The Long Christmas Dinner (opera)
| The Long Christmas Dinner | |
|---|---|
| Opera by Paul Hindemith | |
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| Librettist | Thornton Wilder |
| Language | English |
| Premiere | 13 March 1963 Juilliard School of Music, New York |
The Long Christmas Dinner is an opera in one act by Paul Hindemith, with an English libretto by Thornton Wilder based on his play of the same name.
Wilder collaborated with the composer in order to make the text work effectively with the music. It was arranged for chamber orchestra and used a harpsichord.
It was first performed on 13 March 1963, at the Juilliard School of Music, New York under the direction of the composer. A digital recording of the work on the Wergo label was performed in the German language; Hindemith himself provided the translation of the English libretto into German. A commercial recording in English has yet to be made.
The opera depicts 90 years in the history of the mid-western Bayard family.
The opera opens with Lucia, wife of Roderick Bayard, setting the table for Christmas dinner. Having finished, she calls down her husband and his mother, who is joining them in their first Christmas dinner in their new house. Over dinner, Roderick’s mother, referred to as Mother Bayard, recalls a time in her childhood when Indians lived where the house now rests; at the time, there was no city, only a church and surrounding forestry. She goes on to discuss the importance of remembering the names of one’s ancestors.
The opera moves forward to another Christmas dinner between Roderick, Lucia, and Mother Bayard, this time joined by Roderick’s cousin Brandon, who is back from his time spent in Alaska. As they eat, Brandon asks Mother Bayard how the two are related. As the years go on, Mother Bayard dies, leaving Lucia, Roderick, and Brandon. All three wonder aloud how long they’ve resided in the Bayard house, remarking on how quickly the time flies. Soon after Mother Bayard dies, Lucia’s and Roderick’s son Charles is born. Not long after the birth of their son, another baby arrives: Genevieve, their daughter.
Again, the action moves forward in time to a later Christmas dinner which is joined by a grown-up Charles and Genevieve; Roderick, Lucia, and Brandon have all aged significantly. The men give a toast to the firm owned and run by the Bayard family, and the women join in on the merriment. Roderick dies shortly after this point in time, leaving behind a devastated Lucia. She, Brandon, Genevieve, and Charles reflect on past Christmas dinners. After a quick change in subject, Genevieve announces to her mother that Charles is engaged to be married, adding that she herself will never marry, so that she may always remain with her mother.
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