The BBC Philharmonic Orchestra performed Igor Stravinsky’s seminal ballet, The Rite of Spring, as part of a programme highlighting contemporary classical music at the Aviva Studios in Manchester. Conducted by Ludovic Morlot, the orchestra delivered the piece’s striking orchestration, known for its rhythmic intensity, dissonance, and vivid depiction of ritualistic sacrifice through dance.

Stravinsky’s 1913 premiere of The Rite of Spring at the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées in Paris is historically noted for provoking a riot, though recent scholarship suggests these accounts may have been exaggerated. Nonetheless, the work remains renowned for its capacity to provoke strong emotional and visceral reactions, qualities that continue to resonate with audiences more than a century later.

The concert included a performance of Jessie Montgomery’s Chemiluminescence, a contemporary composition completed in 2025. This piece explores themes of nature and light, offering an evocative counterpart to Stravinsky’s intense, primal rhythms. Montgomery’s work reflects her ongoing engagement with imagery rooted in the natural world, creating an atmospheric musical landscape that complements the programme’s modern focus.

Presented under the banner of “vibrantly modern music,” the event showcased the BBC Philharmonic’s versatility in interpreting both early 20th-century revolutionary works and cutting-edge contemporary compositions. The juxtaposition of Stravinsky’s groundbreaking score alongside Montgomery’s fresh composition underlined the evolving nature of orchestral music and its ongoing dialogue with tradition and innovation.