BOSTON YOUTH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA's performance

The Boston Youth Symphony Orchestras' premier youth ensemble performs Stravinksy's Rite of Spring this fall at Symphony Hall to open the organization's 51st season. Rite of Spring is a special performance for our organization because it connects us with an important local organization: Ballets Russes 2009, which is a sponsor of the concert. Rite of Spring is accepted by many as one of the greatest, most influential, and reproduced compositions in history. Stravinsky composed the piece in collaboration with Diaghilev for a ballet performance choreographed by Vaslav Nijinsky and premiered in France in 1913. A riot at the premier, caused by the piece's innovative technique and content, made it one of the most internationally well known and controversial works in performance history; this attention was welcomed by Diaghilev, who wanted the ballet to make headlines in Paris.