Silent Night Cirriculum

Access Opera: Silent Night Curriculum

Access Opera: Silent Night PowerPoint

Use redemption code: SilentNight2019

Austin Opera’s Access Opera: Silent Night curriculum is an innovative multi-media based unit, complete with TEKS aligned lessons, activities, assessments and video excerpts. This curriculum is designed so you can teach Silent Night in the time frame that works best for you and your students. Designate an entire class period and share the complete lesson using the accompanying PowerPoint. Teach it in chunks.  Here is what that might look like:

  • Day 1 – Background (composer info, synopsis) and first listen of featured music selection
  • Day 2 – Listen a 2nd time, including suggested activities/assessments from the lesson
  • Day 3 & beyond – Listen to some of the alternate versions; try a new activity/assessment; explore SEL connection; Go over Audience Etiquette materials

About the Opera

Silent Night: At a Glance – A quick overview of the opera

Silent Night STORY SYNOPSIS

Silentnightopera.com – The “official” website for the opera, Silent Night.
http://silentnightopera.com/index.html

ABOUT THE OPERA – List of characters, orchestration and synopsis
http://silentnightopera.com/about.html

PRESS – a long list of reviews and articles about the opera from various productions and performances since the premiere in 2012.
http://silentnightopera.com/press.html

MEDIA – a large collection of video excerpts from various productions, including interviews with composer, Kevin Puts.
http://silentnightopera.com/media.html

All about Kevin Puts, composer – a link to the official website of composer Kevin Puts. http://www.kevinputs.com/bio-short.html

All about Mark Campbell, librettist – a link to the official website of librettist Mark Campbell.
https://www.markcampbellwords.com/

Minnesota Opera YouTube list for Silent Night – a comprehensive offering of video clips

About Austin Opera’s Production

THE CAST
Check out the websites of the singers performing in Austin Opera’s production of Silent Night!

THE GERMAN SIDE

Joseph Dennis*
Nikolaus Sprink
tenor


Hailey Clark*
Anna Sørenson (Sprink’s girlfriend)
soprano


Craig Irvin*
Lieutenant Horstmayer
baritone


David Margulis*
Kronprinz
tenor

THE FRENCH SIDE


David Adam Moore
Lieutenant Audebert
baritone


Andrew Wilkowske*
Ponchel (Lt. Audebert’s aide-de-camp)
baritone


Christian Zaremba
French General
bass


Cheryl Kaderli*
Madeleine Audebert (Lt. Audebert’s Wife)
soprano

THE SCOTTISH SIDE


John Lindsey
Jonathan Dale
tenor


Ben Edquist*
William Dale (Jonathan’s Brother)
baritone


Troy Cook
Father Palmer
baritone


Craig Verm*
Lieutenant Gordon
baritone

THE PRODUCTION TEAM

Music: Kevin Puts
Libretto: Mark Campbell
Production by: Tomer Zvulun
Conductor: Timothy Myers
Stage Director: Conor Hanratty
Scenic Design: Erhard Rom
Costume Design: Victoria Tzykun
Lighting Design: Peter W. Mitchell
Wig and Make-up Design: Melanie Steele
Audio Design: Bill Mester
Chorus Master/Assistant Conductor: Cina Crisara
Assistant Director: Rebecca A. Herman
Production Stage Manager: Kathleen Edwards

Based on the screenplay by Christian Carion for the motion picture Joyeux Noël produced by Nord-Ouest Production

Commissioned by Minnesota Opera, A Minnesota Opera New Works Initiative Production

THE SET & COSTUMES

See the SET and COSTUMES for Austin Opera’s Silent Night – The following video clips included footage showing the set that you will see in Austin Opera’s production.

Wexford Festival Opera Trailer – The European premiere of Kevin Put’s Pulitzer Prize-winning “Silent Night was presented by the Wexford Festival Opera in 2014.  Austin Opera is presenting the same production, so much of the set and costumes will look the same.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y9pXWWqR9rI

About World War II

World War 1 Facts for Kids: National Geographic Kids
Explore this part of world history.  Why did World War I start?  What was life like in the trenches?  How did it end?
https://www.natgeokids.com/uk/discover/history/general-history/first-world-war/

World War I Overview for Kids: Duckster Website
World War I was a major conflict fought between 1914 and 1918.  Other names for World War I include the First World War, WWI, the War to End All Wars and the Great War.
https://www.ducksters.com/history/world_war_i/

World War I: The History Channel
Specific persons, places and battles are included in this resource, along with a photo gallery.
https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-i/world-war-i-history

World War I: History for Kids website
Free history network for kids
http://www.historyforkids.net/world-war-one.html

BBC Schools Website: World War I
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/0/ww1/

VIDEO: World War I Facts and Summary of WWI for Kids
A 10-minute history video on WWI.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OGfAf45ddCo

VIDEO: 50 Insane World War I Facts That Will Shock You!
What are some of the most interesting facts about World War I that you don’t know?  The Infographics Show has compiled them here.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sLpYVTRVs_s

World War I – origins, events and consequences summarized on a map
Retracing the chain of events of WWI on a map.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SLj5r2nZHB8

Trench Warfare Facts: The Trenches of WWI
from Kids Konnect
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rbzf_7vIvpw

Trench Systems
A look at trench warfare and now they were networked.  Cartoon style.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CgykKEhfEok