Do you listen to classical music to relax? For its pleasant, soothing melodies? Well, brace yourself, because this month we’re looking at a few works that caused quite a ruckus in their day.
The Rite of Spring
In 1913, Igor Stravinsky’s “The Rite of Spring” premiered in Paris, with the renowned Ballets Russe performing to the music.
Neither the music nor the dancing could be called a hit. Dissonant harmonies and a strong, driving percussion unsettled the audience, as did the non-traditional dance choreography.
Arguments even broke out. Some say the arguments went so far as to devolve into fistfights, although there’s little solid evidence that actually happened.
Four Organs
Surely audience members would behave at Carnegie Hall, right? Well, not necessarily. In 1973, the Boston Symphony’s performance of one composition went awry.
A piece by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was received just fine by the audience, as was a composition by Franz Liszt. But when the orchestra performed Steve Reich’s “Four Organs,” certain audience members made their displeasure obvious.
One elderly woman made her way to the front of the hall, removed her shoe and whacked the edge of the stage with it. Her demand that the music stop went unheeded. Conductor Michael Tilson Thomas later told an interviewer, “We kept going, even though people were having fistfights in the audience.”
Parade
While many people prefer to avoid scandal, others seem drawn to it. When the avant-garde Jean Cocteau, Pablo Picasso, and Erik Satie collaborated on “Parade,” they created something of a spectacle.
The debut performance of the piece in 1917 has been described as “Infuriating” for the audience. Costumes were odd and unwieldy; the music featured such unusual sounds as a typewriter and sirens. Given that the composer, Satie, was said to have been slapped in the face by an attendee, it’s safe to say that the audience didn’t “get it.”
Reviews were not kind. Picasso probably had the best outcome: he ended up marrying one of the dancers.
So next time you’re settling in for a classical concert, remember that even the most revered genre has a rebellious streak!