Noces

In 1913, Igor Stravinsky drew inspiration from the irregular rhythms of Russian folksongs in composing his four-act dance cantata on the forced marriage of two young people. Ten years later, the impresario Diaghilev, the founder of the Ballets russes, asked him for an orchestration for a four-voice choir, four soloists, four pianos and percussion for a choreography by Bronislava Nijinska. Over the years, dozens of choreographers would offer their versions of this masterly work, including Merce Cunningham, Angelin Preljocaj, Maurice Béjart, Ji˘rí Kylián, as well as Ludmilla Chiriaeff, just before she founded Les Grands Ballets.