Composer

The premiere of the ballet The Rite of Spring was one of the most legendary scandals of the 20th century, but Igor Stravinsky’s music has endured as one of the century’s masterpieces. Håkan Hardenberger is the soloist in Jörg Widmann’s trumpet concerto Towards Paradise, conducted by Alain Altinoglu.

Alain Altinoglu Håkan Hardenberger

Oslo Concert Hall

Based on the poem by Nikolay Nekrasov, and quite opposed to its joyful title, Spring follows a husband who, previously inflicted with murderous thoughts towards his unfaithful wife during the winter, is released from his frustration with the return of spring.

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Spring with Sir Mark Elder

The Bridgewater Hall

Petrushka is the eternally unfortunate hero of all fairs: the story that underlies one of the greatest ballets of the 20th century is a tale of exclusion and belonging, of love and alienation, of rebellion and adaptation. As a listener, you are swept away by the colorful score, by wild rhythms and memorable themes that characterize the story's main characters and their fates. But you also suffer with Petrushka , the doll made of cloth and straw who wants to win the ballerina's heart. Moderator Bettina Böttinger and conductor Alondra de la Parra examine Petrushka and its relevance to our time. The Beethoven Orchestra will be on stage playing examples from the work, music and content flowing into one before Stravinsky's masterpiece is heard as a whole.

Petrushka

Beethoven Hall

Following his acclaimed performance at the Hallé’s 2023 BBC Proms concert, Ukrainian baritone Andrii Kymach and the Hallé Choir once again join forces for a work by Rachmaninov. Based on the poem by Nikolay Nekrasov, and quite opposed to its joyful title, Spring follows a husband who, previously inflicted with murderous thoughts towards his unfaithful wife during the winter, is released from his frustration with the return of spring. Stravinsky’s Song of the Nightingale – an effective musical illustration of both real and mechanical birdsong – begins proceedings. Following it is Prokofiev’s enigmatic Dreams, the composer’s earliest surviving orchestral work and finally, Tchaikovsky’s Second Symphony, often dubbed ‘Little Russian’ thanks to its effective use of Ukrainian folksongs, provides a joyful end to the evening.

The Hallé – Spring with Sir Mark Elder

The Metropolis Brass Quintet

The Juilliard School

Embark on an electrifying journey from the vibrant plains of Argentina to the heart of Eastern Europe and beyond with the energetic Four Dances from Estancia by Alberto Ginastera, Bela Bartók's brilliantly folk-infused Dance Suite, and Stravinsky's fiery favorite, Firebird Suite.

The Firebird

Orpheum Theater

Bryce Dessner is the very first artist given the title of composer-in-residence by the Czech Philharmonic. Our audience will hear the European premiere of his Cello Concerto. Representing Dessner’s sources of musical inspiration are a miniature by Henri Dutilleux and Igor Stravinsky’s bewitching Rite of Spring.

Czech Philharmonic • Anastasia Kobekina

Rudolfinum

The theme of the 2025/26 Orchestra Unwrapped concerts is centered around the history of the Philharmonia Orchestra, which was founded in 1945 by Walter Legge and celebrates its 80th birthday in 2025. Legge worked for a company called EMI, who was responsible for making recordings of classical music. 

The pieces you’ll hear take us on a journey through time linking to the exciting history of the Philharmonia, from 1945 to today – a history you are all part of by being part of Orchestra Unwrapped in its 80th year!

Leicester: Orchestra Unwrapped

De Montfort Hall

Antony Hermus, guest conductor and longtime friend of the Residentie Orkest, returns to The Hague for a spectacular programme that pushes the boundaries of the symphonic repertoire. The afternoon will kick off with Short Ride in a Fast Machine by John Adams - a thrilling, breathtaking ride in a fast sports car, where brass and percussion ramp up the speed and excitement. Next up is Willem Jeths's brand-new Piano Concerto, composed for the Residentie Orkest and pianist Ellen Corver. With this work, Jeths once again proves why he is considered the godfather of Dutch composers.

