The Great War Rages
Among the horrors of the trenches of the First World War, an extraordinary occurrence of shared humanity bridges the gap between soldiers of all sides in this Pulitzer Prize-winning opera from Kevin Puts and Mark Campbell, based on the historical story of the 1914 Christmas Truce. Presented as part of Arizona Opera's Modern Masterworks, Silent Night is an unmissable drama that takes us into the heart of the devastating conflict, asking us to consider the validity of war in the pursuit of shared peace between nations.
On Christmas Day of 1914, a series of unofficial cease-fires on the Front Line saw British, French and German troops leaving their trenches to exchange seasonal greetings, sing together and even play a few games of soccer. An unprecedented event in the early months of WWI, it provided respite and an insight into to those on all sides for both soldiers, and those at home.