Members of Denison University's music and theatre departments come together to perform Igor Stravinsky'sThe Soldier's Taleat 8 p.m. on Tuesday (Sept. 25) in Burke Recital Hall. For this production, Stravinsky's piece is presented essentially in its original form as a uniquely captivating and rarely heard piece of "music-theatre." This event provides a rare opportunity to showcase both departments and is free and open to the public.

Written in 1918,The Soldier's Taleis most commonly known only as a suite of musical miniatures. The plot is a distillation of the Faust legend: a soldier, returning home, meets the Devil and swaps his violin for a book that holds the key to wealth and success, or so he is led to believe.

Theatre department faculty members take the roles in the production. Assistant Professor Kevin Wetmore narrates the tale while Assistant Professor Robert Gander portrays the soldier. Jon Farris, the Jonathan Reynolds Distinguished Professor and Chair of the theatre department, plays the role of the Devil.

Providing the music are members of the music department as well as guest artists. Associate Professor and Chair Andrew Glendening (trombone), Assistant Professor Andrew Carlson (violin) and studio affiliates Dan King (trumpet), Robert Jordan (bassoon) and Guy Remonko (percussion), will be joined by Carmen Eby (clarinet) and Anthony Stoops (contrabass).

The performance will be conducted by Assistant Professor Ching-chu Hu. "We are really excited. This is the first collaboration by faculty in both departments in recent memory and we are looking forward to the performance." Hu is active both as a composer and as a performer of new music and has received both composition and orchestral conducting degrees.Passions, his composition for violin and piano, will be performed in Wigmore Hall in London, England in October.

About Denison:

Denison University, founded in 1831, is an independent, residential liberal arts institution located in Granville, Ohio. A highly selective college enrolling 2,100 full-time undergraduate students from all 50 states and dozens of foreign countries, Denison is a place where innovative faculty and motivated students collaborate in rigorous scholarship, civic engagement and the cultivation of independent thinking.

For press inquiries:

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