A crippled boy and his mother are unexpectedly visited by three regal figures following a brilliant star in the Eastern sky. Their presence soon becomes a village affair, but before the visitors resume their journey — a miracle happens.
This is the story of Amahl and the Night Visitors, the acclaimed one-act 50 minute opera that has become one of the most frequently performed operatic works internationally since its premiere.
The Fraser Valley Philharmonic Society will present this celebrated work in the Main Theatre of the Chilliwack Cultural Centre on Saturday, Dec. 10.
It holds the distinction of being the first opera ever written for television and it has become a hugely popular Christmas classic ever since, inspired by the Wise Men's inspirational tale of "a kingdom built on love alone" from the Adoration of the Magi.
Filmed in 1951 in New York City at NBC studio 8H in Rockefeller Center, Amahl was broadcast live as the debut production of TV's Hallmark Hall of Fame.
The list of directors for the production reads as a national who’s who for theatrical music in Canada, with Maestro Leonard Camplin (Queen’s Silver Jubilee Medal and Canada’s 125th Anniversary Medal) at the helm in this production as Music Director, Stefanie Swinnard (Performing Arts British Columbia Champion) Stage Director, and Karry Kozak Fedoruk (Chilliwack Musical Theatre founding Choreographer) as Director of Choreography. Performers will include Wilfred Neumann as Amahl, Paula Quick as his Mother, Andrey Andreychik, Shane Hanson and Tim Howe.
Amahl and the Night Visitors, Dec. 10, at the Cultural Centre, $30/$25/$20/$12 at the box office or call 604-391-7469.