Le Sacre du printemps 

Amare

As spring gathers apace in May, the Komische Oper presents one of the twentieth century’s pivotal masterpieces: Igor Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring. A ballet depicting a springtime sacrificial ritual, it’s still one of the modern repertoire’s most imposing works, featuring intricate rhythms and bold melodies. The American conductor Tito Muñoz is also bringing us a fascinating work from across the Atlantic. While Stravinsky was scandalizing early twentieth-century Europe with his expressionist ballets, the Mexican composer Silvestre Revueltas—much less well known in Germany—was crafting his own orchestral masterpiece, Sensemayá, likewise inspired by ancient dance rituals. In addition, the soprano Josefine Mindus returns to the Komische Oper with Brett Dean’s contemporary Shakespearean meditation And Once I Played Ophelia. And what better way to conclude the evening than with Charles Ives’ existential inquiry, The Unanswered Question?

Spring!

Schiller Theater

We end Season 102 with music that explores identity, reinvention, and imagination. Dvořák’s My Homeland Overture brings warmth and lyrical charm, while Aaron Copland’s El Salón México offers a colorful, folkloric portrait of a Mexico City dance hall. Chosen in honor of Copland’s 125th birthday, it reflects the season’s recurring theme of place and cultural exchange.

Firebird Finale

Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall

The final SFCM Orchestra concert of the season showcases the majestic and spirited Overture to King Stephen by Beethoven as well as other famous works by John Adams, Silvestre Revueltas, and Igor Stravinsky. This concert also features the Esmé Quartet, praised for their warm sound and powerful stage presence. This performance also features student conductors Jason Gluck and Chih-Yao Chang.

SFCM Orchestra with Edwin Outwater

San Francisco Conservatory of Music

Hear and experience more at RO NOW, where we'll immerse you in the finest symphonic music. Host Christiaan Kuyvenhoven and the orchestra will share captivating musical examples and insights before the concert, offering a deeper understanding of the extraordinary compositions ahead. As for the concert itself, the music will delight, move and stay with you long after the final note. Afterwards, you're welcome to stick around in the foyer to enjoy live music and a drink on the house.

RO NOW Le Sacre du printemps

When Jess Gillam isn’t in the recording studio or serenading audiences with her acclaimed saxophone playing, she can be heard hosting her award-winning BBC radio program, This Classical Life. In Gillam’s bold, uplifting, and open-minded approach composer Anna Clyne found the perfect soloist to champion her new saxophone concerto, Glasslands, in which she lets loose the Irish folkloric spirit of the banshee through the virtuosity of the solo instrument.

Stravinsky The Rite of Spring

Denver Performing Arts Complex

We continue our thrillingly up-close series at the RNCM with a heavyweight artistic collaboration – our Chief Conductor John Storgårds joins the acclaimed pianist Tamara Stefanovich in this exploration of the pure power of the piano.

Grand Pianola Music

RNCM (Royal Northern College of Music)

Music Director Luisi will step into Stravinsky’s shoes as he conducts a replica of the 1946 concert, when the great composer led the DSO in these very works — an inspired program of quintessentially Russian music. To that point, we have a clue in the nickname of Tchaikovsky’s Second Symphony, with the final movement spinning colorful variations on “The Crane,” a lively folk song on everyone’s lips at the time. The Firebird’s exotic scenario is the stuff of fairytales: a prince, 13 princesses, the Firebird’s magic feather and an ogre. Its bold orchestral colors glitter and pulse, creating fantastic effects — from primitive to luminous — leading to a spectacular, shimmering climax.

Stravinsky’s The Firebird

Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center

Gustavo Dudamel — the Oscar L. Tang and H.M. Agnes Hsu-Tang Music and Artistic Director Designate — and Artist-in-Residence Sheku Kanneh-Mason join the Orchestra for Bloch’s impassioned Schelomo, in which the solo cello voices the anguish, sensuality, and broken majesty of King Solomon. Dudamel also conducts Stravinsky’s Firebird Suite and a new work by Pulitzer Prize winner Ellen Reid.

Gustavo Dudamel & Sheku Kanneh-Mason

David Geffen Hall

Join us in welcoming the arrival of spring with a festive evening conducted by Gustavo Dudamel and featuring acclaimed pianist Evgeny Kissin in his first NY Phil appearance in ten years. Rimsky-Korsakov’s and Scriabin’s rarely performed piano concertos offer folk inspiration and lush lyricism, respectively. Stravinsky’s Firebird Suite rounds out the program with vivid orchestral color and rhythmic vitality.

Spring Gala with Dudamel & Kissin

The Czech Philharmonic concludes its spring tour in the Bavarian town of Erlangen—known to Czech audiences as "Erlanky." In the modern Heinrich-Lades-Halle, the orchestra presents a signature program of the tour: Dvořák’s Carnival Overture, Elgar’s Cello Concerto featuring Sol Gabetta, and Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring, under the direction of Semyon Bychkov.

