Gershwin and Stravinsky - both geographically and musically, the two composers seem far apart. While the Russian composer radically expanded the musical tradition with loud sounds and quirky harmonies, the American musical genius perfected "symphonic jazz" with lively rhythms, car horn sounds and saxophone tones. What connects the two is a city: Gershwin's stay in Paris in 1926 inspired him to write his famous tone poem "An American in Paris". As early as 1913, Stravinsky - scandalized! - premiered his ballet music "Le Sacre du Printemps" ("The Rite of Spring") there. Gershwin and Stravinsky met in person for the first time in New York in 1925. They met again 100 years later at the Gärtnerplatztheater.
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