On Christmas Eve 1914, soldiers on Europe’s Western front laid down arms and joined their enemies in celebrating the holiday by trading songs and drink while dead comrades littered the surrounding fields. In this premiere broadcast of a Pulitzer-winning opera, composer Kevin Puts and librettist Mark Campbell have resisted the temptation to sentimentalize the episode. Tenor William Burden plays the soldier whose impromptu singing inspired the truce. Still, don’t expect traditional carols from any of the players in this stirring work. Friday, Dec. 13, at 9 p.m., PBS; check local listings
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
Melania Trump's intervention on UkraineIn The Spotlight The first lady has been linked to the president's u-turn on sending arms to Kyiv
-
The Retrievals, series two: 'essential listening'The Week Recommends The second instalment of this hard-hitting podcast delves into the 'appallingly common injustice' of women having C-sections without pain relief
-
Cool off at the best saltwater pools in the UKThe Week Recommends From 1930s Art Deco lidos to 'magical' tidal pools, these sheltered spots offer a safer alternative to sea swimming
