Birmingham Arts Organizations Join for Celebration of Stravinsky

The orchestra's program, called IgorFest 2005, will include all of Stravinsky's works; it opens on June 15 with a concert featuring the composer's Scherzo fantastique, Concerto in D for Strings, and Symphony of Psalms, as well as the 1910 version of The Firebird. Music director Sakari Oramo will conduct the concert, which reprises on June 18.

In its Celebration of Stravinsky, Birmingham Royal Ballet will present as many Stravinsky ballets as it can find. Company director David Bintley told the Birmingham Post, "We reckon that there are something like just over 20 ballets and theater pieces, but we are adding to that."

The BRB opens the festival tomorrow night with a program that features Dumbarton Oaks, Duo Concertante, Scnes de ballet, and The Rite of Spring. The program will be repeated on June 9, 10, and 11.

The other organizations participating in the festival are the Birmingham Contemporary Music Group, the Birmingham Repertory Theatre Company, DanceXchange, and IKON Gallery.

According to the Post, the Stravinsky celebration was originally part of the city's bid for the title of European Capital of Culture 2008, which eventually was awarded to Liverpool.

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