‘The Rite of Spring’ Turns 100, And Goes Solo

One hundred years ago this month, Igor Stravinsky’s legendary ballet score for "The Rite of Spring" provoked the most famous riot in music history. Here at Soundcheck, we’re partnering with Q2 Music to mark the occasion with a live performance from the pianist Vicky Chow, from the Bang On A Can All-Stars -- she'll join us in The Greene Space with a rare solo piano arrangement on the actual date of the anniversary, May 29th, at 7pm.

Today, though, Leonard Slatkin, music director of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, gives us some background on the Rite -- and we hear some other unusual arrangements of the piece, including one version for two organs, and another for steel drums.