Czech Philharmonic • Erlangen

Heinrich-Lades-Halle

It may come as a surprise, but the Czech Philharmonic has performed in Düsseldorf quite regularly. Over the years, local audiences have heard the orchestra under the batons of Karel Ančerl, Václav Neumann, Zdeněk Košler, Gerd Albrecht, Jiří Bělohlávek, and Semyon Bychkov. Now, Bychkov returns to the city’s Tonhalle with his ensemble, bringing a program of Dvořák, Elgar, and Stravinsky. He’ll be joined by cellist Sol Gabetta.

Czech Philharmonic • Düsseldorf

Tonhalle Düsseldorf

Norah Bernstein, soprano

Northwestern Bienen School of Music

Icelandic pianist Víkingur Ólafsson says “John Adams not only writes the most brilliant, amazingly fun music, he also gives that music the most amazing titles.” Must the Devil Have All the Good Tunes? starts with a bold, groovy statement unlike any other piano concerto, described by Adams as “edgy” with “a good dollop of American funk.”

John Adams & Víkingur Ólafsson

Walt Disney Concert Hall

“Last week I gave a ball in my own rooms . . . we began at 6 in the evening and stopped at 7—what? only an hour?—no, no—at seven in the morning.” — W. A. Mozart 

Beginning with Mozart, who was an avid and reportedly expert dancer, this program offers a unique opportunity to enjoy the special synergy between music and dance: from composers who created dance music for social gatherings like the “Waltz King” Johann Strauss, Jr., to artistic representations of folk dances by Johannes Brahms and David Serkin Ludwig.

Invitation to the Dance

Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts

Norman Krieger, a native of Los Angeles, is widely recognized as one of the leading pianists of his generation, praised for his technical mastery, expressive depth, and refined artistry. Celebrated by the Los Angeles Times for his precision and musical nuance, Krieger has performed with esteemed conductors such as Zubin Mehta, Leonard Slatkin, and Michael Tilson Thomas, and has appeared with major orchestras including the New York and Los Angeles Philharmonics, the Chicago Symphony, and the National Symphony. His international engagements span Europe, Asia, and South America, including notable performances at the PyeongChang Music Festival and a Decca recording with the London Symphony Orchestra.

Springing Forward

Perot Theatre

Lose yourself in the effortless cool of Ravel’s Piano Concerto in G, where bluesy harmonies, and bursts of orchestral color blur the lines between classical elegance and jazz-inspired groove. Then, brace for the full-throttle thrill of Stravinsky’s Firebird, a whirlwind of shimmering magic and raw power that blazes from mysterious whispers to an explosive, triumphant finale.

Flames of Renewal

Cape Henlopen High School

The Grand Opera House

Experience Stravinsky’s The Firebird like never before. Paired with the storytelling power of larger-than-life puppets designed by South African director and creator Janni Younge, world-renowned for the award-winning play War Horse, this evocative production draws from the symbolism of the original ballet choreography and reinterprets it in a contemporary South African setting. Music Director Cristian Mӑcelaru, the CSO and expert puppeteers and dancers from Janni Younge Productions come together in this sonic and theatrical depiction of The Firebird that builds to a dramatic, fiery finish. Mahler’s unfinished tone poem Totenfeier opens the program — a deeply introspective and intense experience, the work ultimately developed into the opening of his monumental Resurrection Symphony.

Stravinsky’s Firebird

Cincinnati Music Hall

Join the Grand Rapids Symphony and Bob Bernhardt as he makes his debut on the chamber series. He will conduct a must-hear performance of Respighi's Ancient Airs and Dances, Suite No.2. Coffee and doughnuts will be available before the concert.

Coffee with Bob

St. Cecilia Music Center

Gregory Martin, piano

Bob Bernhardt conducts Dominique Kim and the orchestra in a must-hear version of Respighi's Ancient Airs and Dreams, Suite No.2. Join us at St. Cecilia for an evening of music and fun for a concert that is filled with ancient dreams being brought to life.

An Evening Concert with Bob

Igor Stravinsky’s L’Histoire du soldat was born from the upheaval of war and revolution, a razor-sharp fable of fate and temptation with jagged rhythms and biting dissonances.

