“The premier was scandalous. Never mind that the ballet was a bizarre story of pagan sacrifice, Stravinsky’s musical innovations tested the patience of the audience to the fullest. Stravinsky had a bassoon player play higher in range than anyone had ever done; it was unrecognizable as a bassoon. People walked out. When the curtain came up and the dancing began, a musical theme without a melody began. It was a loud pulsating and dissonant chord, with jarring irregular accents. The audience responded to the ballet with hisses and catcalls. Nowadays the Rite of Spring is recognized as a groundbreaking work. Igor Stravinsky: madman with a fountain pen.”