A Holiday double bill examining the beauty and true meanings of Christmas beginning with Benjamin Britten’s cantata, St. Nicolas, Op. 42, is a dramatic and vivid choral work composed in 1948. Written for tenor soloist, choir and children’s chorus, the piece tells the legendary life story of St. Nicolas, the 4th-century Bishop of Myra, who later became the inspiration for Santa Claus. The cantata, set to a libretto by Eric Crozier, portrays key moments in Nicolas’ life, from his miraculous birth and early piety to his deeds of charity, persecution, and eventual sainthood.

Marc Deaton’s stage treatment of the famous. O. Henry short story, The Gift of the Magi is a heartwarming short story about love, sacrifice, and the true meaning of giving. Set during Christmas, it follows a young, impoverished couple, Della and Jim, who each sell their most prized possessions to buy a special gift for the other. With its ironic yet touching conclusion, The Gift of the Magi beautifully illustrates the idea that the greatest gifts come from the heart, not material wealth.