Opera production combines talents of faculty and students
Date 12/10/1998 12:00 AM | Topic: Arts & CultureThis January, the wise men will be coming to Luther. Performances of Amahl and the Night Visitors, a Luther faculty/student production, will be held in the CRH on Jan. 8 at 7:30 pm and Jan. 9 at 2 pm and 7:30 pm. The opera will also be performed in the Cresco Opera House on Jan. 15 at 7:30 pm.
The one-act opera serves as a fund-raiser for the Dorian Opera Theatre held in the summer. It also gives students participating in the Dorian Vocal Festival a chance to see a show, said David Judisch, professor of music.
Amahl and the Night Visitors, by Gian-Carlo Menotti, is a Christmas/Epiphany opera about a young crippled boy and his mother, who are visited by the three Kings on their way to see the Christ child.
Menotti incorporated memories of his own childhood into the opera, said Patrick Newell, professor of music. In Italian tradition, King Kaspar leaves presents on the front door at Christmas time. Menotti always thought King Kaspar must be deaf because he never go what he wanted. As a result, the character King Kaspar in Menotti's opera is hard of hearing.
The opera, about one hour in length, was premiered on Dec. 24, 1951 by the NBC Television Opera Theatre in New York City. According to Newell, it was the first opera written for television
"I performed Amahl and the Night Visitors with the original Melchior, David Aiken," said Newell. "I want to bring to this performance the traditions passed down through him of Menotti."
"I think this is a very special story," said Judisch. "The composition is so very well laid out and so well thought out. It's not your typical horns and breastplate opera. It's a wonderful, warm Christmas/Epiphany story that will touch anyone who hears it."
"It relates to a common story that most people know and extends it in a new way," said Brian Winter ('00), cast member.
"It's more than a Luther College event," said Judisch. "It involves the community and surrounding communities. We are promoting this heavily in surrounding churches within about a 60-mile radius."
"Doing this kind of performance with theater, dance, and music creates a unique performance opportunity available at Luther," said Abby Shuppy ('00), cast member and choreographer.
"Many people on campus are primarily vocalists, primarily dancers or primarily actors," said Winter. It's nice to be able to combine the talents."
"I like the fact that we not only perform with the students but also with the faculty," said Winter.
"It's good that we are able to work together towards a performance," said Newell. "This doesn't happen a lot in the academic world. The students get a chance to see experienced performers at work and to learn from them."
"Opera generally is an acquired taste," said Judisch "Opera is a very expensive art form that was traditionally for the wealthy. Part of our mission with Dorian Opera Theatre is to expose the community to this style of music."
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Jenny Welp
Chips Staff Writer
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