About This Program

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The COT shrinks in size to present two 20th century masterpieces that went very much against the grain at the time of their composition. First on the program is Paul Hindemith’s electric Kammermusik No.1. Disassociating himself from the wave of nationalistic music that swept through Germany in the 1920’s, Hindemith looked towards the groundbreaking example of Igor Stravinsky and the new sounds of American Jazz for inspiration. 

The main course of this program is Igor Stravinsky’s L’Histoire du soldat (A Soldier’s Tale). A theatrical work "to be read, played, and danced,” L’Histoire recounts a soldier’s encounter with the Devil and the adventure that ensues. This production is directed by Vivienne Benesch, the Producing Artistic Director of Playmakers Repertory Company in Chapel Hill, and features actors Ray Dooley, Ron Menzel, David Patterson, and dancer Sarah Bowdoin.