It Has A Familiar ‘Spring’ Stravinsky’S ‘Rite Of Spring’ Among The Most Famous Ballets In The World

Igor Stravinsky’s “Rite of Spring” may be the most famous ballet in the world.

It’s not the most often danced - that’s Tchaikovsky’s “Nutcracker” - but it’s surely the most often discussed among musicians and in history books. Nowadays, “Rite of Spring” ranks as a classic.

The 1913 premiere of “The Rite of Spring” was not noted for its innovative music. Few of those present heard more than a few bars of it. Nor was it remembered for its radical choreography. Of the few at opening night who were paying attention, most hated it. No, the premiere of “Rite of Spring” was famous for the ruckus it created. Some called it a riot.

Even without the dancing, the Spokane Symphony will show the Opera House audience what all the shouting was about Friday when Fabio Mechetti leads the orchestra in three Russian ballet masterpieces, a program which will also include the Suite from Tchaikovsky’s “Swan Lake” and Serge Prokofiev’s “Scythian Suite.”

Whether or not the premiere performance caused a riot or just a hubbub of talking, laughing and catcalls, as many who were present insist, “Rite of Spring” was revolutionary. “It was a totally new world,” Mechetti says, “probably the most revolutionary work of this century. To this day, it still takes us by surprise.

“With such a wealth of sounds and ideas in the piece, there is nothing done in 20th century music that doesn’t somehow come from the `Rite of Spring.’ In terms of rhythm, orchestration, harmony - everything is there,” the conductor says.

Even the opening note - a sustained high C played very softly on the bassoon - seems worldly. It’s a sound that would be more at home played by a flute or alto saxophone. Lynn Feller-Marshall, the symphony’s principal bassoonist, says, “You’ve got to be playing an instrument whose high range is very free and a reed that will stand up to those high notes.”

This is only the third time in its 53-year history that the Spokane Symphony has performed “Rite of Spring.” Wendal Jones, the symphony’s retired principal bassoonist, recalls: “Both those were good performances; everybody was up for the challenge.”

Friday will mark the first time Mechetti has conducted “Rite of Spring,” although he has conducted all of Stravinsky’s other ballet scores, several of them here in Spokane. “In the early days of my career,” Mechetti says, “I was an associate conductor - here, in Washington, D.C. and in Syracuse. No associate conductor ever conducts `Rite of Spring’! It uses such a large orchestra, it would be too expensive for the orchestra to take a chance.”

The orchestra for Friday’s performance will use 21 extra players in addition to the symphony’s full orchestra. Prokofiev’s “Scythian Suite” uses a similarly large orchestra.

“My concept for the program,” Mechetti says, “was to present three Russian ballets which would show the evolution, musically and historically, of the ballet tradition. The Prokofiev was written after `Rite of Spring’ and was influenced by it. I thought Tchaikovsky’s `Swan Lake’ would go very well with them - more romantic, more melodious and more familiar.”

The music on Friday’s concert will be discussed in a pre-concert talk by dancer Stephanie Lindsay and pianist Kendall Feeney in the Opera House auditorium beginning at 7 p.m.

ON STAGE SPOKANE SYMPHONY The Spokane Symphony will perform Friday at 8 p.m. at the Opera House. Tickets range from $30 to $14, and are available at the symphony ticket office (624-1200), G&B Select-a-Seat outlets or call (800) 325-SEAT.