THE SOLDIER'S TALE
Igor Stravinsky - Charles Ferdinand Ramuz

A soldier, the Devil, and between them—a violin, a soul, and a symphony. Drawing inspiration from Goethe’s Faust, The Soldier’s Tale (L’Histoire du Soldat) is a symbolic story of temptation and humanity’s vulnerability when confronted with the fulfillment of its deepest desires. Based on the Russian folktale The Soldier and Death, the work was written at the height of World War I.
Its creator, Charles Ferdinand Ramuz, is regarded as the most significant representative of  the French-speaking Swiss literature  of the 20^th century. In his works, poetry and allegory intertwine with human stories in a unique way, thereby making their translation a true challenge.
This time, the gifted Christoforos Christofis takes on the role of translator, while preserving the perspective of the great dramatist. He masterfully renders this classic work with clarity, theatricality, and a flowing poetic language. Carefully chosen words, placed in perfect harmony, narrate the story of a naïve soldier who trades his beloved violin for wealth.
Alongside the narrative, music weaves into the Mephistophelian myth. Igor Stravinsky’s expressionist composition binds its own “tale” to the illusion of riches, valued as much as the human soul itself. What, in the end, is the price of happiness—and where does one find it?
                                                                   Nikolaos Nikas
                                                                      Publisher

Music Igor Stravinsky
Text Charles Ferdinand Ramuz