This is a sound and video discography of Igor Stravinsky's ballet The Rite of Spring. The work was premiered in Paris on May 29, 1913, at the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées. It was presented by Sergei Diaghilev's Ballets Russes with choreography by Vaslav Nijinsky and was conducted by Pierre Monteux. The list includes many of the most noted recordings of the work but is by no means exhaustive. The avant-garde character of the music, combined with Nijinsky's innovative choreography, caused a near riot at the first performance. It has since gained wide acceptance both as a ballet and as a concert piece.[1]
The discography is not exhaustive; new recordings frequently appear, as do reissues of older recordings. In the tables, the year given is not necessarily an accurate guide to the time of the actual performance, since sometimes recordings are held for many years before release.
On BBC Radio 3's Building a Library, music critics have several times surveyed recordings of The Rite of Spring. On 22 March 2008 Rob Cowan recommended the 2004 recording by the Junge Deutsche Philharmonie, Péter Eötvös (conductor), as the best available choice.[2] On 6 July 2019 Jonathan Cross chose the version by Esa-Pekka Salonen and the Philharmonia Orchestra as his recommendation.[3]
The Columbia Symphony Orchestra/Igor Stravinsky version from 1960 is the recording that was sent into space as part of the Voyager Golden Record.
Discography
Audio recordings: (orchestral)
Audio recordings: (derivative)
| Year of recording/issue | Orchestra/Performer | Conductor | Label and format | Notes | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | Larry Coryell | Philips LP, CD | Solo steel-string guitar version arranged and performed by Larry Coryell, performed on Ovation Elite model. | [34] | |
| 2009 | Various | Various | Macro Recordings CD | Digital edit by Stefan Goldmann combining 14 different recorded orchestral versions in 144 edited segments. | [35] |
| 2014 | The Bad Plus | Masterworks CD | Jazz trio interpretation by The Bad Plus. | ||
| 2020 | Joe Parrish | Self-released Digital | Electric guitar transcription by Joe Parrish | [36] |
Audio recordings: piano versions
| Year of recording/issue | Performers | Label and format | Notes | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1969 | Eden and Tamir (Bracha Edan Alexander Tamir)[37] | Decca LP | 4-hand piano version | [38] |
| uncertain | Mayumi Kameda Jean Jacques Balet | Cypres CD | 4-hand piano version | [38] |
| 1977 | Ronald Farren-Price Rosslyn Farren-Price | Move Records LP | 4-hand piano version | [39] |
| uncertain | Nikolai Petrov Alexander Ghinden | Melodiya CD | 4-hand piano version | [38] |
| 1979 | Dickran Atamian | Delos CD | 2 hands version arr. Sam Raphling | [38] |
| 1981 | Michael Tilson Thomas Ralph Grierson | EMI/Seraphim LP EMI CD (2002) | 4-hand piano version | [38] |
| 1987 | Dag Achatz | BIS CD | piano 2 hands, arr. Dag Achatz | [13] |
| after 1994 | Tamriko Siprashvili Mark Anderson | Nimbus CD | 4-hand piano version | [38] |
| 1995 | Benjamin Frith Peter Hill | Naxos CD | 4-hand piano version | [29] |
| 2001 | Fazil Say | Teldec Classics CD | 4-hand piano version | |
| 2007 | Philip Moore Simon Crawford-Phillips | Deux-Elles CD | 4-hand piano version | [22] |
| 2007 | Bugallo-Williams Piano Duo | Wergo CD | 4-hand piano version | [7] |
| 2008 | GrauSchumacher Piano Duo | Neos CD | 4-hand piano version | [7] |
| 2009 | David Nettle Richard Martin | Netmark CD | 4-hand piano version | [30] |
| 2010 | Fiona York John York | Nimbus CD | 4-hand piano version | [30] |
| 2010 | Malcolm Wilson Philip Martin | Somm CD | 4-hand piano version | [30] |
| 2012 | Eva-Maria Zimmermann Keisuke Nakagoshi | Dorian Sono Luminus CD | 4-hand piano version | [26] |
| 2014 | Martha Argerich Daniel Barenboim | Deutsche Grammophon CD | Version for two pianos | |
| 2015 | Jean-Efflam Bavouzet François-Frédéric Guy | Chandos CD | 4-hand piano version | |
| 2018 | Marc-André Hamelin Leif Ove Andsnes | Hyperion CD | 4-hand piano version |
Video recordings
| Year of recording/issue | Orchestra/Ballet company | Conductor | Label and format | Notes | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1966 | London Symphony Orchestra | Leonard Bernstein | ICA DVD released 2012 | Video recording of BBC concert 27 November 1966 | [5] |
| 1990 | Moscow Classical Ballet and Orchestra | Pavel Sorokin | VAI DVD released 2010 | Choreography by Natalia Kasatkina and Vladimir Vasilev | [30] |
| 1993 | London Symphony Orchestra | Pierre Boulez | Image Entertainment DVD | Recorded at the Alte Oper Frankfurt | |
| 1993 | Berliner Philharmoniker | Bernard Haitink | Arthaus Musik DVD released 2010 | Recording of Royal Albert Hall Concert 1993 | [30] |
| 2006 | San Francisco Symphony Orchestra | Michael Tilson Thomas | Avie DVD | [22] | |
| 2008 | BBC Symphony Orchestra | Pierre Boulez | Medici Arts DVD | Video recording of BBC concert (date uncertain) | [9] |
| 2009 | Gewandhausorchester Leipzig Leipzig Ballet | Henrik Schaefer | Medici Arts DVD | Choreography and design by Uwe Scholz | [30] |
| 2009 | Mariinsky Orchestra & Ballet | Valery Gergiev | Bel Air Classiques DVD and Blu-ray | Reconstruction of original Nijinsky choreography | [14] |
Notes and references
- Citations
- ^ Hill, pp. 29–31
- ^ "Building a Library: Stravinsky: The Rite of Spring". CD Review - Building a Library. BBC Radio 3. Retrieved 20 July 2019.
