A Faustian pact with the Devil, a book that can foretell the future – and behind it all, a charmed violin with uncanny powers over all who hear it. Conceived during the Spanish flu pandemic that immediately followed the First World War, The Soldier’s Tale was originally created on an intimate scale and was meant to be read, played and danced.

In this recorded version of the performance, the brilliant Scottish violinist is joined by a specially selected ensemble of musicians (Nicholas Bayley bass, Maximiliano Martin clarinet, Ursula Leveaux bassoon, Philip Cobb cornet, Peter Moore trombone and Louise Goodwin percussion) to bring Stravinsky’s sly musical storytelling to life. Widely admired baritone Sir Thomas Allen plays the role of narrator, opera singer Anthony Flaum is the Soldier and actress Siobhan Redmond is the Devil.