Stravinsky: The Soldier's Tale

Featuring

Sir Mark Elder
Mark Lockyer
Martins Imhangbe
Richard Katz
Hallé Orchestra
Igor Stravinsky

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Notable Performances

"The Soldier's Tale" premiered at the Théâtre Municipal in Lausanne on September 28, 1918, with Stravinsky declaring himself "completely satisfied" with the performance.

Composition History

Stravinsky collaborated with conductor Ernest Ansermet, writer Charles Ferdinand Ramuz, and painter René Auberjonois to create "The Soldier's Tale" as a portable, small-scale theatre piece.

Composition History

The story of "The Soldier's Tale" was adapted by Ramuz and Stravinsky from Russian folk tales by Alexander Afanasyev, featuring an off-duty soldier who sells his fiddle to the Devil.

Composition History

Igor Stravinsky conceived "The Soldier's Tale" in late 1917, during World War I, due to severe financial difficulties after the Communist Revolution in Russia cut off his income.

Composition History

Stravinsky later created a suite from "The Soldier's Tale" for just three players (clarinet, violin, and piano) as a thank you to Werner Reinhart, a patron and amateur clarinettist who funded the original production.

Historical Context

A planned Swiss tour for "The Soldier's Tale" was cancelled due to the 1918 influenza pandemic, which also affected Stravinsky and several collaborators.

Compositional Technique

Stravinsky originally scored "The Soldier's Tale" for a small ensemble of seven musicians: clarinet, bassoon, cornet, trombone, violin, double bass, and percussionist.