Which Twentieth Century Russian composer is famous for his 'Firebird Suite' and 'Rite of Spring'?

Which Twentieth Century Russian composer is famous for his 'Firebird Suite' and 'Rite of Spring'?

• A. Prokofiev
• B. Rimsky-Korsakov
• C. Stravinsky
• D. Shostakovich

Answer: (C)

Igor Stravinsky is the composer behind both works. The Firebird Suite is the concert version drawn from his ballet The Firebird, first staged in 1910; its vibrant orchestration and unforgettable themes helped him gain international fame through Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes. The Rite of Spring, written a few years later for a Paris premiere in 1913, broke new ground with complex rhythms, changing meters, and bold orchestration, signaling a decisive shift in modern music. These two pieces showcase Stravinsky’s influence on 20th-century composition. While Prokofiev, Rimsky-Korsakov, and Shostakovich are also prominent Russian composers, they did not compose these works.

Igor Stravinsky is the composer behind both works. The Firebird Suite is the concert version drawn from his ballet The Firebird, first staged in 1910; its vibrant orchestration and unforgettable themes helped him gain international fame through Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes. The Rite of Spring, written a few years later for a Paris premiere in 1913, broke new ground with complex rhythms, changing meters, and bold orchestration, signaling a decisive shift in modern music. These two pieces showcase Stravinsky’s influence on 20th-century composition. While Prokofiev, Rimsky-Korsakov, and Shostakovich are also prominent Russian composers, they did not compose these works.