Silent Night, Quarantined

Need to Know

Silent Night is the first opera by composer Kevin Puts, with a collaboration with librettist, Mark Cambell. The opera premiered at Minnesota Opera on November 12, 2011 and went onto to win the Pulitzer Prize for Music in 2012.

The libretto of the opera is based on the multilingual screenplay by Christian Carion for the 2005 film Joyeux Noël. The story is based on the 1914 Christmas truce between enemy combatants in World War I.

World War I is still considered one of most terrible wars of all time. Between 1914-1918 more then 25 million people were killed or wounded in the war. The Christmas Truce in 1914, was unofficial and caused backlash by officers on both sides and they took steps to make sure a similar event would never occur. Read more about the events of this rare moment of peace during WWI from Smithsonian Magazine.

Stille Nacht

Silent Night (Stille nacht) is one of the most popular Christmas carol ever written. It was composed by Franz Xaver Gruber to the lyrics of Father Joseph Mohr in 1818. The song was first performed on Christmas Eve at St. Nicholas parish church in Oberndorf. In 1859, Episcopal priest John Freeman Young, wrote and published the English translation that is most sung today. The carol has since been translated into about 140 languages.

The Perfect Nightcap!

One of the most memorable moments in Silent Night is a men’s chorus “Sleep.” The best sipper we know for a good night’s sleep is the classic Hot Toddy. Watch John build the cocktail here.

Ingredients: 5 oz Hot Water, 2 oz Bourbon, 3/4 oz Lemon Juice, 1/2 Dem (or other simple syrup), Lemon slice for garnish. Directions: Add all ingredients to a mug and stir gently, garnish with Lemon. Enjoy!

Synopsis

Opera Overview

Silent Night takes place in 1914 at the start of the Great War, World War I, and chronicles the events of the 1914 Christmas truce between German, French and Scottish soldiers.