Histoire du Soldat - IGOR STRAVINSKY

Stravinsky in Bari: “The Soldier’s Tale”—Music, Theatre and Dance at the International Mediterranean Piano Festival

Thursday, November 19, 2026, at 8:00 p.m. – Teatro Kursaal Santalucia, Bari

The 4th International Mediterranean Piano Festival presents one of the most original events in its program: on Thursday, November 19, at 8:00 p.m., the Teatro Kursaal Santalucia in Bari will host Igor Stravinsky’s “The Soldier’s Tale,” a performance combining music, theatre and dance to create an artistic experience of great expressive intensity.

Composed in 1918, *The Soldier’s Tale* is one of the most innovative creations of 20th-century music. In collaboration with the Swiss writer Charles-Ferdinand Ramuz, Stravinsky created a modern theatrical fable in which musical language engages continuously with speech and stage movement.

The story tells of a soldier who, on his way home, encounters the Devil and agrees to exchange his violin for a book capable of predicting the future. A seemingly advantageous pact soon becomes a reflection on desire, wealth, happiness and the impossibility of possessing everything.

Behind the apparent simplicity of the narrative lies one of the deepest and most fascinating parables in 20th-century musical theatre: a timeless story in which the conflict between material aspirations and human values takes on a universal dimension.

Stravinsky’s music, characterized by driving rhythms, surprising contrasts and influences from folk tradition, ragtime, tango and modern musical languages, accompanies the story with extraordinary theatrical force. It is a sonic universe in which irony, unease and lightness coexist, making the work remarkably relevant even today.

The performance will bring together artists from different disciplines: Patrizia Labianca will be the narrator, Mimmo Insalata and Michela Franco will give shape to the choreographic dimension, while Piero Cassano will perform on the piano.

The direction is by Patrizia Labianca, with choreography by G. Colamartino.

The encounter between speech, music and movement will offer a staged interpretation of Stravinsky’s celebrated work, highlighting its narrative and theatrical dimension through an accessible and engaging language.

The event is part of the fourth edition of the International Mediterranean Piano Festival, taking place from November 8 to 30, 2026, in Trani and Bari. Alongside major piano recitals and symphonic concerts, the festival presents artistic programs exploring the relationships between music and other expressive languages.

With *The Soldier’s Tale*, the Festival invites audiences to discover a 20th-century masterpiece in which music becomes storytelling, gesture becomes expression and theatre becomes a reflection on the human condition.

**INFORMATION AND TICKETS**

Date: Thursday, November 19, 2026
Time: 8:00 p.m.
Venue: Teatro Kursaal Santalucia – Bari
Event: Igor Stravinsky – *The Soldier’s Tale*
Series: 4th International Mediterranean Piano Festival – Piano, Theatre and Dance

**Cast**

Patrizia Labianca – narrator
Mimmo Insalata – dancer
Michela Franco – dancer
Piero Cassano – piano

Direction: Patrizia Labianca
Choreography: G. Colamartino

**Tickets and season subscriptions:**
www.diyticket.it
www.pianofestivalmediterraneo.com

**Information:**
+39 347 964 0366 | +39 346 829 6657 | +39 380 656 0557
Web: www.pianofestivalmediterran...