The Rite of Spring was first performed by the Ballets Russes on 29 May 1913 at the ThÃ Ã cents tre des Champs - Ã lysÃ es in Paris . The conductor was Pierre Monteux . After undergoing revisions almost up until the very day of its first performance , it was premiered on Thursday , May 29 , 1913 at the ThÃ Ã cents tre des Champs - Ã lysÃ es in Paris and was conducted by Pierre Monteux under the Ballets Russes .