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A Faustian pact with the Devil, a book that can foretell the future – and behind it all, a charmed violin with uncanny powers over all who hear it. Nicola Benedetti’s final performance as the Edinburgh International Festival’s 2021 resident artist presents Stravinsky’s darkly witty The Soldier’s Tale. Conceived during the Spanish flu pandemic that immediately followed the First World War, it was originally created on an intimate scale and was meant to be read, played and danced. In this recorded version of the performance, the brilliant Scottish violinist is joined by a specially selected ensemble of musicians to bring Stravinsky’s sly musical storytelling to life. Widely admired baritone Sir Thomas Allen plays the role of narrator.