Chineke! Orchestra: Marsalis' Fiddler's Tale
In A Fiddler’s Tale, composer and jazz legend Wynton Marsalis updates the classic Faustian fable to explore a jazz fiddler’s pact with the devil.
Marsalis’ update of Stravinsky’s uncanny tale, L’Histoire du soldat (The Soldier’s Tale), is a modern parable of temptation and redemption.
In this tale set in the world of commercialism, the fiddler, seduced by promises of fame and fortune, confronts the loss of her artistic soul.
The suite is brought to life with a chamber ensemble including violin, double bass, clarinet, bassoon, cornet, trombone and percussion, mirroring Stravinsky’s original instrumentation but infusing it with jazz rhythms and blues.
The work consists of eight movements. In ‘The Fiddler’s March’, a jazz march introduces the tale. Swing rhythms then depict the fiddler’s rise in ‘A Fiddler’s Soul’.
We then follow the fiddler’s journey through solitude, longing and conflict until the final, triumphant movement, ‘The Blues on Top’.
Marsalis’ blend of musical genres and moral complexities come to life through a dynamic mix of instruments and narration in an evening of engaging music, drama, and storytelling.
Explore themes of integrity, sacrifice, and redemption in a performance that redefines traditional tales.
Performers
Chineke! Chamber Ensemble
Matthew Lynch conductor
Josie d'Arby narrator
Repertoire
Wynton Marsalis: A Fiddler's tale for narrator & 7 musicians
Need to know
For your visit
This event is held at the Queen Elizabeth Hall Southbank Centre
The Queen Elizabeth Hall is open from 90 minutes before events start until they finish. It’s closed at all other times.
Plan your visit
The Queen Elizabeth Hall is home to both our second-largest auditorium and the Purcell Room.
Getting here
Our address is Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, London, SE1 8XX.
The nearest tube stations to us are Waterloo and Embankment; Waterloo is also the nearest train station. And more than 20 different London bus routes pass within 500 metres of our venues. More information on getting here by rail, road or river is available on our Getting here page.
We’re cash-free
Please note that we’re unable to accept cash payments across our venues.
Access
We’re working hard to remove barriers, so that our facilities and events can be accessible to as many people as possible.
All help points, toilets, performance and exhibition spaces at the Southbank Centre are accessible to all, as are the cafes, bars and restaurants. We also have excellent public transport links with step-free access.
All information about booking wheelchair spaces, step-free access, blue badge parking, access maps and guides and other help available whilst you’re here, including details about our Access Scheme, can be found on our Access page.
Food & drink
From coffee to cocktails, filling favourites to fine dining, plus some of London’s best street food – it’s all here at the Southbank Centre.