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A quick overview of Kevin Puts’ 2011 opera about the 1914 World War I Christmas truce.

Premiered

2011

Music by

Kevin Puts

Libretto by

Mark Campbell

Language

English

For those of you slightly unfamiliar with the history of World War I who may be thinking the tale of an armistice at Christmas sounds too good to be true: You’re right.

But it happened anyway.

In the winter of 1914, against all logic and all probability, some troops representing opposing forces in the Great War between the Triple Alliance (consisting of Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy—later joined by Bulgaria and modern-day Turkey) and the Triple Entente (France, Russia, and Great Britain) laid down their guns and enjoyed a full day of polite and peaceful exchange at Christmas.

During those hours, the troops, who’d been suffering unspeakable conditions on the border of Belgium and France, chose compassion over violence—defying cultural tradition and, in some cases, direct military orders. Food and stories were shared. People who might otherwise have killed one another on the battlefield became friends, if only for a day. To some, the event was nothing short of a miracle.

It’s unclear exactly how or why the famous Christmas truce began, but reports suggest these ceasefires occurred all along the Western Front at the center of the war and that they had a lasting impact on the soldiers who were there. No surprise, then, that the story eventually inspired a 2005 film entitled Joyeux Noël (French for “Merry Christmas”) which, in turn, inspired a prominent artistic director to commission the film into an opera.

The result was Silent Night, an opera by composer Kevin Puts with lyrics by Mark Campbell. An ambitious retelling of a sweeping and epic tale, Silent Night is unique in that it has each of its characters speak in their native language (no “I’m from Spain but I’m singing in French” happening here, as it does in some other operas).

Even more unique than having the main characters sing in English, French, and German is that the opera’s music shifts in style according to the character that is singing and their country of origin. All of these varied sounds combine to help plunge the audience into the terrifying realities of World War I, while occasionally evoking the beauty and serenity of the unlikely truce.

Act I

Berlin: Summer, 1914.

Celebrated singers Nikolaus Sprink and Anna Sørensen put their dazzling chemistry on display—they’re in love off-stage as well as on—in a production of an Italian opera. The show is interrupted by a terrible announcement: Germany has entered into a war against Russia, igniting conflict with Russia’s French and British allies. Anna and Nikolaus know they’ll be forced to separate, as Nikolaus will have to join the army.

Miles away in Scotland, William Dale learns of the German declaration and asks his brother, Jonathan, to join him in “the glory of battle” against the Germans on the Western Front along the French-Belgian border.

Back across the English Channel, Lieutenant Audebert gets ready to join the French forces and their British allies on the front, despite concerns from his pregnant wife, Madeleine. She’s rightfully petrified—these battles on the Western Front were death sentences for millions.

Months pass.

December has arrived, and the war shows no signs of letting up. On a battlefield flanked by French, Scottish, and German trenches, Sprink, Audebert, and the Dale brothers face a horrific array of bombs, bullets, and gas attacks. Nikolaus kills an unnamed soldier while William is tragically shot, making Jonathan more determined than ever to defeat the Germans (it’s hard to blame him).

As the body count rises on all sides, Audebert receives harsh criticism from his general (who just so happens to be his father). When the lieutenant tries to comfort himself by looking at a photo of his wife, he discovers he’s lost his wallet—and all of her pictures— during the recent fighting. Disappointed, he decides to write to his wife instead and describes his desperate need for sleep.

And he’s not the only one who’s exhausted. As night falls, all of the soldiers rejoice at the chance to get some rest.

The sun rises on Christmas Eve Day, and each of the camps is in a fairly happy mood. While admiring the Christmas trees placed inside the German trench (which are pretty much a useless gift from the higher-ups in the German army), Nikolaus learns he’s been asked to perform at a concert for the German Kronprinz (a German commander and the son of the reigning German Kaiser), which will allow the singer to be reunited with his beloved co-star, Anna. Meanwhile, the French and Scottish have received Christmas care packages full of food and wine to help brighten their spirits.

Away from the front, Nikolaus and Anna find themselves in the Kronprinz’s luxurious chalet—a cruel contrast to the death and destruction Nikolaus has observed on the battlefield only a few miles away. Anna pleads with Nikolaus to forget the war for a little while, but he insists on returning to his fellow soldiers that night, saying he won’t abandon them at Christmas. Despite the danger, Anna insists on coming along.

Back in the trenches, the French plan their military strategy while the Scottish soldiers break out into spontaneous song to celebrate the season. The French and German soldiers can clearly hear the music; and, when Nikolaus and Anna arrive back at the German camp, Nikolaus sings a musical response to the Scots across the battlefield. Mild applause erupts from the Scottish camp (proving that music is hard to resist, even when it’s sung by your enemy), and Nikolaus, suddenly inspired, grabs one of the Christmas trees and strides boldly out into the perilous “No Man’s Land,” leaving himself completely exposed. Everyone freezes, waiting breathlessly for Nikolaus to be shot down.

Miraculously—nothing happens.

Encouraged by the hushed silence, Nikolaus begins to sing a Christmas carol and invites the French and Scottish camps to join in.

All plans of attack are abandoned as white flags are raised by each of the armies, and conversations spring up between soldiers on opposite sides of the war. Though communications are tense (and some of the men have trouble understanding one another, thanks to the three different languages in play), Lieutenant Gordon of the Scottish force eventually proposes a ceasefire—a truce for Christmas Eve. Lieutenants Audebert and Horstmayer (the German officer) agree. In a time of impossible struggle, they choose to end the struggle altogether—for one night only.

Almost immediately, the men from each camp begin swapping stories and supplies. There’s even a spontaneous Christmas Mass given by Father Palmer and an impromptu concert given by Anna, who sings a peaceful prayer.

Everyone seems to be grateful for the sudden calm; that is, everyone except for Jonathan, who has trouble breaking bread with the men who killed his brother (again, hard to blame him). Still, as bombs go off further along the front, Anna and the soldiers do their best to enjoy their own yuletide “Silent Night.”

Act II

With Christmas Eve over, the truce seems to have ended. Jonathan takes a huge risk and tries to bury his brother in No Man’s Land and is spared from harm thanks to German soldiers who show him kindness. The incident sparks yet another agreement among the camps: They all decide to extend the truce and give their fallen comrades proper burials.

Yet despite the show of mutual respect, everyone knows this peaceful interval won’t last forever. Even worse, the three lieutenants’ commanding officers (the Kronprinz, the British Major, and Audebert’s father) have each received news of the ceasefire—and they’re not at all pleased. Convinced the truce essentially amounts to treason, all three high-ranking officials head for the front.

Back at the camps, emotions run high as Nikolaus begins to show disgust for Lieutenant Horstmayer’s blind loyalty to the German cause. With Horstmayer threatening to arrest Nikolaus for his disobedient outburst, will Nikolaus ever be able to find a happy ending with Anna? And with the commanding officers on their way to punish those who participated in the ceasefire, will Audebert ever be able to return to his wife? Can the spirit of the truce last long enough to calm the patriotic fury of soldiers like Jonathan and…perhaps…turn the tide of the war?

Listen to the Story

The Illustrated London News’ 1915 illustration of the 1914 Christmas Truce: “British and German Soldiers Arm-in-Arm Exchanging Headgear: A Christmas Truce between Opposing Trenches.”

Presented by Washington National Opera, host Saul Lilienstein takes you through the musical world of Kevin Puts’ 2011 opera about the 1914 World War I Christmas truce, Silent Night.

Watch an Excerpt

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