Boston Symphony Chamber Players | All-Stravinsky Program

Boston Symphony Orchestra

Since its inaugural concert in 2005, Philharmonie Luxembourg has become a home for international ensembles—including the Czech Philharmonic, now appearing there for the fourth time. The programme features music by Antonín Dvořák, Edward Elgar, and Igor Stravinsky. Sol Gabetta returns as soloist, with Semyon Bychkov conducting.

Czech Philharmonic • Luxembourg

Philharmonie Luxembourg

Centering the program is Igor Stravinsky’s monumental Le sacre du printemps (The Rite of Spring), infamous for its avant-garde music and ballet choreography. A lighter take on the season is Lili Boulanger’s vivacious yet introspective D’un matin de printemps (Of a Spring Morning). Richard Strauss’s Don Juan, Op. 20 depicts the legendary ill-fated bachelor.

Northwestern University Symphony Orchestra

Northwestern University

The Czech Philharmonic returns to Dortmund’s Konzerthaus—opened in 2002—for the third time. The evening features Elgar’s Cello Concerto with Sol Gabetta, Dvořák’s Carnival, and Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring, led by Chief Conductor and Music Director Semyon Bychkov.

Czech Philharmonic • Dortmund

Konzerthaus Dortmund

The French Connection

Carver Theatre for the Performing Arts

Few can spur the idiosyncratic organism of a large orchestra to such peak performances with the mere tip of their baton as Semyon Bychkov. Together with the Czech Philharmonic, which he has led as chief conductor since 2018, Bychkov embarks on a musical journey southward – the program features Italian-inspired music by Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy and Igor Stravinsky.

Czech Philharmonic / Semyon Bychkov

Elbphilharmonie Hamburg

The people of Hamburg are in luck. During the Czech Philharmonic’s April tour, they’ll be the only audience to hear both of the programmes the orchestra has prepared. The second evening of the residency at the magnificent Elbphilharmonie will bring Mendelssohn, Bartholdy, and Stravinsky to the stage. After Mendelssohn’s Italian Symphony, the orchestra—under the direction of Chief Conductor Semyon Bychkov—will perform The Rite of Spring.

Czech Philharmonic • Hamburg

The OSM presents three extraordinary works in an explosive musical fireworks display. Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1, performed by the brilliant Bruce Liu, shines in this program. Also featured is Igor Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring, first premiered on May 29, 1913. This revolutionary work, depicting a pagan ritual from Slavic traditions involving the sacrifice of a young girl to bring spring, caused a riot at its scandalous debut but is now celebrated as a cornerstone of modern music. To add even more sparkle to the concert, the orchestra will premiere a composition by celebrated Quebec composer Denis Gougeon, known for his lyricism, rhythmic energy, and deep expressiveness.

The Rite of Spring

Place des Arts

The people of Hamburg are in for a treat. During the Czech Philharmonic’s April tour, they’ll be the only audience to hear both of the programmes the orchestra has prepared. The first of the residency concerts will feature cellist Sol Gabetta performing Elgar’s iconic Cello Concerto. Chief Conductor Semyon Bychkov and the orchestra will frame the evening with Dvořák’s Carnival Overture and Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring.

"I particularly love the Elgar Concerto," Sol Gabetta confessed in an interview in 2023. The colors, the vocal quality – the wit and the vibrancy that always flash up surprisingly: for the star cellist, everything is simply perfect here. The work had a rather rocky start in musical life: A poorly rehearsed premiere in 1919 damaged its reputation, which was only overwhelmingly restored in 1965 by the very young cellist Jacqueline du Pré. Incidentally, Elgar's Cello Concerto shares the fate of success "at the second attempt" with the second major work in the Czech Philharmonic's program: Igor Stravinsky's "The Rite of Spring" also initially experienced a resounding scandal as a ballet before beginning its triumphant march on concert stages around the world.

Czech Philharmonic / Sol Gabetta / Semyon Bychkov

The first half of the concert will be of Russian Romanticism music. Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No. 3 in D Minor by Sergei Rachmaninov is one of his most technically demanding piano concertos. The young British artist Isata Kanneh-Mason will be presented to the audience in Prague. The second part of the evening will be of Russian music of the 20th century. The chief conductor of the Czech Radio Symphony Orchestra, Petr Popelka, will present the neo-classical oratorio-opera Oedipus Rex by Igor Stravinsky. The libretto was written by the French poet and playwright Jean Cocteau, based on Sophocles' tragedy of the same name. The title roles will be played by: Ester Paulů (mezzo-soprano), Jiří Brückler (baritone), Pavel Švingr (bass) and Daniel Matoušek (tenor), with Igor Bareš as the narrator. The artists will be accompanied by the Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra and the male part of the Prague Philharmonic Choir.

