Welcome spring with the NSO

Despite its less-than-auspicious beginnings, Stravinsky's The Rite of Spring has become a seasonal staple in concert halls across the world and the National Symphony Orchestra steps up to the challenge admirably with this program led by dynamo conductor Krzysztof Urbanski. Enjoy the full force of the masterpiece, alongside a performance of Prokofiev's Violin Concerto by Francesca Dego in her NSO debut.

I predict a riot

A radical evocation of Russian folk-culture and ancient traditions, it is one of the most recorded works from the 20th-century repertoire. As inspiring as it was inciting in 1913, it is a distinct turning point in composition, and one not to be missed by intermediate or beginner symphony-goers.

On the evening of May 29, 1913, shocked by the avant-garde nature of the work, the audience of The Theatre des Champs-Elysees had no qualms in loudly voicing their disapproval of the daring new production scored by Stravinsky for the Ballet Ruses. Afterwards, the ballet itself took longer to gain popularity, but when isolated, the score gained traction almost immediately in the concert halls of Europe, ensuring its survival.