L'enfance du Christ (English: The Childhood of Christ), Opus 25, is an oratorio by the French composer Hector Berlioz, based on the Holy Family's flight into Egypt (see Gospel of Matthew 2:13). Berlioz wrote his own words for the piece. Most of it was composed in 1853 and 1854, but it also incorporates an earlier work La fuite en Egypte (1850). It was first performed at the Salle Herz, Paris on 10 December 1854, with Berlioz conducting and soloists from the Opéra-Comique: Jourdan (Récitant), Depassio (Hérode), the couple Meillet (Marie and Joseph) and Bataille (Le père de famille).
| Original Name | L'enfance du Christ |
| Librettist | Hector Berlioz (based on the Holy Family's flight into Egypt) |
| Date of composition | 1854 (1853-1854) |
| Premiered | 1854, December 10th (Salle Herz) in Paris, France by Hector Berlioz |
| First published | 1855 |
| Type | Oratorio |
| Catalogue | H 130 |
| Approx. duration | 95 minutes |
| Spoken language | French |
| Instruments |
Voice (Tenor)
- Le récitant (the narrator)
Voice (Mezzo-Soprano) - La vierge Marie (the Virgin Mary) Voice (Baritone) - Joseph Voice (Bass) - Hérode (Herod) Voice (Bass) - Le père de famille (father of the family) Voice (Tenor) - Centurion (a Roman centurion) Voice (Bass) - Polydorus Chorus/Choir Orchestra |
| Autotranslations beta |
Hector Berlioz: The Childhood of Christ, H 130 "Sacred Trilogy" Hector Berlioz: The Childhood of Christ, H 130 "Sacred Trilogy" Hector Berlioz: The Childhood of Christ, H 130 "Sacred Trilogy" |