Rachmaninov's Third Piano Concerto

First performed from memory by Aurora in 2023, The Rite of Spring is one of the most influential pieces of the 20th century. Taking away the music stands allows us to communicate more intensely with each other and the audience, an orchestra breathing as one with no barriers.

The Rite of Spring – International Tour

Berliner Philharmonie

The spring tour opens at BOZAR, Brussels’ esteemed cultural center. This marks only the second appearance of the Czech Philharmonic there, once again under the baton of Chief Conductor Semyon Bychkov. Cellist Sol Gabetta joins the orchestra in Elgar’s Cello Concerto, with Dvořák’s Carnival and Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring rounding out the programme.

Czech Philharmonic • Brussels

BOZAR

Dudamel / Abramović

San Carlo Theatre

The mighty opening movement of Johannes Brahms's Piano Concerto No. 1 begins with a timpani roll. And with its timpani and trumpets, this concerto was a flop at its premiere, with the composer himself as soloist: the symphonic ambitions of this piece were too new and unusual for an instrumental concerto, which is precisely why it is today regarded as a masterpiece. However, the scandal provoked by Igor Stravinsky's ballet "The Rite of Spring" at its premiere in Paris a good 50 years later cannot be surpassed. The audience erupted violently in response to music that sought to capture the atmosphere of a ritual "from pagan Russia" through the elemental power of rhythm.

6th Symphony Concert

Eurogress Aachen

Blast off on an out-of-this-world adventure with your Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra! Experience the music from two of John Williams's most iconic film scores, paired with some of the classical greats that inspired them. This concert is a great fit for lovers of music that evokes character and tells a story.

John Williams and His Influences

Methodist University

Two octets, two musical worlds! Revel in the beauty of Stravinsky’s Woodwind Octet and Schubert’s String Octet for an unparalleled chamber music experience by our core members and artist-in-residence, Grammy Award-winning cellist Zuill Bailey.

Chamber Music 3

Charleston Library Society

Cherished world name Boris Giltburg comes to Umeå to welcome spring with one of the world's most beloved piano concertos: Rachmaninov's Second Piano Concerto from 1901, the magnum opus of the bending, grand-ruffled Romantic piano art. The evening also offers new writing by German-Swedish Lisa Streich and playful playing-card classicism by Igor Stravinsky.

Stravinsky and Rachmaninoff

Norrlandsoperan

Almost a family reunion: hr's chief conductor Alain Altinoglu, born in Paris, has Armenian roots. And Sergey Khachatryan, originally from Yerevan, grew up in Frankfurt as one of the greatest violin talents of recent decades. It's only natural that Armenia's most famous composer is also involved, and a bonus that this even results in a small program focus for the hr Symphony Orchestra under the title "Armenian Soul." Aram Khachaturian's Violin Concerto, composed in 1940, has everything a violinist could wish for: fire, brilliance, the grand cantilena as well as the subtle, yet always perceptible, folkloric touch. And it demands a true virtuoso like Sergey Khachatryan, who says: If he weren't playing the violin, he would have become a race car driver. He always seeks the adrenaline rush, on the podium as well as in life, and he plays every concert with an artistic commitment as if it were his last. Excess: That's also the key word for one of the most famous orchestral works of the 20th century, Igor Stravinsky's "The Rite of Spring." It's ballet music, but not of the lighthearted kind—on the contrary, it's an adoration of the earth, rhythmically pounding, with tremendous sonic power. The premiere in 1913 was dominated by astonishment and tumult—the work still takes your breath away today.

Rite of Spring

Alte Oper

Almost a family reunion: hr principal conductor Alain Altinoglu was born in Paris and has Armenian roots. And Yerevan-born Sergey Khachatryan grew up in Frankfurt as one of the greatest violin talents of recent decades. It is a must that Armenia's best-known composer also comes into play here, and a plus that it even gives rise to a small programme focus for the Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra under the title ‘Armenian Soul’. Aram Khatchaturian's Violin Concerto, composed in 1940, has everything a violinist could wish for: Fire, brilliance, the great cantilena as well as the light but always perceptible folkloristic touch. And it calls for a true virtuoso like Sergey Khachatryan, who says: ‘If he didn't play the violin, he would have become a racing driver. He is always looking for an adrenaline rush, both on the podium and in life, and he plays every concert with an artistic exertion as if it were his last. Exhaustion: this is also the keyword for one of the most famous orchestral works of the 20th century, Igor Stravinsky's ‘Le sacre du printemps’. It is ballet music, but not the airy kind - on the contrary, it is a worship of the earth, rhythmically pounding, with horrendous sound power. The premiere in 1913 was dominated by bewilderment and tumult - the work still takes the breath away today. (hr-Sinfonieorchester)

hr Symphony Orchestra

Maria Wloszczowska, concertmaster of the European Chamber Orchestra, makes her Tapiola debut.

