Opera East Texas is bringing Ft. Worth Opera studio to town to present a world famous Christmas opera “Amahl (pronounced A Mall) and the Night Visitors” on Dec. 1, 8 pm.

It was first performed on 24 December 1951 in New York City, at the NBC studios, where it was broadcast on television. It was the first opera specifically composed for television in America. The opera is now a popular Christmas classic.

An audience carol sing-a-long is also part of the evenings program, led by conductor Joe Illick, and accompanied by his 9-year-old son Eric, who plays violin, but is also cast as Amahl, the star of the show.  Cast members will join the audience after the opera to sing Christmas carols pre-selected by the maestro Illick.  The opera is only 45 minutes in length, so there will be 45 minutes of caroling of audience and cast to complete the evening.

Ft. Worth Opera general director and long-time consultant to Opera East Texas Darren Wood announced the collaboration this summer in an effort to enlarge opera audiences throughout Northeast Texas.  “It makes sense to work together and share resources.  Anything that spreads opera’s beauty.  This opera is well known around the world, so it is time Northeast Texans get to know it, too,” says Wood.  “It’s our gift to families during the Christmas season.  It’s a perfect opera for any age.  The music is beautiful, the story is heart-warming, and it helps deliver a classic to the community that they may not have had an opportunity to see before now.” 

This is the first time Opera East Texas and Ft. Worth Opera have collaborated. 

This is the first time Ft. Worth Opera has presented in East Texas.

The cast, orchestra, production and technical crew will arrive Nov. 30 for rehearsals and performance is schedule for Saturday evening, Dec. 1.

It is part of the Arts Series at the S.E. Belcher Chapel and Performance Center on the campus of LeTourneau University.  Opera East Texas joins Longview Symphony, Artsview and Longview Ballet Company in the first arts series of the inaugural year of the center.

Cast and crew for the intimate holiday opera is made up of Young Artists, opera chorus and opera orchestra members from the Ft. Worth Opera.

Cast and crew are being hosted  (housed) in area homes for the two night stay.

Lawrence Harris, who starred as the wicked Scarpia in OET’s 2005 opera TOSCA will be returning as the baritone wiseman “Melchoir.”  Lawrence or Larry is a formed NFL player with the Houston Oilers before turning opera singer.  Larry was also the featured artist brought by OET last year to tour schools throughout East Texas bringing Opera on Tour to students.

The story:

Amahl & the Night Visitors
Gian Carlo Menotti

A production of the Fort Worth Opera Studio program. Sponsored by Opera East Texas.

Composer Gian Carlo Menotti reigned as one of America’s most prolific operatic composers for nearly four decades. Similar to the character Amahl, as a child, Menotti was thought to be cured of a crippled leg after his nurse took him to a shrine.

Amahl tells the story of a crippled boy who by chance crosses paths with the three Wise Men on their way to visit the infant Jesus. The three men need a place to stay for the night and, in spite of her poverty, Amahl’s mother generously offers her hospitality. Amahl and his mother are enthralled when they hear about the newborn King and want to offer gifts of their own. When Amahl rises to hand the wise men the only possession he has, his walking cane, he receives a miraculous blessing of his own.

Performed in English