Concerto in D (Stravinsky)
Encyclopedia
Igor Stravinsky
's Concerto in D ("Basle") for string orchestra was composed in Hollywood between the beginning of 1946 and 8 August of the same year in response to a 1946 commission from Paul Sacher
to celebrate the twentieth anniversary of the Basel Chamber Orchestra (Basler Kammerorchester, BKO), and for this reason is sometimes referred to as the "Basle" Concerto. It was premiered on January 27, 1947 in Basel
by the Basel Chamber Orchestra conducted by Paul Sacher (White 1979, 438).
The Concerto in D was the first composition Stravinsky created after becoming a naturalised American citizen on 28 December 1945, and was also the first of his works to be published under the contract with his new publisher, Boosey & Hawkes
(White 1979, 123–25).
The concerto has been choreographed several times as a ballet
, first by Dore Hoyer at the Hamburg State Opera
in 1950. Later ballet versions were made by Jerome Robbins
, under the title of The Cage
in 1951, and by Werner Ulbrich, as Attis und die Nymphe at the Württembergische Staatstheater, Stuttgart, in 1959 (White 1979, 439).
Igor Stravinsky
Igor Fyodorovich Stravinsky ; 6 April 1971) was a Russian, later naturalized French, and then naturalized American composer, pianist, and conductor....
's Concerto in D ("Basle") for string orchestra was composed in Hollywood between the beginning of 1946 and 8 August of the same year in response to a 1946 commission from Paul Sacher
Paul Sacher
Paul Sacher was a Swiss conductor, patron and impresario.-Biography:He studied under Felix Weingartner, among others. In 1926 he founded the Basel Chamber Orchestra to play works written before the classical period and modern works...
to celebrate the twentieth anniversary of the Basel Chamber Orchestra (Basler Kammerorchester, BKO), and for this reason is sometimes referred to as the "Basle" Concerto. It was premiered on January 27, 1947 in Basel
Basel
Basel or Basle In the national languages of Switzerland the city is also known as Bâle , Basilea and Basilea is Switzerland's third most populous city with about 166,000 inhabitants. Located where the Swiss, French and German borders meet, Basel also has suburbs in France and Germany...
by the Basel Chamber Orchestra conducted by Paul Sacher (White 1979, 438).
The Concerto in D was the first composition Stravinsky created after becoming a naturalised American citizen on 28 December 1945, and was also the first of his works to be published under the contract with his new publisher, Boosey & Hawkes
Boosey & Hawkes
Boosey & Hawkes is a British music publisher purported to be the largest specialist classical music publisher in the world. Until 2003, it was also a major manufacturer of brass, string and wind musical instruments....
(White 1979, 123–25).
The concerto has been choreographed several times as a ballet
Ballet
Ballet is a type of performance dance, that originated in the Italian Renaissance courts of the 15th century, and which was further developed in France and Russia as a concert dance form. The early portions preceded the invention of the proscenium stage and were presented in large chambers with...
, first by Dore Hoyer at the Hamburg State Opera
Hamburg State Opera
The Hamburg State Opera is one of the leading opera companies in Germany.Opera in Hamburg dates back to 2 January 1678 when the "Opern-Theatrum" was inaugurated with a performance of a biblical Singspiel by Johann Theile...
in 1950. Later ballet versions were made by Jerome Robbins
Jerome Robbins
Jerome Robbins was an American theater producer, director, and choreographer known primarily for Broadway Theater and Ballet/Dance, but who also occasionally directed films and directed/produced for television. His work has included everything from classical ballet to contemporary musical theater...
, under the title of The Cage
The Cage (ballet)
The Cage is a ballet made by New York City Ballet balletmaster Jerome Robbins to Stravinsky's Concerto in D for string orchestra, the "Basle Concerto" , which he was commissioned to compose on the twentieth anniversary of the Swiss orchestra; it notably shifts between D major and minor...
in 1951, and by Werner Ulbrich, as Attis und die Nymphe at the Württembergische Staatstheater, Stuttgart, in 1959 (White 1979, 439).
External links
- [ All music page], by James Leonard
- Programme notes for the concerto