Andrew Burashko and the Art of Time Ensemble announce the upcoming digital release of Stravinsky: Sankofa, The Soldier’s Tale Retold & Histoire du soldat Suite on the Leaf Music label. The release, recorded live in March and April 2025 in Toronto, comes in recognition of Black History Month.
Sankofa, The Soldier’s Tale Retold reimagines Stravinsky’s 1918 theatrical work. Created for three actors and a septet of musicians, the original libretto by Swiss poet Charles Ferdinand Ramuz is based on Russian writer Alexander Afanasyev’s story The Runaway Soldier and the Devil, which was published as part of a collection of works. In the original story, a soldier makes a deal with the Devil, trading his violin for riches. The three actors include The Soldier, The Devil, and The Narrator.
The Art of Time Ensemble’s work uses a libretto created by Nigerian-born, Edmonton-based poet Titilope Sonuga. It tells the story of a Black soldier tricked by the Devil into trading his identity and worth in order to serve in the Canadian army. The three characters of The Narrator, The Soldier, and The Devil remain unchanged, with The Devil taking on various guises in order to trick The Soldier.
Andrew Bursashko’s vision for the story was inspired by hearing Canadian hip-hop artist Shad’s album A Short Story About War. The plight of Black soldiers in the Canadian armed forces is historical fact, and the story draws from the true life history of the No. 2 Construction Battalion, Canada’s only segregated all-Black battalion during the First World War.
The No. 2 Construction Battalion was formed in 1916 in Pictou, Nova Scotia, and they were set up to do construction and general labour work. In 2022, then Prime Minister Justin Trudeau issued an apology for the racism its members experienced during their service.
Sankofa, The Soldier’s Tale Retold uses Stravinsky’s original score, while reimagining the story. The album also includes Stravinsky’s Histoire du soldat Suite, an instrumental piece that uses highlights from the original score.
The recording features: Andrew Burashko (musical director); Ordena Stephens-Thompson (Narrator), Olaoluwa Fayokun (Soldier), Diego Matamoros (Devil), Benjamin Bowman, violin (concertmaster, Metropolitan Opera Orchestra); Eric Abramovitz, clarinet (principal, Toronto Symphony); Amy Horvey, trumpet (associate principal, National Arts Centre Orchestra); Robert Conquer, trombone (principal, Canadian Opera Company Orchestra); Kris Maddigan, percussion (principal, National Ballet of Canada Orchestra); Joseph Phillips, double bass; Thomas Roy Rochette, bassoon.
The Art of Time Ensemble was founded in Toronto by pianist and artistic director Andrew Burashko in 1998. The Ensemble has developed a reputation for blending classical music and jazz with theatre, dance, film, and literature to create unique productions. The Ensemble has created more than 80 unique productions and recordings, commissioned over 300 works of music, dance, text and film, and performed over 400 concerts throughout North America and Europe.
They have collaborated with a long list of artists that include Margaret Atwood, Peggy Baker, Brent Carver, Barbara Hannigan, Branford Marsalis, Michael Ondaatje, Madeleine Péyroux, Jackie Richardson, among many others.
Leaf Music is an independent recording label based in Halifax, Nova Scotia and Nashville, Tennessee, focused on classical music by artists and composers from across North America.
The release is available only in Canada and Japan. Due to the restrictions placed by the overseers of Stravinsky’s estate, the rest of the world will have to wait until 2042.
Details:
Pre-save & Stream Now/Download Link [HERE].
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