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Press Releases
The Soldier's Tale – Kenneth Cranham conscripted by the ±«Óãtv Scottish Symphony Orchestra
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One of the UK's leading actors, Scottish-born Kenneth Cranham, will join members of the ±«Óãtv Scottish Symphony Orchestra at Glasgow City Halls on Thursday 4 December to perform Stravinsky's The Soldier's Tale, in a live broadcast on ±«Óãtv 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 ±«Óãtv 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. Ìý
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 ±«Óãtv/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 ±«Óãtv Radio 4, Spending My Inheritance, in addition to narrating a history of the Swing Era for ±«Óãtv 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 ±«Óãtv 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 Ìý
Thursday 4 December
Russian Winter 3
City Halls, Glasgow, 7.00pm
Broadcast live on ±«Óãtv Radio 3
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Stravinsky Scherzo à 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 ±«Óãtv 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. Ìý
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. Ìý
Tickets: call 0141353 8000. Also available via bbc.co.uk/bbcsso.
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SD3
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