The Owl and the Pussy Cat (Stravinsky)
| The Owl and the Pussy Cat | |
|---|---|
| Song by Igor Stravinsky | |
Stravinsky with his wife Vera (left), 1962 | |
| Text | Edward Lear |
| Language | English |
| Dedication | Vera Stravinsky |
| Published | 1967 |
| Publisher | Boosey & Hawkes |
| Duration | c. 3 minutes |
| Scoring |
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| Premiere | |
| Date | October 31, 1966 |
| Location | Monday Evening Concerts Bing Theatre, Los Angeles County Museum of Art |
| Performers |
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"The Owl and the Pussy Cat" is a song for soprano and piano composed by Igor Stravinsky in 1966, based on the eponymous text by Edward Lear. It is Stravinsky's final completed original composition.
Stravinsky had known Lear's poem prior to setting it as it had been the first English language verses his wife Vera had memorized. He was reacquainted with it in July 1965 after she showed him a French translation by Frances Steegmuller and composed his setting of the original text in October 1966. The song was dedicated to his wife.
It was premiered by soprano Peggy Bonini and pianist Ingolf Dahl at Monday Evening Concerts on October 31, 1966. Robert Craft ranked the song among Stravinsky's greatest.