Stravinsky Rehearses Stravinsky

On September 1965, Igor Stravinsky made his last visit to London to conduct the The Firebird Suite (1945) with the New Philharmonia Orchestra at the Royal Festival Hall, London in an all Stravinsky programme. In the same concert, Robert Craft conducted the Huxley Variations and the Firebird Suite.

Laelia attended the final rehearsal to photograph Stravinsky. She was positioned behind the percussion section using a 35mm Pentax camera with telephoto lens mounted on a tripod.

The following is a description of the rehearsal in her own words;
‘In 1965 Stravinsky came to London to conduct a concert of his own works at the (Royal) Festival Hall. This was his last visit to Britain - he died a few years later. This series of stills have been shot during the rehearsal for this concert. My aim was to record as far as possible all his moods, expressions and attitudes. Stravinsky arrived on that morning looking relaxed and gay. He joked with the orchestra while making himself comfortable by removing his jacket and loosening tie and collar. When he was ready to start, he shared the score (of the Firebird to the musicians) with a smile as if to make sure that they realise that he was actually the composer of the music. While conducting, he suddenly noticed a certain inaccuracy in the rendering. Angrily he stopped the rehearsal to correct the fault but probably realised that friendliness would have a better effect than anger. So, smiling, he went out with the rehearsal. It was fascinating to watch the change of expression on his face, particularly towards the finale when he achieved a terrific tension and excitement. However, the moment he finished he seemed to be completely exhausted. His amazing vitality has certainly suddenly left him. Wrapping the towel around him like a shawl he had to be helped down from the rostrum. It would have been impossible to include all my shots taken on this occasion in this exhibition. I hope, nevertheless, that this selection will give you an idea of this great man at a rehearsal.’
(Laelia Goehr 1965)

The photographs below are from her archive and have not been seen previously.

In July 1982 they were exhibited at the Victoria and Albert Museum in an exhibition Stravinsky rehearses Stravinsky curated by Alexander Schouvaloff.