’ll have more interesting answers.
According to Stravinsky, “The trouble with music appreciation in general is that people are taught to have too much respect for music. They should be taught to love it instead.”
Maybe you were introduced to Stravinsky during your music appreciation class in college. Did you love it? Or did you simply listen to The Rite of Spring, take a quiz and then move on to Debussy?
New York Times columnist Anthony Tommasini loves Stravinsky so much he placed him on the list of top ten composers of all time (see Friday’s edition).
The Utah Symphony’s ongoing lecture series on the composer, timed to coincide with performances of the composer’s work, will give you insight as to why Stravinsky is ranked as one of the great composers.
I’ve talked to several friends about this lecture series. One gasped saying how much she LOVES Firebird, and was disappointed she didn’t hear about it beforehand. That is why I’m here. You heard it from me. You already missed the September lecture on Firebird, my friend’s favorite, but you still have a chance to impress your friends with your newfound knowledge about Pulcinella.
Utah Symphony’s amazing pianist and music scholar, Jason Hardink will dazzle you for an hour with in-depth information on the composer and this work.
I’ll give you a head start… Pulcinella was an instant success (much less controversial than The Rite of Spring, also a ballet, rumored to have caused a riotous reception at its premiere). Pulcinella premiered in Paris on May 15, 1920 and the orchestral suite Stravinsky drew from the ballet remains one of his most popular scores. Interesting note for our visual arts enthusiasts: Picasso designed the sets. Maybe the more you learn, the more you’ll love.
Mark these dates on your calendar so you don’t have to be disappointed:
Tuesday, January 25th, at 7 PM in the Salt Lake City Public Library’s 4th floor meeting room, Stravinsky’s Pulcinella.
Monday, May 23rd, at 7 PM in the Salt Lake City Public Library’s 4th floor meeting room, Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring.
Laura Durham is the Director of Programming and Engagement for PBS Utah. She curates projects and plans events that utilize local and national media to provide entertainment and meaningful dialogue beyond broadcast. Prior to PBS Utah, Laura worked at the Division of Arts & Museums for 15 years, served as Vice President of the Salt Lake Gallery Association, Program Director for the Salt Lake Gallery Stroll, and was a board member for the Utah Cultural Alliance.
Categories: Music | Performing Arts
Stravinsky once said “Don’t blame me if I’m not as great as Beethoven. Blame God. He didn’t give me Beethoven’s gifts; he gave me Stravinsky’s gifts.” Since then, those gifts have loomed larger and larger, until he is accepted as not just Modernism’s great composer, but one of all time.