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.

Baroque Ensemble of the Handel Festival Göttingen

17 - 20 May, 2026

Story of the Soldier

Baroque Ensemble of the Handel Festival Göttingen