A Christmas Celebration of Song and Story

The season of Christmas arrives with a constellation of beloved traditions. Yet, year after year, few things stir the heart and summon the spirit of the season as powerfully as the singing of carols and yuletide melodies. It is a universal language of joy, reverence, and wonder.

This past December, Baraka Opera Kenya invited our community to deepen that connection at our 𝐀 𝐂𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐦𝐚𝐬 𝐂𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧. We wove together the timeless threads of classic carols with a poignant story that has become dear to our hearts: Gian-Carlo Menotti’s beloved opera, 𝐀𝐦𝐚𝐡𝐥 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐍𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐬.

𝐀 𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐌𝐢𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐆𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠

In recent years, the story of Amahl has added a beautiful new perspective to our Christmas narrative. It is the tale of a poor, crippled shepherd boy who encounters the Three Kings on their journey to Bethlehem. In a moment of pure, instinctive generosity, Amahl offered the only gift he had, his precious crutch, to the unknown baby king. What followed was a simple, profound miracle of healing.

Amahl had become a cherished favourite for Baraka Opera Kenya, and our December performance was a step toward making it a seasonal staple, a story that reminds us that the greatest gifts often come from the humblest places.

Our Celebration of Christmas was a festive concert that took the audience on a global journey of the season’s sounds. Alongside touching excerpts from Amahl, we presented a vibrant programme of carols and songs from many cultures. Conducted by the multi-talented Mariah Gichu, it marked a milestone in Kenya as a first female-conducted opera production. We were also honoured to have the opera narrated by none other than the legend Ian Mbugua, who also directed the previous year's show.

The evening opened with the reflective "Candlelight Carol" for piano, moving into the sacred serenity of "Ave Maria." Highlights included the lyrical "Gesu Bambino," the communal singing of "Hark the Herald," and the playful a cappella arrangement of "Ding Dong Merrily."

"Do You Hear What I Hear," the celebratory "Mokonzi," and the exultant "How Great Our Joy" filled the BOK Creative Hub as the concert beautifully bridged traditions, featuring the vibrant percussion of "African Noel" and the powerful, uplifting "Baba Yetu." As a finale, everyone joined together for the triumphant "Joy to the World," a perfect closing to an evening that celebrated both the universal and the uniquely local expressions of Christmas hope.

It was a true celebration where familiar melodies met a heartwarming story. We were so grateful to gather in community and share the light, the music, and the miraculous spirit of Christmas.

𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘫𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘶𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘢𝘥𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘴𝘰 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘭.