L'Histoire du soldat

A Harrowing Fable of Greed, the Devil & the Price of a Soul

A soldier trades his violin for a book of riches… but what has he really given away?

Step into the stark, unsettling world of L'Histoire du Soldat: Igor Stravinsky's theatrical masterstroke where fortune comes at a cost, the Devil is always one step ahead, and what you love most may be the very thing that destroys you. Joseph, a young soldier trudging home on leave, strikes what seems like a harmless bargain with a mysterious stranger: trade your violin for a book that predicts the future and spend three days away from home. Easy enough. But three days in the Devil's company turns out to be three years in the real world, and Joseph returns to find everything he knew has vanished.

Cue the gambling dens, desolate crossroads, and a bewitched princess as Joseph struggles to reclaim what was stolen, his music, his past, and perhaps his very soul. But the Devil is a patient opponent, and the rules of his game are always shifting. With Stravinsky's razor-edged score, a dazzling, irreverent collision of ragtime, tango, chorale and a fable as timeless as temptation itself, L'Histoire du Soldat is a theatrical thunderbolt that crackles with dark wit and existential weight.

Conceived in the austerity of wartime 1918, this is chamber theatre stripped to its bones: a narrator, two actors, a dancer, and just seven musicians, and yet the effect is nothing short of overwhelming. Small in scale. Enormous in impact.

As a recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, OCW relies on the generosity of our community to continue presenting intimate, world-class musical experiences. Every seat filled makes a difference. Join us for this unforgettable evening and help ensure that live opera continues to thrive in our community! Your participation makes a lasting difference, and we are honored to have you as part of our journey.

For security reasons, each attendee's first and last name is required at registration. You can always have access to your registration to edit the names of the attendees later. 

Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.

Get App

Host or Publisher L'Opéra Comique de Washington