Holiday Classic Amahl and the Night Visitors at Howard County Center for the Arts

Written by Italian American Composer Gian Carlo Menotti in 1951, “Amahl” was originally written for television

Ellicott City, MD, October 5, 2017 – Opus Concert Theatre will end its second season with the company’s first fully-staged production, Amahl and the Night Visitors.  A touching story about a young shepherd boy and his mother who encounter the Three Wise Men on their pilgrimage to Bethlehem.  Their experience draws hope from despair and transforms deprivation into generosity of spirit.    

Amahl and the Night Visitors is an inspiring story that many enjoy year after year as part of their Holiday tradition,” says Opus Concert Theatre Artistic Director Diana Cantrelle.  “We are creating a production that we can return to annually, just as theatres and ballet companies do with A Christmas Carol and The Nutcracker.  Menotti’s soulful music is beautiful and sets the tone for this timeless, heartwarming story of survival, love and selfless sacrifice.” 

Gian Carlo Menotti was inspired by his childhood memories of Christmas in Italy, where the Three Magi brought gifts to children, just as American children believe that Santa Claus does.  The opera became a Christmas tradition on NBC for more than a decade, and has been produced as a stage production in opera companies across America every year since.   “The success of Amahl can be attributed to the relevance of the story”, adds Opus president Kevin Crysler.  “While the plot is based on the journey of the Three Magi, the moral of the story is universal and can be enjoyed by anyone, regardless of their faith or tradition.” 

Amahl and the Night Visitors will be performed at The Howard County Center for the Arts December 1 -3.  A special lunch time concert performance that includes a Holiday sing-a-long will be held at Germano’s Piattini in Baltimore’s Little Italy on December 17.

General Admission tickets for performances at the Howard County Center for the Arts are $25 for Adults, $15 for Seniors, Student and Children. Tickets for the Germano’s performance are $20 (price does not include the gourmet Italian lunch).

Tickets may be purchased on the Opus Concert Theatre website – www.opusconcerttheatre.org or by calling 301-377-0563

CAST

Conductor / Accompanist – Aejin Kim
Co-Directed by Kevin Crysler & Gregory Scott Stuart
Choreography by Gregory Scott Stuart
Amahl – Lawren Palmer
Mother – Diana Cantrelle
King Kaspar – Jim Li
King Melchior – Elliot Matheny
King Balthazar – Leroy Smith

CALENDAR INFORMATION
Friday, December 1, 7:30 PM
Saturday, December 2, 2:30 PM & 7:30 PM
Sunday, December 3, 2:30 PM

Howard County Center for the Arts
8510 High Ridge Road
Ellicott City, MD 21043

Sunday, December 17
Lunch at noon, performance at 1 pm
Germano’s Piattini
300 S. High Street
Baltimore MD 21202

ABOUT Opus Concert Theatre:  Based in Columbia, MD, Opus Concert Theatre’s mission is to give an artistic voice to operas and musicals both well-loved and newly discovered. We provide a venue for singers, actors, instrumentalists, and composers to develop their craft and to discover with our audiences, our common human experience.

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