Neo-classics

Espoo Cultural Centre

Once you have heard this music, you will never forget it. Le Sacre' - not a few people pronounce the title with a mixture of awe, horror and fascination. Stravinsky's ballet music is and remains the standard bearer of the classical repertoire. If you wanted to describe the music that caused the biggest scandal in music history in Paris a good 100 years ago, you could use terms like orgy, black mass and high mass for the rhythm. It is dance music, but for a very different, dark kind of dance: earthy, throbbing, sharp-edged, brutal - music that still overwhelms and intoxicates today. At the time of the premiere, few people knew what they were witnessing.

Anyone who has ever heard this music will never forget it. "Le Sacre"—many still pronounce the title with a mixture of awe, horror, and fascination. Stravinsky's ballet music is and remains the system-breaker of the standard classical repertoire. If one wanted to describe the music that, just over 100 years ago, triggered what was probably the greatest scandal in music history—it was in Paris in 1913—terms like "orgy," "Black Mass," "High Mass for Rhythm" might come to mind. It is dance music, but for a completely different, dark kind of dance: earthbound, throbbing, sharp-edged, brutal. Where ballet had previously been expected to be as light as a feather, here everything literally bores into the subterranean depths. It is music that continues to overwhelm. And intoxicate. And that one simply never forgets. Back then, at the premiere, there were only a few who understood what event they were witnessing. One of these contemporary witnesses was able to describe it, this "new kind of wildness in both unartistic and artistic forms: all forms devastated, new ones suddenly emerging from the chaos." Alain Altinoglu and the hr-Sinfonieorchester will awaken the primal musical forces of "The Rite of Spring" in this Young People's Concert and unleash them with powerful sound in the Alte Oper.

“The Danish String Quartet, a youthful foursome with a casually fearless air, has earned its renown by matching a kind of preternatural ensemble precision with a sense of spontaneity and—yes—surprise”(Boston Globe). In the words of its members, “On a daily basis, we delve into works by great masters such as Beethoven and Mozart, but we also play the occasional folk music gig. We are three Danes and one Norwegian cellist, making this a truly Scandinavian endeavor. Being relatively bearded, we are often compared to the Vikings. However, we are only pillaging the English coastline occasionally.”

Danish String Quartet

War Memorial and Performing Arts Center

In Petrushka: An AI Ballet, Suzanne Haag reimagines the 1911 tale in a futuristic world where robots dance and emotions run deep. Orchestra Next will perform Stravinsky’s famously complex score live to this imaginative rework of the original. Paired with Dark Meadow Suite by modern dance pioneer Martha Graham, the program explores humanity, identity, and connection through the lenses of both ballet and modern dance..

Hult Center for the Performing Arts

For the 10th edition of its Opus concert series, the Choeur Métropolitain presents great choral works by Stravinsky and Brahms, accompanied by two pianists. In his highly rhythmic Symphony of Psalms, Stravinsky drew inspiration from both the Eastern sounds of Byzantine music and the musical traditions of the Latin West, including Gregorian chant.

German Waltzes and Latin Psalms

TUNE IN for a night of mystery, intrigue, and spectacular beauty. Stravinsky’s Petrushka unravels a dark tale of manipulation and jealousy with an ill-fated puppet whose desperate fight for love ends in tragedy. Reena Esmail’s ReMember weaves together powerful themes of identity and connection, blending Eastern and Western influences in a stunning musical tapestry. And join us in welcoming to the stage rising star Aubree Oliverson on Tchaikovsky’s virtuosic, passionate, and beguiling Violin Concerto. This will be a night to remember!

The Clown 

Washburn University

BNY Classics showcases unforgettable performances by your Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, featuring timeless masterpieces, thrilling premieres, and renowned guest artists.

