Christmas in Opera: 10 Wintery Operas We Love
Opera has a unique way of capturing the essence of winter and the festive season – whether through heartwarming Christmas scenes, moments of quiet reflection, or even dramatic tales set against snow-covered landscapes. From joyous gatherings to poignant farewells, these 10 operas, chosen by the Music Theatre Wales team, showcase the many facets of Christmas and winter from the jolly to the bleak.
Y Tŵr (Guto Puw and Gwyneth Glyn, 2017)
Kath’s Pick
Background:
Based on a seminal Welsh play by Gwenlyn Parry, Y Tŵr (The Tower) follows a couple’s journey through life, exploring themes of love, ageing, and mortality. The opera’s final act includes a poignant Christmas scene where the husband attempts to rekindle the joy of the season with decorations. It is a bittersweet reflection on the fleeting nature of life and the power of human connection.
Why It’s Special:
“Christmas has its moment in Y Tŵr in the final act, as our couple enter the final chapter of their lives. He attempts to liven things up by putting up the Christmas Decorations – ‘Trimins Dolig’ – but the attempt to rekindle the joy of Christmas is short-lived. After He dies, there is a beautiful moment when he effectively leaves his body and calls out to his wife: ‘Ti’n barod, ‘ta? Gad’ni fynd allan o’r lle ‘ma.’ Not so much renewal, but certainly a release and revival of sorts.”
The Cunning Little Vixen (Leoš Janáček, 1924)
Kath’s Pick
Background:
Composed by Leoš Janáček and inspired by a Czech cartoon strip, The Cunning Little Vixen is a magical blend of human and animal worlds. The opera explores themes of life’s cycles, renewal, and survival. Act II is set in a snowy winter landscape, where the clever and confident Vixen Sharp-Ears commandeers a Badger’s den to weather the cold. The opera also features scenes of human revelry, including tipsy villagers braving the snowy night after a little too much cheer at the inn.
Why It’s Special:
“David Pountney’s iconic production of The Cunning Little Vixen will always stick in my mind for its fun and playful depiction of Winter in Act II of Janáček’s masterpiece. Here, the adolescent, confident (some would say anarchic) Vixen Sharp-Ears kicks a poor, elderly Badger out of his home so she can have a warm and safe hole to nest in over the cold months! We also see and hear the parson, the forester, and the schoolmaster warming their cockles at the local inn a little too robustly, with them merrily slip-sliding their way home after a few too many hot toddies!”
Paul Bunyan (Benjamin Britten, 1941)
Michael’s Pick
Background:
Benjamin Britten’s Paul Bunyan is a folk operetta that reimagines the myth of the legendary logger. Written in collaboration with poet W.H. Auden, the work was Britten’s first large-scale composition during his time in America. The opera features a rich cast of characters and explores themes of community, growth, and change, ending with a poignant Christmas gathering as Paul Bunyan departs, leaving the community to find its way forward.
Why It’s Special:
“An opera that sits at the very heart of everything I have done in my career is Benjamin Britten’s Paul Bunyan. I performed and assisted the director in a production of this work in 1980 when I was studying music at Birmingham University. The opera ends with a poignant Christmas party as Bunyan departs and everyone has to find their place in the future of America. The end and a new beginning.”
It’s a Wonderful Life (Jake Heggie, 2016)
Dylan’s Pick
Background:
Based on the iconic 1946 film, Jake Heggie’s operatic adaptation of It’s a Wonderful Life breathes new musical life into the story of George Bailey. The opera, which premiered at Houston Grand Opera, retains the timeless charm and emotional depth of the original, with the soaring operatic voices adding an extra layer of poignancy to this tale of hope, love, and community. The opera concludes with a powerful rendition of Auld Lang Syne, transforming it into a heartfelt anthem of unity.
Why It’s Special:
“I love the film, and once I learned that there was an opera too, I was obsessed. This is how every rendition of Auld Lang Syne should sound!”
Cinderella (Peter Maxwell Davies, 1980)
Michael’s Pick
Background:
Peter Maxwell Davies’s Cinderella is a delightful reimagining of the classic fairy tale, written for children to perform both on stage and in the orchestra pit. The opera captures the magic of Cinderella’s transformation while remaining accessible and playful. Michael directed a production with WNO in 1993, which was later translated into Welsh by Caryl Parry Jones and broadcast on S4C on Boxing Day, bringing the festive story to homes across Wales.
