Igor Stravinsky Family Tree: The Story Behind The Rite of Spring

Igor Fyodorovich Stravinsky (1882–1971), born 17 June 1882 in Oranienbaum (now Lomonosov), Russian Empire, and died 6 April 1971 in New York City, was 20th-century music's most-influential composer — The Firebird (1910), Petrushka (1911), The Rite of Spring (1913 — legendary Paris premiere riot), Pulcinella (1920), Symphony of Psalms (1930), The Rake's Progress (1951); collaborator with Diaghilev's Ballets Russes; spanned late-Romantic, Neoclassical, and Serial periods.

The Family's Roots: A Russian Opera Family

Father was leading bass at Imperial Opera, St. Petersburg.

His Parents

Father: Fyodor Ignatievich Stravinsky (1843–1902) — Ukrainian-Polish; bass singer at Mariinsky Theatre, St. Petersburg.

Mother: Anna Kirillovna Kholodovsky (1854–1939).

His Brothers

Roman Stravinsky (1874–1897); Yury Stravinsky (1878–1941); Gury Stravinsky (1884–1917).

His First Wife: Ekaterina Nossenko

Ekaterina Gavrilovna Nossenko (1881–1939) — Igor's first cousin. Married on 24 January 1906. Died of tuberculosis 1939.

Their Children

Fyodor "Théodore" Stravinsky (1907–1989) — painter.

Ludmila Stravinsky (1908–1938) — died of tuberculosis.

Sviatoslav Soulima Stravinsky (1910–1994) — pianist/composer.

Milena Stravinsky (1914–2001).

His Second Wife: Vera de Bosset

Vera de Bosset Stravinsky (1888–1982) — married on 9 March 1940 in Bedford, MA.

The Stravinsky Family Tree at a Glance

Father: Fyodor Stravinsky (1843–1902) — bass singer.

Mother: Anna Kholodovsky (1854–1939).

Brothers: Roman (1874–1897); Yury (1878–1941); Gury (1884–1917).

First Wife: Ekaterina Nossenko (1881–1939; m. 24 January 1906) — first cousin.

Second Wife: Vera de Bosset (1888–1982; m. 9 March 1940).

Children: Fyodor (1907–1989); Ludmila (1908–1938); Soulima (1910–1994); Milena (1914–2001).

Stravinsky:

  • Born 17 June 1882, Oranienbaum
  • Law student, St Petersburg University
  • Studied composition privately with Rimsky-Korsakov 1902-1908
  • Diaghilev commissioned Firebird 1910 — Paris debut of ballet composer
  • Rite of Spring premiere 29 May 1913, Paris — riot in audience
  • Emigrated: Switzerland 1914-1920; France 1920-1939; USA 1939-death; naturalised American 1945
  • Died: 6 April 1971, NYC — heart failure at 88

What the Stravinsky Family Story Teaches Us

A Mariinsky-Theatre bass-singer father. Three brothers (all died before 44). Two marriages — first to his cousin, died of TB. A daughter and later a first wife both lost to TB. A career that spanned three musical eras and multiple countries.

For every family — large or small, famous or otherwise — the Stravinsky story carries the same lesson. Some careers premiere a piece that starts a riot and go on to redefine 20th-century music.

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