Stravinsky: The Soldier's Tale

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It’s recorded in a way to convey to the maximum both the poetic detail and the expert pacing of Knussen’s finely-pointed reading, and to give full rein to Dame Harriet’s wonderfully free-spirited... — BBC Music Magazine, October 2017, 4 out of 5 stars More…

Release Date: 24th Mar 2017
Catalogue No: CKD552
Label: Linn
Length: 69 minutes

The Times Records of the Year

2017

Usually despatched in 3 - 4 working days

Stravinsky: Fanfare for a New Theatre

Work length0:54

$1.00

$1.50

$2.05

Royal Academy of Music Manson Ensemble, Oliver Knussen

Davies, Peter Maxwell: Canon ad honorem Igor Stravinsky

Work length2:16

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$1.50

$2.05

Royal Academy of Music Manson Ensemble, Oliver Knussen

Birtwistle: Chorale from a Toy Shop - For Igor Stravinsky

Work length1:22

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Royal Academy of Music Manson Ensemble, Oliver Knussen

Birtwistle: Chorale from a Toy Shop - For Igor Stravinsky

Work length1:34

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Royal Academy of Music Manson Ensemble, Oliver Knussen

Stravinsky: The Soldier's Tale, Pt. 1

Work length27:18

$7.00

$10.50

$14.35

George Benjamin, Dame Harriet Walter, Sir Harrison Birtwistle, Royal Academy of Music Manson Ensemble, Oliver Knussen

I. Introduction. The Soldier's March

Track length2:38

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II. Music for Scene 1. Airs by a Stream

Track length6:51

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III. Reprise. The Soldier's March

Track length4:33

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IV. Music for Scene 2. Pastorale

Track length4:54

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V. Music for the End of Scene 2

Track length3:11

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VI. Reprise. Airs by a Stream

Track length4:18

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VII. Music for Scene 3. Airs by a Stream

Track length0:53

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Stravinsky: The Soldier's Tale, Pt. 2

Work length30:02

$11.50

$17.30

$23.55

Dame Harriet Walter, Royal Academy of Music Manson Ensemble, Sir Harrison Birtwistle, Oliver Knussen, George Benjamin

I. Reprise. The Soldier's March

Track length4:09

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II. Royal March

Track length7:14

$1.50

$2.30

$3.05

III. Little Concert

Track length2:56

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IV. Three Dances. Tango

Track length2:03

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V. Three Dances. Waltz

Track length1:52

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VI. Three Dances. Ragtime

Track length2:06

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VII. The Devil's Dance

Track length1:20

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VIII. Little Chorale

Track length0:35

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IX. The Devil's Song

Track length0:42

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X. Great Chorale

Track length4:39

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XI. Triumphal March of the Devil

Track length2:26

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Stravinsky: Double Canon (Raoul Dufy in memoriam)

Work length1:24

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Royal Academy of Music Manson Ensemble, Oliver Knussen

Stravinsky: Epitaphium für das Grabmal des Prinzen Max Egon zu Fürstenberg

Work length1:24

$1.00

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Royal Academy of Music Manson Ensemble, Oliver Knussen

Birtwistle: Tombeau - In memoriam Igor Stravinsky

Work length2:17

$1.00

$1.50

$2.05

Royal Academy of Music Manson Ensemble, Oliver Knussen

Davies, Peter Maxwell: Canon - In Memoriam Igor Stravinsky

Work length1:23

$1.00

$1.50

$2.05

Royal Academy of Music Manson Ensemble, Oliver Knussen

About
Reviews
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For his debut recording with Linn, conductor Oliver Knussen has assembled an impressive cast of contemporary composers for The Soldier's Tale: Harrison Birtwistle as the soldier and George Benjamin as the Devil, with actress Dame Harriet Walter as the narrator. The longest work on this disc, The Soldier's Tale mixes fiendishly difficult changes of time signature with Stravinsky's newly discovered love of jazz with melodies which echo his larger pre-war scores. It is also a work that demonstrates immense clarity and moving simplicity at times, and a sardonic wit at others.

With such a starry cast this recording will be of particular interest to those with an interest in contemporary music, especially considering the addition of two new Birtwistle world premiere versions of Chorale from a Toy Shop written specially for the recording.

The rest of the programme includes an exquisite Knussen arrangement of Maxwell Davies' Canon ad honorem Igor Stravinsky, intermixed with Stravinsky's own late commemorative miniatures.

Reviews

October 2017

It’s recorded in a way to convey to the maximum both the poetic detail and the expert pacing of Knussen’s finely-pointed reading, and to give full rein to Dame Harriet’s wonderfully free-spirited yet exact Narrator…this disc merits a strong recommendation

March 2017

[The Soldier's Tale] is committed to the mysterious timelessness of the entertainment and its abstractly progressive nature. The complementary, commemorative shorter pieces, including two Birtwistle items, are as exquisitely turned as might be expected from this source.

11th May 2017

the young players of the Royal Academy really revel in these and play with guts and a swagger which must be just what Stravinsky intended. Oliver Knussen does the honours from the podium with his customary skill

19th March 2017

This remarkable disc sets Stravinsky’s music-theatre piece The Soldier’s Tale beside 12 minutes of miniaturised instrumental and memorial music...Birtwistle, gruffly northern, takes the role of the Soldier, and Davies would have been the Devil had he lived. Instead, the composer George Benjamin fluently participates.

16th March 2017

Birtwistle [is] a superbly laconic Soldier – it sounds as though he couldn’t care less when his luck is down; the despondency is glorious – and George Benjamin makes a deliciously supercilious Devil...Harriet Walter narrates adeptly; the playing of the Royal Academy’s Manson Ensemble is taut, fearless and detailed.

Classical Music July 2017

as The Soldier, Birtwistle is characteristically laconic; while Benjamin’s Devil is vigorously projected and rhythmically precise. Knussen’s account of the score, alongside a generous collection of miniatures by Birtwistle, Maxwell Davies and Stravinsky, is crisp and alert, securing excellent playing throughout, and Harriet Walter’s narration is a delight

Stravinsky: The Soldier's Tale

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