Music Chapel for Igor Stravinsky is a project, which aim is to celebrate the great Russian composer’s contribution to modern classical music. His most significant piece today is ‘The Rite of Spring’ was written in 1913 in Paris. When it was presented for a first time at the Parisian opera, people execrated it – they could not assimilate the modern twists to what they were used to as a classical melody. People left the hall in disappointment, but one person remained stunned. It was Coco Chanel, and this is how their beautiful love affair began.
Igor Stravinsky’s body is rested in San Michele Isola, a Venetian island which serves as the cemetery of the city since Napoleonian time. His grave is just a simple rectangular stone with his name on it in the world’s most beautiful, filled with natural flowers and plants, cemetery.
To celebrate his incredible legacy to what is today one of the greatest composers of 20th century, a music chapel was designed to replace the insignificant presence of the grave. The chapel was designed by studying ‘The Rite of Spring’ in detail. The most critical part, the culmination of the work was extracted and translated into a physical representation of his music – a music chapel, where visitors could experience the piece through form, light and material.
