February 11, 2020
Igor Stravinsky鈥檚 尝鈥橦颈蝉迟辞颈谤别 du Soldat (The Soldier鈥檚 Tale) will be presented Saturday, Feb. 22, 2020 at 7:30 p.m. at 杏巴原创 and 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 23, 2020 at the North Dakota Museum of Art at the University of North Dakota. The event is a collaboration of the 杏巴原创 & Community Fine Arts Series, 杏巴原创 Theater, and the North Dakota Museum of Art Fine Arts Series. Artists are faculty from 杏巴原创, University of North Dakota, North Dakota State University, and Concordia College. Actors and dancers represent the 杏巴原创 Theater Department.
Composed by Stravinsky in 1918, 尝鈥橦颈蝉迟辞颈谤别 tells the story (libretto by C.F. Ramuz) of a soldier on leave, heading home to see his family. On the way, the soldier runs into another traveler who wishes to purchase his fiddle in exchange for monetary gain. Shortly after the transaction, the soldier realizes he has sold his fiddle to Devil. Fortune, sorrow, reflection, and defeat follow our protagonist through the rest of the tale, with Stravinsky鈥檚 unique, angular, and American jazz-influenced music perfectly blended throughout.
Since its premier, 尝鈥橦颈蝉迟辞颈谤别 has become one of the most significant pieces of chamber music composed in the 20th century. Scored for violin, clarinet, trumpet, trombone, bassoon, double bass, percussion, actors, and dancers, Stravinsky masterfully utilizes each instrument鈥檚 unique timbre to create unforgettable music with a timeless message: 鈥淣o one can have it all.鈥�
Stravinsky hit on hard times when he retreated to Switzerland during WWI. He tried to write small scale income-producing pieces in hopes that someone might perform them. The result is this thoroughly convincing theater, like a radio drama with music. The score for 尝鈥橦颈蝉迟辞颈谤别 is a series of short interludes marches - a tango, jazzy riffs, funeral and wedding music, etc. featuring the soldier鈥檚 old violin - that prefigure Stravinsky鈥檚 life-long fondness for writing pieces lasting under five minutes. None are as delightful as this score born of empty pockets.
Tickets may be purchased through the 杏巴原创 Bookstore, 701-788-4823, or online at www.mayvillestate.edu/soldierstale. Tickets are $25 per person, or $10 for Mayville State students. A reception will follow on the second floor of Old Main, just outside the Old Main Theatre doors.聽聽
Take advantage of this rare opportunity, the premier of 尝鈥橦颈蝉迟辞颈谤别 du Soldat in the Red River Valley. Performers are as follows:
Conductor:
Dr. Kevin S眉tterlin, Director of Orchestral Activities at Concordia College, Music Director for the Fox Valley Symphony, Conductor for NVYO, Director for the Memphis Sinfonietta
Directors and Producers:
Dr. Cody Hunter, 杏巴原创 Fine Arts Series
Robert Sylskar and Greta Paschke, 杏巴原创 Theatre
Laurel Reuter, North Dakota Museum of Art Fine Arts Series
Musicians:
Dr. Cody Hunter, 杏巴原创
Dr. Kevin S眉tterlin, Concordia College
Dr. Sonja Bosca-Harasim, Concordia College
Dr. Cassie Keogh, North Dakota State University
Dr. Cory Driscoll, University of North Dakota
Dr. Joel Pugh, University of North Dakota
Michael Farrick, University of North Dakota
Thomas Christianson, Fargo-Moorhead Symphony Orchestra
Actors:
Thomas Smette, 2013聽Mayville State graduate
Greta Paschke, 1985 and 1999 Mayville State graduate, Mayville State Instructor of Music
Carlee Ellingson, Mayville State student
Brooklyn Handly, Mayville State student
Tishawn Steele, Mayville State student
Support Provided by:
杏巴原创 Enrollment Services
杏巴原创 Foundation
杏巴原创 Office of Diversity and Inclusion
杏巴原创 Student Activities
Poppler鈥檚 Music