Igor Stravinsky's musical theater piece, written for a traveling theater, premiered in Lausanne in September 1918—six weeks before the end of the First World War. The fairy tale of the soldier who sells himself to the devil tells of the uprooting of an entire wartime generation. This groundbreaking work, in musical theater terms, will be combined in our performance with one of the most impressive cantatas of the 17th century: "How desolate lies the city." Written by the Hamburg organist Matthias Weckmann in 1663 under the impression of a devastating plague epidemic, the piece paints a vivid picture of human despair in the face of senseless destruction. The combination of the two pieces creates a hauntingly timeless evening that lies somewhere between musical theater and spatial installation.

Story of the Soldier

German Theatre, Göttingen

Guest organist Balint Karosi. The Eclectic Baroque Organ. A program of major works including Weckmann, “Es Ist das Heil,” Ligeti, “Hungarian Rock,” Danksagmüller, “Circuli,” and J. S. Bach’s Passacaglia and Fugue in C minor, BWV 582.

Balint Karosi, guest organist: CU Music

Anabel Taylor Hall

From C.P.E. Bach’s counterpoint to the contemporary gestures of Thomas Adès, clarinetist and NWS alum Miles Haskins joins the Fellows to trace the evolution of the Baroque.

Reserve your seats today and enjoy unbeatable savings by subscribing to New World Symphony’s Chamber Music Series. Starting at just $10 a concert, the 2026-27 series features five glorious afternoons with the music of Johannes Brahms, Claude Debussy, Amy Beach, Philip Glass, Steve Reich, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and more.

Matthias Weckmann

Events

Upcoming events

Oct 18, 2026

The Baroque + Neo-Baroque · New World Symphony

Past events

17 - 20 May, 2026

Story of the Soldier · Göttinger Symphonieorchester

Sep 20, 2024

Balint Karosi, guest organist: CU Music · Cornell University Department of Music

About

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