On Thursday, May 29, 1913, the Ballets Russes premiered Stravinsky’s ballet Le sacre du printemps (The Rite of Spring) at the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées in Paris, an event that led to the most famous riot in classical music history due to its shocking primitive rhythms, dissonances, choreography, costumes and scenery.  The Rite of Spring depicts an ancient pagan ritual sacrifice which culminates in a young girl dancing herself to death.  This seminal work represented a collaboration between leading artists of the day (Sergei Diaghilev: impresario of the Ballet Russes, Nicholas Roerich: painter who created the set design and the costumes, Vaslav Nijinsky: choreographer and Igor Stravinsky: composer) which resulted in a paradigm shift in music, ballet and its related art forms in the twentieth century.  Many would argue that The Rite of Spring is the single most important piece of classical music written during the twentieth century.

Below is a re-enactment of that famous event.

Michael Tilson Thomas’ Keeping Score documentary on The Rite Of Spring ballet does a great job of exploring this 20th century masterpiece.  It is highly recommended viewing!