Opera in the Heights provides a stage for emerging opera performers and brings affordable opera to the Greater Houston Area. As part of its goal to build family and children’s audiences and serve the Heights community, Opera in the Heights will present the most beloved Christmas opera of all time, Menotti’s Amahl and the Night Visitors on Saturday, December 14th. Good thing that Christmastime is the best time to experience opera!
Based on Italian folk tales of the Nativity and Epiphany, Gian Carlo Menotti’s Amahl and the Night Visitors is a retelling of the story of the Magi from the point of view of a young, disabled boy named Amahl, who lives in poverty with his widowed mother near Bethlehem. He sees a bright star in the sky one night and tells his mother to go look, but she brushes him off, buried in concern over their bleak future and lack of means with which to support themselves.
That night, three kings come across their meager hut and seek shelter, for they have traveled long and far following the star of which Amahl had spoken. They bring with them treasure and gifts to give to “the Child,” who has just been born and who will reign overall. Blinded by the lure of the gold and what it could do for her family, the Mother attempts to steal just a bit of the treasure but is caught red-handed. What no one expects is a gift far greater than gold. A vivid and accessible tale originally created for television, Amahl and the Night Visitors is a perfect first opera—or hundredth!
Opera in the Heights will present this a holiday favorite with a special performance of Respighi’s Botticelli Triptych, featuring the Oh! Orchestra. After the performance, children are invited to join the Oh! orchestra on-stage at the instrument petting zoo. Tickets range from $24.50 to $84.50 and are available for purchase at www.operaintheheights.org.
If you feel like escaping Oxford at Country Club Apartments in Baytown, Texas for the day, this event is a perfect opportunity to do just that! Trust us when we say that there’s no harm in getting out and exploring the greater community.
Event Time/Date:
Saturday, December 14, 2019—5:00 PM
Event Venue Location:
Opera in the Heights
1703 Heights Boulevard
Houston, Texas 77008