Histoire Du Soldat was a theatre production by the writer Ramuz and the composer Stravinsky. The small scale had to do with the scarce resources at the end of the First World War. That is why they limited themselves to a travelling company with actors, dancers and an ensemble of only seven instruments. The story is a folk tale about a soldier who sells his soul to the devil à la Faust. The French
… actor Dominique Horwitz had the diabolical pleasure of reciting this story flawlessly in three different languages. This one production has therefore been released by Harmonia Mundi in three variants. As listeners we may therefore choose from a French, a German or a English version, just pick one. In all three versions, it is of course the devil who triumphs, as is to be expected in a story that originates in France. The musicians play on historical instruments from the time the work was created. (HJ)more
