From the realm of Russian fairy tales comes the story of a deserting soldier, the devil, a violin, and a king's daughter. When the devil is involved, the fairy tale rarely has a happy ending—and this is no different here. The original scenic concept, which was inspired both aesthetically and practically by fairgrounds and traveling theater, is reminiscent of ballads and ballad singers. The premiere of Histoire du soldat in 1918 in Lausanne not only marked an important moment in 20th-century Swiss theater history, but also made it a key work of musical modernism. Stravinsky, however, had already been considered a seminal figure after the turn of the century since the scandalous success of the ballet Le Sacre du printemps in Paris in May 1913.

Ian Bousfield

Events

Past events

Jul 29 - Aug 3, 2025

The Story of the Soldier · Salzburger Festspiele

Future and recently performed repertoire

Trombone in L'Histoire du soldat by Stravinsky

Salzburger Festspiele

About

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