In May of 2008, the St. Barts Music Festival invited several international artists to Pittsburgh to re-enact Stravinsky’s masterpiece entitled: L’ Histoire du Soldat (A Soldier’s Tale). L’ Histoire du Soldat originated in post-war time 1918, when jazz was just beginning to emerge into the mainstream. The story is a gripping Faustian fable about a deserting soldier desperate to return home only to meet the Devil, who swaps the soldier’s fiddle for a book that foretells the future and turns the Soldier into a rich man. The Soldier's violin becomes a symbol of both the soldier's soul and the Devil's artful deceit to steal the Soldier’s soul. These dedicated and world-renown classical musicians, Alex Klein (Conductor), Brian Lewis (Violin), Joshua MacCluer Trumpet) , Nancy Goeres Bassoon), Ted Atkatz (Tympani), Nitzan Ha'Roz (Trombone), Timothy Cobb (Double Bass), Jon Manasse (Clarinet) and one actor, Philippe Benichou aka Eric Stone, performed for sold-out crowds. Stravinsky was broke, deprived of his royalties because of the Russian Revolution, and his other source of income, Diaghilev's Ballets Russes, was also going through hard times. Stravinsky invented a new style, trimmed down to essentials in melody, rhythm and instrumentation. L’ Histoire du Soldat is scored for just seven instruments: clarinet, bassoon, cornet, trombone, violin, double bass and percussion. This CD release is exceptional and certainly breathes new life into Stravinsky’s classical chef d’œuvre. Frances DeBroff founded the St. Barts Music Festival in 1983 on the small French Caribbean Island of St. Barts. The Festival is brought together throughout the year in all parts of the world with its biggest programming efforts in January on the island. The Festival programs for the enjoyment of artists and audiences alike. The St. Barts Music Festival exists solely on generous donations through its Endowment Fund, which insures continued the performance life of the Festival. Visit our website at www.stbartsmusicfestival.org for more info. We are grateful to the many people who helped make this release possible: The Pittsburgh Chamber Music Society, the Festival Committee members and sponsors, our Island President Bruno Magras, WQED / Pittsburgh, Mark Volpe (CD jacket designer), our musical family, and our wonderful island community.