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Press Releases
The Soldier's Tale – Kenneth Cranham conscripted by the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Scottish Symphony Orchestra
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One of the UK's leading actors, Scottish-born Kenneth Cranham, will join members of the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Scottish Symphony Orchestra at Glasgow City Halls on Thursday 4 December to perform Stravinsky's The Soldier's Tale, in a live broadcast on Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 3.
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This unique piece of music-theatre combines black humour and deep pathos in the story of a man who makes a pact with the Devil, with Cranham playing the combined roles of the Soldier, the Devil and Narrator.
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This concert forms part of the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ SSO's Russian Winter series and combines the youthful ardour of Rachmaninov's First Piano Concerto, performed by Mikhail Rudy, with the powerful theatricality of Stravinsky's 1918 mini-drama.
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The concert is conducted by the orchestra's Associate Guest Conductor, Stefan Solyom.
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Kenneth Cranham, originally from Dunfermline, has been a major figure in British stage, TV and film for nearly all his adult life. Μύ
He remains well-loved as the title character from the Eighties series Shine On Harvey Moon, and is widely acclaimed for his appearances in such diverse pieces as Oliver!, Z Cars, Reilly: Ace Of Spies, The Merchant Of Venice, Brideshead Revisited, Merlin, Tess Of The D'urbervilles and the celebrated Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ/HBO series, Rome.
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Cranham, who has also given compelling performances in Layer Cake and Dalziel And Pascoe, has recently begun a new comedy drama for Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4, Spending My Inheritance, in addition to narrating a history of the Swing Era for Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Four.
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Stravinsky's The Soldier's Tale was devised in 1918 as a small-scale, low budget theatre piece that could be toured on the back of a lorry.
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Using only a band of seven musicians, the story is based on a Russian morality tale, and the music turns its back on a Russian style in favour of Tango and Ragtime, with an especially prominent solo part for the violin.
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This is a huge contrast to the romantic grandeur of Rachmaninov's first piano concerto.
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Rachmaninov was not quite 18 when he wrote his first concerto, and the exhilarating self-assurance of the piece is astonishing for someone that young.
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It is presented here in its final revision, performed by the eminent Russian pianist, Mikhail Rudy.
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Each Thursday night concert in the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ SSO's Russian Winter series begins at 7.00pm, to allow for a simultaneous live broadcast on Radio 3.
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Notes to Editors Μύ
Thursday 4 December
Russian Winter 3
City Halls, Glasgow, 7.00pm
Broadcast live on Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 3
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Stravinsky Scherzo Γ la Russe Rachmaninov Piano Concerto No.1
Stravinsky The Soldier's Tale
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Kenneth Cranham, narrator (The Soldier's Tale)
Mikhail Rudy, piano Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Scottish Symphony Orchestra
Stefan Solyom, conductor
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Pre-Concert Prelude (6.15pm in the Recital Room): Stephen Johnson discusses The Soldier's Tale. Μύ
Post-Concert Coda (approximately 10 minutes after main concert): Mikhail Rudy gives a short recital including Prokofiev's Prelude Op.12, No. 7 in C major. Μύ
Tickets: call 0141353 8000. Also available via bbc.co.uk/bbcsso.
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SD3
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