I am a huge fan of classical music and often have it playing in my home so I can listen as I go about my daily life. I find there is something very visceral about listening; it allows you to experience a wide range of incredibly strong emotions.
I was thrilled when given the opportunity to review, The Soldier’s Tale, which features the music of Igor Stravinsky, and is the latest release in the award winning Stories in Music series from Maestro Classics.
Maestro Classics™, winner of 50 prestigious awards for its Stories In Music™ CD series, is dedicated to creating recordings that offer memorable listening experiences for the whole family. Albums where uncompromisingly great performances are woven into enchanting narratives, supplemented by expanded commentary and activities in beautifully illustrated, 24-page program booklets.
Maestro Classics proudly announced the December 6 release of the company’s ninth CD, a sparkling rendition of Stravinsky’s masterpiece for narrator and chamber ensemble, L’Histoire du Soldat, retold for today’s young audiences as The Soldier’s Tale.
The story opens with a soldier named Joseph stopping to rest by the roadside as he walks home to his village. Joseph has just taken out his violin and begun to play when an old man appears, offering to trade a mysterious book that can reveal the future in exchange for the violin. When the old man, who is really the Devil in disguise, convinces Joseph that the powers of the book can be used to gain great wealth, the soldier agrees, and the inexorable wheels of this Faustian morality play begin to turn. Joseph eventually recognizes that he has lost his family and friends, and that money does not bring happiness.
This CD is recommended for ages 8+ and families, with a run time of ~ 55 minutes.
Although some children may find the story to be a little sad; it does impart a valuable life lesson and is filled with the beautiful music of the London Philharmonic Orchestra.
As mentioned above, included with this CD is an activity book for children. It features the wonderfully adapted and beautifully illustrated story, has a short biography of composer Igor Stravinsky, a crossword puzzle and also a pictorial introduction to the instruments that make the music.
Your entire family will love the Stories in Music series and they would make an amazing baby shower, Easter, Christmas or birthday gift.
BUY IT – Maestro Classics recordings are available at maestroclassics.com, amazon.com, and other major distributors and retailers. In addition to The Soldier’s Tale, the Stories in Music series includes My Name is Handel: The Story of Handel’s “Water Music,” Peter and the Wolf, The Tortoise and the Hare, The Story of Swan Lake, The Sorcerer’s Apprentice, Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel, Casey at the Bat, and Juanita the Spanish Lobster (also available in Spanish).
WIN IT – One lucky reader of Older Mommy Still Yummy is going to receive their own copy of the wonderful “The Soldier’s Tale” CD.
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Your hyperlink on the A to Z Blog comment worked!
Stravinsky did some good stuff.
Lee
An A to Z Co-Host
Tossing It Out
Twitter: @AprilA2Z
#atozchallenge
I’d love to check out Sorcerer’s Apprentice! Makes me think of the broomsticks scene in Fantasia!
I would love to own Swan Lake Orchestra Version!!!
I think another CD we would like to own would be the Tortoise and the Hare or My Name is Handel.
I would love to add The Soldier’s Tale to our collection. We got a boxed set for Christmas and LOVE Maestro Classics! ( I hope I win. :)
I too love Swan Lake and would like the Orchestra version!
My daughter would love swan lake
I really would love to have any/all of these. I have Swan Lake…it’s great!
I’d love to own The Tortoise and the Hare. Maestro Classics are fantastic! :)
I would love to have The Sorcerer’s Apprentice
I would love to own the Mike Mulligan set! Maybe one day. This one looks great too!!
I would love to own Juanita the Spanish Lobster.
Any of these would be great to own and could be a great substitute lesson for my classroom. I especially like the music of Juanita the Lobster as it is a style my students don’t hear often.
I’d also like to own the The Story of Swan Lake.
We can’t decide which one we’d like the “most” – The Sorcerer’s Apprentice is familiar, but my son has an attraction to Swan Lake in the last few days. Then we saw a clip of the lobster one – that one was funny!
Id love to have the story of swan lake
I would absolutely love to own The Story of Swan Lake. Thanks for getting me aware of the Maestro Classics series .. so much fun for the little ones.
Swan Lake looks lovely
I would like to own the Tortoise and the Hare and The Story of Swan Lake!
Thanks!
Jenn from How to Make Bows out of Ribbon
learnquilling@gmail.com
I’ve been hearing great things about Peter and the Wolf, a favourite of mine, so I’d love to hear it.
The Story of Swan Lake – my daughter loves the music ever since she saw – Barbie in Swan Lake on DVD. She knows all about the music now.
Soldier’s Tale looks great and so does Swan Lake!
Would love the Story of Swan Lake.
I’d love to own The Story of Swan Lake!
I would also love to own Peter and the Wolf
Would love Peter and the Wolf and also the Tortoise and the Hare. I think my boys would love those.