Heinz Hall for the Performing Arts

Guerrero Conducts Pétrouchka

Shermerhorn Symphony Center

Golda Schultz sings Barber’s Knoxville: Summer of 1915 — a haunting evocation of childhood memories — plus arias by Stravinsky and Carlisle Floyd. Alongside these, Kwamé Ryan conducts music by two quintessential American iconoclasts: Charles Ives’s The Unanswered Question and a new concerto by George Lewis, featuring the piano-and-percussion quartet Yarn/Wire.

Golda Schultz Sings Barber & Stravinsky

Eastman Wind Ensemble 2026

University of Rochester

Eastman Theatre

Joshua Bell: The Elements

Artis–Naples

Dynamic and rapidly rising American conductor, Michelle Merrill, graces the Tulsa stage as she conducts our opening piece, Symphony in E minor, op."32, "Gaelic," which reflects composer Amy Beach’s Celtic heritage with themes of Irish and Scottish folk music—a perfect complement to the St. Patrick’s Day holiday! With Ravel’s Alborada del gracioso, expect to enjoy the vibrant contrast inspired by Spanish dance rhythms and melodies. The concert ends with the audible symphonic storytelling, colorful orchestration, and emotional intensity of Stravinsky’s The Firebird Suite (1919 version).

Tso On Air: Stravinsky's The Firebird

KWTU Classical 88.7 FM

Stravinsky’s L’ Histoire du soldat (A Soldier’s Tale) is a timeless parable of fate and temptation, telling the story of a soldier who trades his violin to the Devil for promises of wealth. Presented in its original dramatic form, this captivating work unfolds across sixteen sections, weaving narration with Stravinsky’s vivid, eclectic score.

L’Histoire du soldat (A Soldier’s Tale)

Goodhart Hall

Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts

Avant Chamber Ballet and Orchestra New Spain join forces for a family-friendly introduction to ballet and live orchestra with the retelling of Igor Stravinsky’s “Pulcinella” set in Mexico!
The production will feature world premiere choreography by Fernanda Oliveira and Katie Puder, new costumes and sets… with Orchestra on stage!

Pulcinella Jr.

Moody Performance Hall

In the century since its infamously riotous premiere, The Rite of Spring has become a perennial favorite and an undisputed masterpiece. Complementing Stravinsky’s heart-pounding evocations of pagan rituals are two beloved works from Sibelius: The Swan of Tuonela and Violin Concerto, with soloist Sergey Khachatryan. Conductor Rafael Payare and The Cleveland Orchestra are joined by members of the New World Symphony for this electrifying evening.

Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts

In the century since its infamously riotous premiere, The Rite of Spring has become a perennial favorite and an undisputed masterpiece. Complementing Stravinsky’s heart-pounding evocations of pagan rituals are two beloved works from Sibelius — The Swan of Tuonela and Violin Concerto, with soloist Sergey Khachatryan. Conductor Rafael Payare and The Cleveland Orchestra are joined by members of the New World Symphony for this electrifying evening.

Miami — The Rite of Spring

Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County

On the occasion of its centenary (it was founded in 1926 by the Swiss conductor, patron, and industrialist Paul Sacher), the prestigious Basel Chamber Orchestra is making its first stop in Liège. A major interpreter of Viennese classicism, it will perform Mozart's Symphony No. 31 , written at the age of 22 in Paris, as well as his emblematic "Turkish" Concerto, with South American violinist Bomsori Kim, a new star on the Deutsche Grammophon label. True to its history of interpreting contemporary works (having premiered pieces by Bartók, Stravinsky, and Honegger), the Orchestra will perform the new work of American composer Mike Svoboda.

Mozart, Parisian Symphony

Philharmonic Hall of Liege

An album of film music arrangements, the major cello concertos of the repertoire, chamber music with friends, and Persian music with his father: Kian Soltani is an incredibly versatile artist. At the beginning of his meteoric career, he won the highly endowed Paulo Competition in Finland with Witold Lutosławski's Cello Concerto – now he will perform the demanding work in the third of his residency concerts at the Elbphilharmonie, accompanied by the Iceland Symphony Orchestra.

Iceland Symphony Orchestra / Kian Soltani / Eva Ollikainen

Aivis Greters conducts the Oslo Philharmonic’s choir and orchestra in Johannes Brahms’ dramatic Schicksalslied, Pēteris Vasks’ meditative The Fruit of Silence, and Igor Stravinsky’s powerful Symphony of Psalms. The Easter concert also features the world premiere of Herman Vogt’s orchestral work Light Shall Shine Out of Darkness.

