A magnificent storyteller gave Georg Baselitz's puppets an identity at the Muziekgebouw

The Muziekgebouw recently hosted a captivating performance of Igor Stravinsky’s L’histoire du soldat, featuring marionettes designed by the renowned artist Georg Baselitz. Originally premiered at the Salzburg Festival, this production utilizes cardboard puppets to reenact the cautionary tale of a soldier who trades his soul and violin to the devil in exchange for wealth. The staging emphasizes the thematic alignment between Baselitz’s raw visual aesthetic and Stravinsky’s dissonant, rhythmic musical compositions, creating a unique synthesis of visual art and performance.

The production is defined by its intimate scale and the absence of a conductor, allowing the musicians and soloist Isabelle Faust to deliver a sharp, modern interpretation of the 1918 score. Central to the performance is actor Dominique Horwitz, whose masterful storytelling serves as the bridge between the audience and the minimalist puppets. The show creates an immersive experience where the simple, evocative movements of the figures bring the tragic narrative to life, highlighting the interplay between complex form and emotional depth.