Opera Nanaimo presents Amahl and the Night Visitors

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Tuesday, December 29th, 2015
7:30 PM

Amahl and the Night Visitors by Gian Carlo Menotti
By arrangement with Schirmer Inc. publisher

The joyful one act opera composed in 1951 by Gian Carlo Menotti is coming to Nanaimo! Opera Nanaimo is pleased to announce that this beloved holiday season opera sung in English will be the company’s first fully in-house produced opera. Keeping with the mandate of Opera Nanaimo, the principal professional cast hails from BC and the chorus will be local singers and dancers from the Nanaimo area.

Amahl and the Night Visitors was the first opera ever to be shown on television. Composer Menotti directing the first production himself stated the inspiration came to him from a picture of the “ The Adoration of the Magi” by the artist Hieronymus Bosch hanging at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. Menotti wrote the opera especially for children as he tried to capture his own childhood dream of “seeing the three wise men” on their way to bring gifts to the Christ child in Bethlehem. In Europe the tradition was that the Magi brought gifts to children but they were always unseen. This tradition is echoed today in North America as Santa Claus arrives secretly in the night to young ones here.

Amahl is a story of a young boy growing up. While capturing the enchantment and magic of the holiday season it also tells of the relationship between a young boy and his mother.

Wonderful music, dancing and singing by a shepherd’s chorus, magic and humour from the Kings and a lovable boy standing by his mother’s side as she fights poverty makes for an enjoyable holiday season’s entertainment for the entire family. Join Opera Nanaimo in celebrating the holiday season by attending Amahl and the Night Visitors at the Ecumenical Church of Nanaimo on Dec. 29th, and 30th with a 7:30 p.m. curtain time. Tickets are available now in good time for holiday season gift giving.

Two performances only: Tue. Dec 29 & Wed. Dec 30 @ 7:30 pm
at Nanaimo Ecumenical Centre, 6234 Spartan Rd, Nanaimo (off Metral drive) Lots of free parking on-site.

Tickets at the Port Theatre Box Office:
http://www.porttheatre.com/events/dec-2015/opera-nanaimo-presents-amahl-night-visitors/