Easter Concert Aivis Greters Oslo Philharmonic Choir

London: Orchestra Unwrapped

Southbank Centre

A note from the Maestro: As winter comes to a close in Maine we may see crocuses peeking up through lightly fallen snow, or delicate starflowers growing in our forests, heralding the warming spring weather ahead. With the awakening and blooming of Mother Nature, composers through the ages have embraced spring as a source of inspiration. The ballet, The Rite of Spring, by Stravinsky engages one of the largest orchestras we have ever put on the stage of the Collins Center and this epic work will have us rolling and romping through the rhythmic splendor of springtime. Callirhoë by Chaminade is inspired by Venus, goddess of fertility, and the Spring Afternoon by Boulanger is a sweet short journey into the impressionist style. The robust merrymaking of Rimsky-Korsakov’s Russian Easter Overture kicks off this programmatic celebration of Spring.

University of Maine

March 21 is the vernal equinox — the precise day winter concedes to spring. This concert makes that moment audible. The first half belongs to Sibelius: the brooding, iron-cold grandeur of Finlandia, followed by a violin concerto that sounds like one human voice against an entire frozen landscape. This is endurance music. Nordic, uncompromising, beautiful in its bleakness.


The Last Dark Night

Artelize Hall

March 21 is the vernal equinox — the precise day winter concedes to spring. This concert makes that moment audible. The first half belongs to Sibelius: the brooding, iron-cold grandeur of Finlandia, followed by a violin concerto that sounds like one human voice against an entire frozen landscape. This is endurance music. Nordic, uncompromising, beautiful in its bleakness.

Then comes the interval. And everything changes.

The second half is Stravinsky's Rite of Spring — complete, uncut, and performed at full force. One of the most famous premieres in concert history, it doesn't describe spring so much as ambush it: the sudden eruption of rhythm, the sacrifice, the sheer physical violence of the season arriving. After the stillness of Sibelius, it lands like a weather system.

This is one of the great programming pairings in the orchestral canon. The date makes it a ritual. Come to mark the turning of the year.

The Night Before Spring

An intimate group of musicians from Royal Northern Sinfonia led by Maria Włoszczowska, directed by Live Theatre’s Artistic Director Jack McNamara.

Stravinsky's The Soldier's Tale

The Glasshouse International Centre for Music

The concert centers on the legend of the magical Firebird, a creature that brings either great fortune or ruin to its captor. In the fairy tale that inspired Igor Stravinsky’s famous ballet, the Firebird is caught by Tsar Ivan, who releases her in exchange for a magical charm to aid him on his journey. Along the way, Ivan must face the evil sorcerer Kashchey and rescue a princess. The concert, conducted by Ukrainian maestro Kirill Karabits, also features a world premiere by his compatriot Théodore Akimenko. Pianist Simon Trpčeski joins ERSO to perform Maurice Ravel’s dazzling Piano Concerto.

Firebird. Stravinsky and Ravel

Estonia Concert Hall

Andrew Litton conducts the classic Firebird Suite, drawn from the dazzling ballet that shot Stravinsky into the 20th-century classical music pantheon almost overnight. The Seattle Symphony Chorale joins the orchestra for Poulenc's first choral work with orchestra, the 12-movement Stabat Mater — penned in response to the sudden death of his friend. Poulenc was inspired by his pilgrimage to the holy shrine of the Black Madonna of Rocamadour, which reinvigorated his Catholic faith, and the medieval Stabat Mater hymn to the Virgin Mary.

Stravinsky The Firebird

Benaroya Hall

In its most ambitious project to date, the Alexander Whitley Dance Company fuses dance, live motion capture, and AI in a new double bill exploring the ancient and ongoing struggle between human autonomy and the forces that shape our fate.

Composer

Igor Stravinsky

Events

Upcoming events

6 - 8 May, 2026

Czech Philharmonic • Anastasia Kobekina · Czech Philharmonic

May 8, 2026

Aranjuez · Beethoven Orchester Bonn

May 8, 2026

Postcards from Italy · Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra

May 9, 2026

Sheffield International Concert Season 2025/26 - The Hallé · Sheffield City Hall

May 10, 2026

Dance! · Wellesley Symphony Orchestra

Past events

May 7, 2026

Alain Altinoglu Håkan Hardenberger · Oslo Philharmonic

May 7, 2026

Spring with Sir Mark Elder · The Hallé

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