History behind Das Lange Weihnachtsmahl (The Long Christmas Dinner), an English opera by Paul Hindemith, opera plot synopsis, and character description.

Composed by Paul Hindemith in collaboration with writer Thornton Wilder, one-act opera The Long Christmas Dinner is a saga of the Bayard's family over Christmas dinner table that spans in the course of 90 years, following the family through four generations. Each family generation experiences demise, growth, and a moving on – summing up the reality of human nature.

The Long Christmas Dinner in itself has serious overtone but lightened by touches of humor, tenderness and forceful quality among the characters. A great stage treat for the Christmas holidays.

Das Lange Weihnachtsmahl ('The Long Christmas Dinner')

• Composer: Paul Hindemith (16 November 1895 – 28 December 1963)
• Libretto: Thornton Wilder and Paul Hindemith. Based on novelist and playwright Thornton Wilder's play in 1931.
• Language: English. (German translation by Paul Hindemith)
• First performance: Mannheim, Nationaltheater, December 17, 1961.
• Setting: Set in the Bayard home over the course of a 90-year period.
• Opera in One Act. Tragicomedy.

The Main Characters/Roles

• Mother Bayard (contralto)
• Lucia (soprano)
• Roderick (baritone)
• Cousin Brandon (bass)
• Charles, son of Lucia and Roderick, sister of Genevieve (tenor)
• Genevieve, daughter of Roderick and Lucia (mezzo)
• Leonora, Wife of Charles (soprano)
• Cousin Ermengarde (contralto)
• Sam, Charles and Leonora's son (baritone)
• Lucia II, Charles and Leonora's daughter (soprano)
• Roderick II, Charles and Leonora's son (tenor)

Plot Summary (Synopsis) of Das Lange Weihnachtsmahl (The Long Christmas Dinner)

Act 1

Mother Bayard, Lucia, Roderick and Cousin Brandon celebrate Christmas dinner in their new house.

Mother Bayard remembers and reminiscences how her family moved out west when the town was barely more than a single church.

They toast Brandon and Bayard's business venture.

Lucia fusses over her and Roderick's daughter, Genevieve.

Years pass from one Christmas dinner to another, and another.

Mother Bayard has died.

Genevieve has grown and so has her brother Charles.

Roderick dies.

Charles marries Leonora.

The couple have a child who dies young.

Lucia dies.

More Christmas dinners.

Leonora has three children: Sam, Lucia II and Roderick II.

Cousin Ermengarde comes to live with them.

Some more Christmas dinner to another.

Children of Charles and Leonora now adults.

Charles is furious with Roderick II for getting drunk at the ball.

Roderick II refuses to join the firm of Bayard and Brandon.

More Christmas dinners.

Leonora goes to live with her children, who are building a new house.

Ermengarde is left alone in the house.

Stage Works by Paul Hindemith

• Murder, Hope of Women 1921
• The Nusch-Nuschi 1921
• Sancta Sussana 1922
• Cardillac 1926
• News of the Day 1929
• Mathis the Painter 1938
• Harmony of the World 1957
• The Long Christmas Dinner 1961

Sources Consulted

Opera by András Batta, Könemann (2000)

The Da Capo Opera Manual by Nicholas Ivor Martin (Da Capo Press, 1997)