EIF: The Soldier’s Tale
‘The Soldier’s Tale’ is part of Nicola Benedetti’s residency at the Festival, and showcases her talents as a chamber performer and musical director. It’s a good choice of chamber piece, wearing well after 100 years. It was written as a touring work by Stravinsky just after the Spanish flu epidemic when musicians were finding it hard to get work.
Today’s performers don’t have that problem. Working with Benedetti are distinguished musicians, soloists and principals with Scottish orchestras. There’s no conductor today – Benedetti, resplendent in vivid orange frilled jumpsuit (and cardy) directs the ensemble. Stravinsky set it for nine different instruments, upper and lower strings, woodwinds and brass – violin, double bass, clarinet, bassoon, cornet and trombone, plus percussion played by the SCO’s Louise Goodwin.
Thomas Allen, singer turned actor, is the narrator, and stands at a podium to read from the Michael Flanders’ English translation, turning in the occasional characterisation, the King and the Princess speaking RP, and a wise old Soldier delivered in his native County Durham accent. Antony Flaum, a younger singer/actor as the soldier, and Siobhan Redmond (a memorable Mephistopheles in Marlow’s Dr Faustus) taking the part of the Devil move centre stage. He gives a sensitive portrayal of a man of action whose world slips away from him, while she’s a stylish Old Nick, and acts with her usual vim, varying her accent to fit his various incarnations.
Sometimes the actors speak rhythmically with the music, and at others there are passages of spoken text. So the music can work with the text, as in the sections of the Soldier’s March or can reflect the mood of the previous scene as in the Pastorale after the soldier realises how he has been tricked out of his home and his fiancée. The musical sections last from a few seconds to several minutes. The rhythms are jerky and varied, and Benedetti as leader drives the ensemble forward with her own focussed playing. Throughout there are interesting sound effects, snatches of melody from solo instruments and unusual harmonies when they play together. The longest musical section comes after the Soldier thinks he’s secured his future with the princess. Here Benedetti has some extended solo playing in the first of three lovely dance tunes.
The large audience are rightly appreciative of a fine ensemble in this quirky work, but I wonder if the large Junior School academy was the right venue for chamber music. There’s a balance to be struck between giving fans an opportunity to see one of Scotland’s finest musicians perform and providing musicians with the best conditions to perform in. I found it a flatter experience than the SCO’s intense online version last January (with actor Matthew McVarish playing all the parts). The rainstorm in the last 15 minutes here all but drowned out the music – Thomas Allen raised a laugh by jokingly cupping his hands round his mouth to shout.
This concert is available free as part of the At Home series from next Friday, and, assuming they can film the last part in quieter conditions in the second concert, it should work well on the small screen.
