Russian And Swiss Federation Embassies Present Stravinsky's Soldier's Tale; While Swarthmore College Presents Three Tableaux From "Sadko"

Tonight's Stravinsky The Soldier's Tale presentation at the Russian Federation Embassy is sold out; however, the Post-Classical Ensemble will also be staging Stravinsky's The Soldier's Tale, expertly paired with Manuel de Falla's El Amore Brujo, this coming Saturday and Sunday at Georgetown University.

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"The Swarthmore College Orchestra and Chorus, under the direction of Alfred J. Swan, presented, this year, three tableaus from the complete Russian Opera " Sadko, " by Rimsky-Korsakow. The performance was given two nights, April 11 and 12, 1931, at Swarthmore, and was acclaimed one of the best productions ever undertaken by the two organizations. It was quite a distinction that the world-famous Kedroff Quartet took part in the opera on April 11, the members singing the roles of the three merchants in the cast. Musicians of the Philadelphia Orchestra helped with accompaniment, which is always a large factor in operatic production. Part of the proceeds from the performances was turned over to two organizations caring for Russian children, who emigrated from Russia during and after the Revolution of 1917, while the rest was used to defray staging expenses. Such a tremendous undertaking with such a definite purpose other than giving pleasure to Swarthmore audiences, is a credit to the recently developed musical organization, and its success in this third year of existence indicates that it is appreciated and has fulfilled a need in student life."

Alfred Julius Swan and His Contribution to Russian Orthodox Music by Dr. Marina V. Ledkovsky

Alfred J. Swan Musical Manuscript Papers in the Manuscript/Special Collections of the Music Library of the University of Virginia [Guide funded, in part, by the National Endowment for the Humanities.]

The Muse and the Fashion: being a defence of the foundations of the art of music by Nikolai Karlovich Medtner. English translation by Alfred J Swan 1951

Image credit: 'All-Sufferers' by Oleg Kudryashov (c) Oleg Kudryashov 1998. Copyright controlled. All rights reserved.