Monica Pearce: December

Essential Opera presents December, a one-act opera for three sopranos and string quartet, composed by Monica Pearce. The work follows Julia and Natasha in the first year of their relationship as they prepare to meet Julia’s parents for Christmas. Between airport security, last-minute packing, and the subtle tension of family introductions, December captures the anticipation, vulnerability, and humuor that accompany love in its early stages. 

Founded by Maureen Batt and Erin Bardua, Essential Opera is celebrated for championing new Canadian works and stories that reflect contemporary life. Pearce’s music, known for its rhythmic vitality and vivid sense of character, brings warmth and wit to this modern portrayal of connection and belonging.