Composer Igor Stravinsky's ballet The Rite of Spring, premiered in Paris in 1913, provoked a riot in the audience on opening night. Critics denounced the piece's dissonant harmonies, irregular rhythms, and primal choreography. Within a decade, however, the work was being performed in concert halls worldwide and is now widely considered one of the most influential compositions of the 20th century.
Which choice most logically completes the text? The passage suggests that the initial reception of innovative artworks _______
- A
consistently predicts their lasting cultural significance
- Bcheck_circle
may differ substantially from their eventual evaluation
- C
is determined entirely by the personal politics of critics
- D
always reflects audiences' carefully considered judgments
Explanation
Riot at premiere followed by canonical status supports B. A and D contradict the reversal; C is unsupported.