Igor Stravinsky’s ‘Soldiers Tale’ Told

GSU Players and musicians present century-old modernist fable

Soldier's Tale Horiz
Photo credit: Stuart Gerber
DANCE WITH THE DEVIL: A scene from Stravinsky's "Soldier's Tale."

One hundred years to the day (Sept. 28) after its original premiere in Laussane, Switzerland, the Georgia State University Players under the direction of Dr. W. Keith Tims, accompanied by GSU faculty musicians (plus a couple of non-faculty players), will stage Igor Stravinsky’s celebrated early 20th century avant-garde work Histoire du soldat (Soldier’s Tale). Essentially a Faustian pact served up with a side of Robert Johnson’s crossroads fable, Histoire du soldat chronicles the fate of a deserter who trades his violin for riches at the expense of his soul. The music incorporates hints of ragtime with modernist classical leanings while the instrumentation — violin, double bass, clarinet, bassoon, trumpet, trombone, and percussion – wouldn’t be out of place on the streets of New Orleans of the era.

Igor Stravinsky’s Histoire du soldat (Soldier’s Tale). Free. 7:30 p.m. Sept. 28 & 29. Florence Kopleff Recital Hall, 15 Gilmer Street S.E. GSU campus.






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