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News Release
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Messiah Project announces its annual production of Menotti’s
Amahl and the
Performances:
Friday, December 15, 2006
Free Student Performance 10:00 AM
Friday, December 15, 2006 - Public Performance 7:30 PM
The Miracle of Christmas
Two Shows – One Wonderful Evening
Amahl and the Night Visitors
plus A Prelude of Holiday Music
And New for 2006: Messiah
Project Visual Arts Exhibition
Juanita K. Hammons Hall for the
Performing Arts, Missouri State University - Springfield, MO
Reserved Tickets: $13 to $25 –
Discounts! Group, Student, Children, Senior
For tickets call 417-836-7678 or
1-888-476-7849 Toll Free –
www.missouristatetix.com
Amahl and the Night Visitors
by Gian Carlo Menotti
. . .is coming to the stage at Juanita K. Hammons Hall for the
Performing Arts on December 15. One of the most popular of American
operas, Menotti's work is performed throughout the country every
Christmas season. Messiah Project is pleased to announce that Mr.
Jeff Carney frequent soloist with the Springfield Regional Opera
will be the artistic director; Sharon Wilkins, Evangel University,
is Chorus Director for Amahl and Music Director for A
Prelude of Holiday Music; Robert Little, Missouri State
University, is Set Designer; and Mr. Stephen Byess, Conductor for
the Ohio Light Opera. In addition, the Sinfonia String Ensemble
from Krakow, Poland, will join with area musicians to give the
audiences a wonderful performance. The partnering of these
directors, along with the local cast and international conductor and
orchestra, will bring a marvelous experience to audiences of all
ages.
Messiah Project has made it a tradition
to change the soloist and directors annually in order to give a
fresh look at this wonderful work. Cast this year for Amahl will
feature two boys Steven Nerness and Spencer Pulleyking; the mother
will be played by Carol Chapman and the three kings will be played
by Jeff Carney, Dr. Richard Payne and Andrew Childs with Mike
Burnette playing the part of the Page.
While a delight to audiences of all
ages, Amahl and the Night Visitors is, as composer Gian-Carlo
Menotti notes, “an opera for children.” But unlike other Christmas
entertainments aimed at young audiences, Menotti’s opera avoids the
banalities of Santa Claus and sugar plum fairies to tell the deeply
moving, deeply moral story of Amahl, a crippled little shepherd boy,
and his poor, widowed mother, who are visited one fateful evening
by—imagine!—three kings on their way to Bethlehem, bearing gifts for
a legendary newborn child, the promised Messiah. As the kings sleep
the night in her hovel, Amahl’s mother, envious of the gifts
intended for another, steals gold for her own lame son. Though she
is caught, the kings at once forgive her, explaining that the child
whom they seek does not need gold, but, rather, “needs the love of
every human being to build his coming kingdom.” Impressed, the woman
returns the gold, wishing that she had some gift of her own to
offer. Up jumps Amahl, who offers his own most precious possession,
his crutch, when—a miracle!—his lameness is cured. The story ends
triumphantly, with Amahl accompanying the kings to Bethlehem to
worship the Christ Child.
In this retelling of the Adoration of
the Magi, Menotti combines Scriptural references with the
traditional, visual iconographies surrounding the Nativity:
accompanied by shepherds, three star-led kings come to worship a
special child, laid to rest in a rustic manger. Commissioned in 1951
for television broadcast (and rebroadcast many times since),
Amahl has served generations of young Americans as their first
serious contact with classical opera. Indeed, many in their maturity
point to Amahl as having first opened their ears to opera,
making them life-time lovers of classical music. And, as its sublime
music has opened ears, so its no less sublime subject continues to
open hearts to the miracles of faith, forgiveness, and
charity—strong lessons for us all to learn, child and adult alike.
Arguably, Menotti remains America’s greatest living operatic
composer.
The Messiah Project has always been
dedicated to the education and enrichment of the youth in our
community. There will be a special free performance for area public
and private school students on Friday, December 15 at 10:00 AM.
Last year over 2000 students attended the performance. If any
educators are interested, please contact The Messiah Project office
at our e-mail address
messiahpro@sbcglobal.net.
A
Prelude of Holiday Music
The second half of the evening begins
with a Holiday Prelude parade of music featuring the sights and
sounds of the Nativity. With music, dance, and drama, local and
international artists kindle the spirit of the holidays as they
illustrate traditional themes of the season. We have a new line up
of music and artistry with fresh arrangements of Christmas music and
soloist. This year we are pleased to have local pianist Ramona
Crabtree performing; Dr. Payne Payne will also do a gospel
arrangement of Joy to the World with the entire ensemble with new
choreography created by Kathie Breeck for the Sonshine Dancers. You
and your entire family will be transported back through the ages
when you come see the Miracle of Christmas.
Cast
Sinfonia Chamber
Orchestra from Krakow, Poland – Stephen Byess, Conductor *
Mr. Jeff Carney, Artistic Director
*
Messiah Chorale, Sharon Wilkins, Director * Sonshine Dance Company,
Kathie Breeck, Choreographer
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