In 2013 the Verbier Festival celebrated two landmarks: its own 20th anniversary, and the 100th anniversary of the tumultuous premiere of Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring at the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées. Avant-garde œuvre of the 20th century, the 1913 premiere of The Rite of Spring was met with so-called “Massacre of Spring” before its ultimate triumph with the Parisian public in 1914. The composer’s ballet music glorifies nature, musically depicting the holy rites of spring. Under the energetic baton of Kent Nagano, the Verbier Festival Orchestra offers a passionate performance of this landmark work.

Photo: © Nicolas Brodard