Igor Stravinsky's "Rite of Spring" caused riots when it debuted in 1913 in Paris. The composer's use of discord was simply too much for audiences of that time. However, the piece is now seen as a revolutionary musical innovation that heralded more complex music to come.
When laptronica musicians melded with the brass and musicians of the Metropolis Ensemble to perform "The Rite: Remixed" in Brooklyn's Prospect Park on Friday, nary a riot ensued, but "The Rite of Spring" sounded more riotous than ever with the addition of electronic tweaks.
Update: Deerhoof performed separately – thanks, m.
WNYC recorded the whole thing, and you can listen to the 34-minute stream here for free. We recommend a listen, unless you're the type who would have rioted over the original back in 1913.
See Also:
- Radiohead's Jonny Greenwood - 'Popcorn Superhet Receiver'
- UBS Virtual Maestro: Guitar Hero for Classical Music
- Classical Music Brings the Noise – Too Much, In Fact
- A Social Network for Classical Music Fans
- Will Classical Music Throw Gangsters off their Game?
Image courtesy of Every Note