Striking work presented by the Baltimore Symphony
A new take on a classical work will be presented by the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra.
The BSO will appear at the Music Center at Strathmore in Bethesda to perform Stravinsky’s “A Soldier’s Tale,” which has been revised and will be performed by Wordsmith.
Stravinsky’s work is based on a Russian folk tale about a soldier, Joseph, going on leave who stops to play his violin. His music draws the devil disguised as an old peddler, who convinces Joseph to trade his violin for a book that will make him rich. Later, Joseph recovers his violin and temporarily defeats the devil, but he ultimately loses everything, and the piece ends with “The Triumphal March of the Devil.” Wordsmith will narrate the upcoming performance from the point of view of a Black American fighting in the Vietnam War.
The project is only one of the artist’s collaborations with the BSO. In 2018, the orchestra hired him to write a new narration for Saint-Saëns’ “Carnival of the Animals.” He worked with the orchestra again as host of the BSO Gala featuring Cynthia Erivo. In 2020, he officially became an artistic partner with the orchestra.
The second half of the program will feature Suites from the “Romeo and Juliet” ballet by Prokofiev, selected by the evening’s conductor, Rune Bergmann. There will be two performances, November 5 at 8.00 pm and November 6 at 3.00 pm. Audiences enjoy learning more about shows like these, so organizers can use brochure printing to create programs.
The BSO will appear at the Music Center at Strathmore in Bethesda to perform Stravinsky’s “A Soldier’s Tale,” which has been revised and will be performed by Wordsmith.
Stravinsky’s work is based on a Russian folk tale about a soldier, Joseph, going on leave who stops to play his violin. His music draws the devil disguised as an old peddler, who convinces Joseph to trade his violin for a book that will make him rich. Later, Joseph recovers his violin and temporarily defeats the devil, but he ultimately loses everything, and the piece ends with “The Triumphal March of the Devil.” Wordsmith will narrate the upcoming performance from the point of view of a Black American fighting in the Vietnam War.
The project is only one of the artist’s collaborations with the BSO. In 2018, the orchestra hired him to write a new narration for Saint-Saëns’ “Carnival of the Animals.” He worked with the orchestra again as host of the BSO Gala featuring Cynthia Erivo. In 2020, he officially became an artistic partner with the orchestra.
The second half of the program will feature Suites from the “Romeo and Juliet” ballet by Prokofiev, selected by the evening’s conductor, Rune Bergmann. There will be two performances, November 5 at 8.00 pm and November 6 at 3.00 pm. Audiences enjoy learning more about shows like these, so organizers can use brochure printing to create programs.