The Southwest German Radio Orchestra. Concert Performances 1951- 1957. Igor Fyodorovich Stravinsky 1882 -1971 was a Russian composer, considered by many in both the West and his native land to be the most influential composer of 20th century music. He was a quintessentially cosmopolitan Russian who was named by Time magazine as one of the 100 most influential people of the century. In addition to the recognition he received for his compositions, he also achieved fame as a pianist and a conductor, often at the premières of his works.