LSO Players on The Rite of Spring

We asked the musicians of the LSO about their roles in Stravinsky's The Rite of Spring and what makes it such a stand-out piece for orchestras.

[anthonycasolari]

When the bassoonist played the opening... It was so beautiful I shed a tear.

[clementeperronedazara]

it is even wonderful to see the orchestra from above, as the piece is played. I once heard it played by the LSO at the Barbican in 2000, conducted by Riccardo Chailly and that night it was the last concert for the 1st timpanist, who had played the piece under Stravinsky himself! M. Chailly, the orchestra and the whole audience paid him all due honors. It was a memorable concert.

[bobbysands]

This is piece is a laser and nuclear bomb at the same time. Indescribable to anyone who hasn't heard it, and everyone who hears it for the first time is completely blown away. I heard in for the first time in 1978 and I am still not over it.

[OlavoLuisatto]

The Rite of Spring is my favorite piece. Extremely difficult. I watched Ms Rachel Gough Fisrt Basson with Sir Valerie Gergiev you tube. Wonderful Solo! Greetings from Brazil ..Congratulations Ms Rachel Gough!!

[slateflash]

bass clarinettist likes metal omg how awesome

[oopsydaisy]

Can I just say, I am truly huurt, that they didn't include any comments from the Alto flutist. The Alto flute had so many iconic solos and excerpts in this composition that I would have loved to hear about her experiences playing this piece. Although I don't know the reason for her absence in this video, I've looked up to all of these Alto flute excerpts in this piece for so long. How disappointing....

[thebones]

This piece 'slays' me every time that I listen to it, great to hear these insights from the players.

[ronaldthomas]

Love her bassoon, and his bass clarinet ..

[timreid]

this makes me so happy to be a bassoonist :)

[stephenjablonsky]

Stravinsky knew exactly what he was doing. This is a ballet about human sacrifice and it needs to scare the audience and the players. It was a piece that changed the world of classical music. It was so radical that Igor could not outdo its impact so his compositional practice took many other paths.

[VetsrisAuguste]

That was great! Le Sacre du Printemps is one of my absolute favorite orchestral works

It’s important to remember Rite of Spring is a ballet before it is anything else. If you’re dancing in it, you need to know all those odd counts and meter changes by heart. Thank goodness for the 11/4 bar though!!! Strong landmarks like that one keep you on track.

[katmacewen]

i would love to find a longer interview with the musicians and their instruments. I want to pick this piece apart and hear those chirps and flutters once they've been unburied. c:

[littlekiwi]

This was my head-banger music when I was a teenager: I'd play it full blast for fun and to irritate the neighbours! (belated apologies to my neighbours 😅)
I'm so glad I laid that foundation because, I agree, even though I know the piece I still find new things to love about it.
Thank you LSO!

[marcosPRATA]

Uma especial exposição de solos instrumentais. Brilhante.

[FerchOfficial]

I was also into metal when i heard rite of spring for the first time

[iplaybassoon]

I have never seen a bassoon crutch like that. Where did she get it?

[kkrxne]

The rite if spring v.gergeiv is my favorite .

[loganbach]

Do you have a Bassoon fingering chart website link or anything along those lines? I'm not sure if I'm using the right fingerings for the high Bassoon notes and I would like to clarify.

[bassionbean]

Yeah Tom Goodman!... Is that a tom martin bass?

[kkrxne]

พี่ผู้หญิงที่เป่า BASSOON ทาง 1 แม่งเทพ เทพเว่อ เป่า เสียงสูงท่อนแรกได้ อย่างพริ้ว -0-