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Steamboat Springs — Russians never write happy endings, said Ernest Richardson, the musical director of the Steamboat Springs Orchestra.

That fact will be supported Sunday when the orchestra performs "The Soldier's Tale" by Igor Stravinsky at Steamboat Springs Mountain Theater.

"This is a great piece as a fusion piece," Richardson said. "It's a dramatic work that combines storytelling with the music."

Only seven orchestra musicians will take part in this performance. Instruments include violin, double bass, clarinet, bassoon, trumpet, trombone and percussion.

"It takes tremendous players to pull this off," Richardson said. "It features all of these wonderful soloists, and is a great opportunity to show the community the great musical leadership of the orchestra."

Richardson thinks Steamboat Springs Mountain Theater is the perfect venue to combine musicians and actors on stage. Michael Brumbaugh, Andy Pratt and Rusty de Lucia will play the narrating roles.

"It's a classic story where the devil tries to make a deal with the soldier who plays the violin," Richardson said. "Playing violin and the devil have been associated for a long time."

The soldier makes a deal with the devil to trade his violin - which represents his soul - to the devil for a book that will make him wealthy. The soldier then realizes that all of the really meaningful things in life aren't about being rich, Richardson said.

"He has all the material wealth and has nothing. If he gets rid of everything gained, he can be free again, and he gets a princess and everything works out well."

"The Soldier's Tale" was written during the birth of jazz music, and Stravinsky incorporated elements of it into the performance.

"He wrote a ragtime in it for the violinist to play, and a tango," Richardson said. "It was a really interesting time in music when jazz was beginning to influence classical composers."