Why It’s Special:
“This is one of many operas Max wrote for children to perform on stage and in the pit. WNO invited me to create a production with a professional team performed by young casts in four different places. The success led to a Welsh translation and filming for S4C, broadcast on Boxing Day!”
Silent Night (Kevin Puts, 2011)
Dylan’s Pick
Background:
Inspired by the extraordinary events of the 1914 Christmas Truce during World War I, Silent Night tells the story of soldiers on opposing sides who set aside their weapons to share carols and camaraderie on Christmas Eve. Kevin Puts’s Pulitzer Prize-winning opera is celebrated for its emotional depth and its ability to capture humanity in the face of war’s horrors.
Why It’s Special:
“Inspired by the 1914 Christmas truce during World War I, this opera captures a moment of humanity amidst the horrors of war. Puts’s Pulitzer Prize-winning score is hauntingly beautiful, weaving together a variety of musical styles to reflect the diverse backgrounds of the soldiers.”
Gwyneth and the Green Knight (Lynne Plowman, 2002)
Michael’s Pick
Background:
Set in the mythical world of Camelot, Gwyneth and the Green Knight reimagines the legend of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. The opera, composed by Lynne Plowman, explores themes of magic, courage, and the cycle of life. Its connection to Christmas lies in the Green Knight’s dramatic return during the festivities at Camelot, a moment that encapsulates renewal and the changing of seasons.
Why It’s Special:
“There was always a magical Christmassy feel to Plowman’s Gawain opera. The cycle of the seasons is clearly encapsulated by the head-chopping of the Green Knight, only to discover he is able to re-grow it and return in a year’s time. His return comes as Christmas is celebrated at Camelot. Perfect!”
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- Designer – Simon Banham
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- Designer – Simon Banham
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- Designer – Simon Banham
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- Designer – Simon Banham
La Bohème (Puccini, 1896)
Kath’s Pick
Background:
One of opera’s most beloved classics, La Bohème is set in the freezing streets and student garrets of 19th-century Paris. Acts 1 and 2 take place on Christmas Eve, featuring glowing candles, bustling markets, and Musetta’s unforgettable display of charisma and style. Puccini’s masterpiece captures the joys and struggles of young love, friendship, and the realities of poverty during the festive season.
Why It’s Special:
“Acts 1 and 2 are set on Christmas Eve, immersing us in the freezing student digs, glowing candles, and bustling Christmas markets. The highlight? Musetta flaunting her furs and fiery personality, bringing both drama and warmth to the wintry setting.”
Rebekka (Glenn Erik Haugland, 2007)
Michael’s Pick
Background:
Rebekka is a dark and gripping opera by Norwegian composer Glenn Erik Haugland. The story culminates in a Christmas scene laden with tension and tragedy, as the truth of a harrowing crime is revealed through macabre gifts. Michael directed the opera’s premiere for the National Opera in Norway, where its powerful narrative and haunting music left a profound impact.
Why It’s Special:
“This was a harrowing tale of revenge and tragedy. The opera ends with a domestic Christmas scene where the truth is revealed through a series of macabre gifts, followed by the chorus, who represent the community, entering and destroying the Christmas scene.”
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- Designer – Simon Banham
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- Designer – Simon Banham
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- Designer – Simon Banham
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- Designer – Simon Banham
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- Designer – Simon Banham
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- Designer – Simon Banham
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- Designer – Simon Banham
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- Designer – Simon Banham
Rhwng Bethlehem a’r Groes (Celt, 1996; Reworked 2019)
Dylan’s Pick
Background:
Originally a Welsh pop anthem by Celt, Rhwng Bethlehem a’r Groes gained a festive twist in 2019 with a new arrangement featuring Rich Roberts, Ifan Davies, Mared Williams, and Rhys Gwynfor. The highlight of this version is an operatic interlude by Bryn Terfel, delivering a powerful, unexpected blast in Italian. This grandiose addition gives the piece a delightfully theatrical edge.
Why It’s Special:
“This might be cheating, but there’s a beautifully OTT operatic moment in Rhwng Bethlehem a’r Groes. Celt’s Welsh pop anthem was slightly Christmasafied in 2019, with Bryn Terfel delivering the unexpected and almost hilarious operatic explosion towards the end of the song, in Italian, which feels completely out of context but is grandiose and ridiculous and great.”