Panel discusses Stravinsky’s ‘The Rite of Spring’

Lights dimmed, the crowd grew silent and a voice rang out, “Art brings people together.”

The voice belonged to Emil Kang, UNC’s executive director of the arts, as he opened Carolina Performing Arts’ panel discussion on Igor Stravinsky’s ballet “The Rite of Spring.”

But Richard Taruskin, a Stravinsky scholar at the panel said he found this point amusing.

Taruskin said “The Rite of Spring” initially did the exact opposite of bringing people together — the original 1913 performance culminated in a riot.

CPA’s panel discussion, “Reflections on the Rite,” which was Monday, featured several world-renowned artists participating in its “The Rite of Spring at 100” celebration.

Kang led the discussion, and participants discussed the works they will be performing at UNC this season. Panelists included Yo-Yo Ma, artistic director and founder of The Silk Road Project; Janet Eilber, artistic director of the Martha Graham Dance Company; and puppeteer Basil Twist.

Kang grouped the artists in three sections — music, movement and imagery — and spoke to each group individually.

The music group comprised string quartet Brooklyn Rider’s Colin Jacobsen and The Silk Road Ensemble’s Alastair Willis and Ma.

Ma said “The Rite of Spring at 100” is not only about honoring the centennial anniversary of the controversial ballet but also about expanding the arts community in the Triangle.

“You’re trying not only to get people to create new artwork, but to get people to think about how those things came together,” he said.

The ballet emerged from the collision of Russian and Parisian cultures in 1913 Paris, and Ma said this is because the most interesting things happen when cultures intersect.

The movement group included Eilber and N.C. School of the Arts Chancellor John Mauceri and Dean of Dance Susan Jaffe.

NCSA will restage the ballet in April.

Jaffe, who is choreographing part of the performance, said people constantly ask if her students can handle such advanced material.

“They really like to be pushed, and the good thing with students is they don’t know their limitations yet,” Jaffe said. “You can keep telling them where to go and they keep believing you.”

The imagery group consisted of pianist and composer Vijay Iyer, filmmaker Prashant Bhargava and Twist.

Twist has been at UNC for five weeks constructing the set for his abstract puppetry piece. He said he has been having difficulties with smoke effects in his show — the smoke travels into the orchestral pit, making it difficult for the musicians to see.

But he said the issue will be resolved by April, when he will present his show.

Kang said people constantly come up to him and ask how many times the “The Rite of Spring” will be performed this season.

He said CPA is not looking to present the piece over and over again.

“We’re not looking behind, but forward — and how to think about the performing arts in a new way.”

Contact the desk editor at arts@dailytarheel.com.