The Soldier's Tale's Tale
In which world historical events conspire to facilitate the creation of a traveling show that never traveled but still changed music forever
Dramatis Personae
The Main Folks
Igor Stravinsky The greatest composer of the 20th century, and not afraid to tell you so; composer of The Soldier’s Tale
Charles-Ferdinand Ramuz Celebrated writer in Switzerland, dude who loved mountains; author of The Soldier’s Tale
The Supporting Folks
Ernest Ansermet Mutual friend to Stravinsky and Ramuz, one of the world’s great conductors; conducted the premiere of The Soldier’s Tale
Rene Auberjonois Post-impressionist painter, close friend of Ramuz; designed the sets for The Soldier’s Tale
The Devil A guy with multiple fine red suits and a penchant for deceit
Winnaretta Singer a/k/a Princesse de Polignac Sewing machine heiress, incredible arts patron, philanthropist, all-around bad ass
Werner Reinhart Rich guy whose family made money in cotton, also an incredible arts patron; financed the premiere of The Soldier’s Tale
Dean Nilson A guy from rural Kansas who has as reasonable a claim as any one person could have to starting the Spanish Flu pandemic
Other Folks of Note
Serge Diaghilev Impresario and founder of the Ballet Russes
Gerald Hugh Tyrwhitt-Wilson a/k/a Lord Berners Friend of Stravinsky and Diaghilev, eccentric-bordering-on-mentally-ill rich guy
Vaslav Nijinsky Acclaimed dancer and choreographer
Archduke Franz Ferdinand Guy who got shot
Vladimir Ilyich Ulyanov a/k/a Lenin Revolutionary with a lot of ideas about the state owning your stuff
Leon Bakst Russian painter
And finally…
If there are other names you don’t recognize and are curious about them, the internet continues to exist as a resource.