Iceland Symphony Orchestra and the Iceland Dance Company unite onstage for the first time in Harpa’s Eldborg Hall, bringing to life two of Stravinsky’s most iconic dance scores: The Rite of Spring and Petrushka. Presented as part of the Reykjavík Arts Festival, this marks the first time Stravinsky’s dance works are performed live at the festival — with music and dance side by side, interpreted by two leading choreographers from Iceland and Finland and conducted by one of France’s most acclaimed maestros.

The Rite of Spring is a brand-new Icelandic dance work choreographed for dancers from the Iceland Dance Company, joined by first-year students from the Contemporary Dance program at the Iceland University of the Arts.

Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring was a turning point in 20th-century music. Premiering in Paris 100 years ago with choreography by the legendary Vaslav Nijinsky, its raw ballet movements and dissonant score sparked riots in the audience. Stravinsky called it a “choreographic symphony” — a celebration of the creative force and wild energy that spring awakens. Since then, it has inspired countless reinterpretations across the globe.

The Iceland Dance Company approaches the work through a modern lens, focusing on life force — the desire, hope, purification, and creative energy that defines spring. Artistic team: Lára Stefánsdóttir, Melkorka Sigríður Magnúsdóttir, Filippía Elísdóttir, and Björn Bergsteinn Guðmundsson.

Petrúska is a Russian folk tale about a straw puppet who comes to life and discovers emotion. This piece is choreographed by Jorma Uotinen, one of the Nordic region’s most influential choreographers. Originally premiered in 1994 by the Finnish National Ballet, Petrushka is considered a cornerstone of Finnish ballet history.

Now adapted for the stage at Eldborg, the work blends contemporary dance with classical ballet, performed by Finnish dancer Riku Lehtopolku and Iceland Dance Company members Brian Gerke and Ellen Margrét Bæhrenz.

The conductor of the Symphony Orchestra at the Reykjavik Arts Festival is Pascal Rophé. Renowned for his interpretations of 20th-century music, Pascal Rophé is a frequent guest conductor with Europe’s top orchestras and contemporary ensembles. He describes The Rite of Spring as a transformative piece that has deeply influenced his artistic life ever since he first encountered it and it remains a fixture in his repertoire.