The Rite of Spring was composed by Igor Stravinsky for Sergei Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes company. The ballet was originally choreographed by Vaslav Nijinsky, and the costumes and stage designs were created by Nicholas Roerich.
Yes, these are the dancers. Source:(Pinterest/colorized).
The music was a departure for its time; primordial and elemental. It incorporated experiments in meter, stress, rhythm, and tonality. Some have noted its connection to Russian folk music, and many consider it one of the first modernist works. Stravinsky knew it would be controversial, but not that it would incite a riot. Add to that the fact that the company, the Ballets Russes, had developed a reputation for shocking performances.
In creating the score, Stravinsky was inspired by primitive rituals celebrating the appearance of spring. The ballet, which was subtitled Pictures From Pagan Russia, was about the death of a sacrificial virgin who dances herself to death.
The Uproar Began Almost Immediately
Source: (Frank Beacham's Journal/colorized).
On May 29, 1913, The Rite of Spring premiered at the Théâtre de Champs-Elysées in Paris. The crowd definitely reacted to the show. According to one of the dancers, Lydia Sokolova, “They didn't even let the music be played for the overture. As soon as it was known that the conductor was there, the uproar began."
The Riot May Have Arisen Because It Was Shocking
Source: (Pinterest/colorized).
It was attended by Stravinsky, who believed that the audience “came for Scheherazade or Cleopatra, and they saw the Sacre du Printemps.” He believed that the dissonance in the score and the movements of the dancers may have been the inciting force, as the audience may have been expecting a more traditional ballet and instead witnessed the jerky movements of Nijinsky’s choreography. As Stravinsky explained, “The curtain opened on a group of knock-kneed and long-braided lolitas, jumping up and down.” The unusual sounds coming from the orchestra may have started the trouble. However, it may have also been the shock of seeing a ballet about a primitive society.
There Is No Definitive Report Of What Happened
Of course, this is the time prior to ubiquitous cell phone cameras, so the truth about the riot is not completely certain. The press reports at the time stated that there was a lot of noise. Other than that, witnesses at the ballet had different reports. Some claimed objects were thrown at the stage, some said there were physical altercations, and at least one challenge to fight a duel was reported. Additionally, the reasons for the audience’s anger are also unknown as no one who was there left a record of their rationale.
At the time in Paris, there were factions who were against Russia, Diaghilev, and Nijinsky, and they may have been determined to disrupt the performance. Two weeks before the premiere of The Rite of Spring, Nijinsky had been criticized for his choreography of Debussy’s ballet, Jeux, and part of the audience may have arrived at the ballet predisposed to their reactions.
It Is Unclear Whether The Police Played A Role
The four English soloists. Source: (Amazon/colorized).
The police may or may not have played a role, as one account claims that about 40 people were arrested. This suggests a large police presence at the ballet. During the time period, it was normal for police to be at the Parisian theaters. However, there is no record of arrests other than this account, and even though the police may have been present, they may have just witnessed the scene.
Some Claimed Class Warfare
The four English soloists. Source: (Amazon).
Some have claimed that the riot was class warfare since typical ballet audiences in Paris at the time consisted of two groups: the wealthy group expecting a traditional performance, and a bohemian group wanting to see something new. The conductor, Pierre Monteux, thought that the two groups started to attack each other. According to Monteux, “Everything available was tossed in our direction, but we continued to play on.” However, this may not be likely as the attendees at the ballet were most likely upper class, as one witness described the theater as “awash with diamonds and furs.” There were probably no members of the middle class there.
The Aftermath
Martha Graham in the ballet in 1930. Source: (The Arts Desk/colorized).
Diaghilev may have wanted a scandal, and he did suggest to the Parisian press that the ballet would lead to “impassioned debate,” and he may have been looking for a controversy. Most accounts of the evening agree that, at the end of the show, there was applause, although a press report suggests that the noise of the protesters battled the noise of the applause. The ballet had a few more performances before heading to London where it was staged three more times. Diaghilev dismissed Nijinsky a short time later, and his original choreography was lost.
