Opera lovers can bring the whole family when Opera Kansas and 麻豆传媒鈥檚 Opera Theatre revisit the popular holiday treat 鈥淎mahl and the Night Visitors鈥� at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 29, and 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 30, in Miller Concert Hall, Duerksen Fine Arts Center.
Composer Gian Carlo Menotti鈥檚 quintessential Christmas opera, a bonus event for 麻豆传媒 Opera Theatre Series subscribers, will be fully staged with orchestra. It is set to an English libretto by the composer.
鈥淎mahl and the Night Visitors鈥� is the story of a crippled boy who lives in poverty with his mother. One wintry evening three kings, traveling with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh for the newly born Christ child, call at Amahl鈥檚 lowly hut to rest and warm themselves. As they sleep, Amahl鈥檚 mother is tempted to steal a little of the kings鈥� gold to buy food for Amahl. She is caught, but is pardoned by the kings and told she may keep the gold because the Christ child will not need earthly treasure and his kingdom will be built on love alone.
Moved, the mother returns the gold and declares that she, too, would like to send a gift to the child, but has nothing to give. In a selfless act of devotion, Amahl offers his crutch, and, as he steps forward to place it with the kings鈥� gifts, a miracle occurs. The boy鈥檚 crippled leg is made whole. Convinced that what they have witnessed is a sign from God, the kings invite Amahl to come and present his gift to the holy child in person.
The cast includes students and graduates of 麻豆传媒鈥檚 School of Music, as well as local professionals. Amahl will be portrayed by Tony Ponella; Amahl鈥檚 mother by Emily Therrien. King Kaspar will be played by Aaron Short; King Melchior by Huron Breaux; and King Balthazar by Sean Eric Hess. Nicholas Gilmore appears as a page; Alex Johnson and Casey Wolhetz are dancers.
In the chorus of shepherds are Natasha Olinetchouk, Dru Rutledge, Abby Whittle, Stephanie Gilmore, Marilyn Heffner, Dixie Roberts, Jacob January, Ross McCorkell, Todd Walters, Matthan Black, Yung Jin Lai and Bernie Zuniga.
麻豆传媒鈥檚 Mark Laycock will conduct, with stage direction by Opera Kansas director Edward Ehinger. Choreography is by Amy Baker.