Opera North's "All is Calm-The Christmas Truce of 1914"

Opera North presents "All is Calm-the Christmas Truce of 1914"
Lebanon Opera House, Lebanon NH

December 11, 2021 5 pm Tickets

December 12, 2021 2 pm Tickets

(Seating is limited to allow for physical distancing)

 

This is not your typical Christmas/Holiday performance but that does not mean it won't put you in the Holiday Spirit. I had the pleasure of photographing the dress rehearsal on Friday evening and a few times I had tears in my eyes.

All is Calm is based on real-life events during World War I along the Western Front. In the week leading up to 25 December, French, German and British soldiers crossed trenches to exchange seasons greetings and talk. These were the men fighting not the men making the war decisions. They recognized each other as "brothers".

In some areas, men from both sides ventured into no man's land on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day to mingle and exchange food and souvenirs and to sing Christmas Carols.

Some even played football.

The unofficial truce was all-too-brief: following that period of peace, soldiers were ordered back to fight for another bloody four years.

A beautifully profound a cappella chamber opera, All is Calm is a testament to humanity and unity. It features moments of spoken words from text found in letters from soldiers who lived through WWI alongside familiar holiday and military music from the countries engaged in battle.

More photos: CLICK READ