Igor Fyodorovich Stravinsky was born on June 17, 1882, in Oranienbaum (now Lomonosov), near St. Petersburg, Russia. He was a Russian-born composer who became a pivotal figure in modernist music and one of the most influential composers of the 20th century. Stravinsky's father, Fyodor Ignatievich Stravinsky, was a leading Russian operatic bass, and his mother was an excellent pianist, which exposed Igor to a rich cultural and musical environment from an early age.

Stravinsky initially pursued studies in law and philosophy at the University of Saint Petersburg, where he met Vladimir Rimsky-Korsakov, the son of the famous composer Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov. This connection led to private music lessons with the elder Rimsky-Korsakov, who became Stravinsky's mentor and significantly influenced his development as a composer.

Stravinsky's early compositional success came with the encouragement of Sergei Diaghilev, the impresario of the Ballets Russes. Diaghilev commissioned Stravinsky to compose several ballets, including "The Firebird" (1910), "Petrushka" (1911), and "The Rite of Spring" (1913), the latter of which famously caused a near-riot at its premiere due to its avant-garde nature.

Stravinsky's career is often divided into three periods: the Russian period (1913–1920), characterized by works influenced by Russian folklore; the neoclassical period (1920–1951), which drew on classical themes and forms; and the serial period (1954–1968), where he adopted twelve-tone techniques. His works during these periods include "Renard," "Les noces," "Oedipus Rex," and "Requiem Canticles," among others.

Throughout his life, Stravinsky received numerous accolades, including the Royal Philharmonic Society Gold Medal in 1954 and the Wihuri Sibelius Prize in 1963. He was also awarded Grammy Awards in 1961, 1962, and 1967. Stravinsky became a French citizen in 1934 and an American citizen in 1945, spending his later years in the United States. He passed away on April 6, 1971, in New York City, leaving behind a legacy that profoundly influenced composers such as Aaron Copland, Philip Glass, and Pierre Boulez.