- ^ "Record Review: Andrew McGregor with Jonathan Cross and Erica Jeal". Record Review: Building a Library. BBC Radio 3. Retrieved 20 July 2019.
- ^ Hill, p. 162
- ^ "Stravinsky: The Rite of Spring (Le Sacre du Printemps) (page 1)". Presto Classical. Retrieved 7 September 2012.
- ^ "GRAMMY Hall of Fame". 18 October 2010.
- ^ "Stravinsky: The Rite of Spring (Le Sacre du Printemps) (page 6)". Presto Classical. Retrieved 7 September 2012.
- ^ Hill, p. 163
- ^ "Stravinsky: The Rite of Spring (Le Sacre du Printemps) (page 3)". Presto Classical. Retrieved 7 September 2012.
- ^ "Stravinsky: The Rite of Spring". The Gramophone. March 1955. p. 40.
- ^ "Stravinsky: Petrouchka (Complete) / Le Sacre Du Printemps (Rite of Spring) / Four Etudes For Orchestra". Amazon. Retrieved 8 September 2012.
- ^ http://www.prestoclassical.co.uk/r/Sony/88765454312 Presto Classical, The Rite of Spring, Ormandy, Philadelphia Orchestra
- ^ "Stravinsky: The Rite of Spring (Le Sacre du Printemps) (page 8)". Presto Classical. Retrieved 7 September 2012.
- ^ "Stravinsky: The Rite of Spring (Le Sacre du Printemps) (page 2)". Presto Classical. Retrieved 7 September 2012.
- ^ "Igor Stravinsky: Petrouchka; Le Sacre du Printemps". Amazon. Retrieved 8 September 2012.
- ^ "Ancerl Gold Edition 5 - Stravinsky: Petrushka, Rite Of Spring". ArkivMusic. Retrieved 8 September 2012.
- ^ "Stravinsky: Rite Of Spring, Etc / Burgos". Discogs
- ^ "Stravinsky: Rite Of Spring, Etc / Ozawa". ArkivMusic. Retrieved 8 September 2012.
- ^ "Stravinsky: The Rite of Spring (Le Sacre du Printemps) (page 12)". Presto Classical. Retrieved 7 September 2012.
- ^ "Stravinsky, The Rite of Spring, Ballet". The Gramophone. March 1978. p. 61.
- ^ "Stravinsky: The Firebird / Petrouchka (1947 version) / Rite of Spring / Orpheus". Amazon. Retrieved 8 September 2012.
- ^ "Stravinsky: The Rite of Spring (Le Sacre du Printemps) (page 7)". Presto Classical. Retrieved 7 September 2012.
- ^ "Stravinsky: The Rite of Spring". Discogs
- ^ "Mussorgsky: Pictures at an Exhibition; Stravinsky: The Rite of Spring". Amazon. Retrieved 8 September 2012.
- ^ "Stravinsky: The Rite of Spring (Le Sacre du Printemps) (page 13)". Presto Classical. Retrieved 7 September 2012.
- ^ "Stravinsky: The Rite of Spring (Le Sacre du Printemps) (page 4)". Presto Classical. Retrieved 7 September 2012.
- ^ Hill, p. 164
- ^ "Stravinsky: The Rite of Spring (Le Sacre du Printemps) (page 11)". Presto Classical. Retrieved 7 September 2012.
- ^ "Stravinsky: The Rite of Spring (Le Sacre du Printemps) (page 9)". Presto Classical. Retrieved 7 September 2012.
- ^ "Stravinsky: The Rite of Spring (Le Sacre du Printemps) (page 5)". Presto Classical. Retrieved 7 September 2012.
- ^ "Stravinsky: Le Sacre Du Printemps". HDtracks. Retrieved 30 March 2016.
- ^ "Stravinsky: The Rite of Spring". Amazon. Retrieved 30 March 2016.
- ^ "AllMusic Review by Blair Sanderson". AllMusic. Retrieved 30 March 2016.
- ^ "Larry Coryell, Dazzling Guitarist"[1] accessdate= 29 May 2018
- ^ "Stefan Goldmann: Igor Stravinsky: Le Sacre Du Printemps Edit". Retrieved 15 November 2013.
- ^ "Joe Parrish: Stravinsky: The Rite of Spring for Electric Guitar". Retrieved 17 September 2025.
- ^ "Bracha Eden and Alexander Tamir". Jewishvirtuallibrary.org. Retrieved 5 January 2022.
- ^ "Stravinsky: The Rite of Spring (Le Sacre du Printemps) (page 10)". Presto Classical. Retrieved 7 September 2012.
- ^ "Trove". Trove.nla.gov.au. Retrieved 5 January 2022.
- Book source
- Hill, Peter (2004). Stravinsky: The Rite of Spring. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0-521-62714-1.