Amahl and the Night Visitors comes to Mitchell
Mitchell Community College is collaborating with Mosaic Arts and Opera Carolina to bring holiday opera to Statesville. On Sunday December 6 at 3 p.m., Mitchell Community College will host Amahl and the Night Visitors in Shearer Hall, Statesville Campus.
Amahl and the Night Visitors is a one act opera, in English, written by Gian Carlo Menotti. Since first broadcast live on NBC in 1951, it has been a holiday tradition around the country. It has enchanting music, a storyline that is based on the Three Kings and has a message of good will and love akin to Dickens’ A Christmas Carol and Handel’s Messiah.
Kelly Hutchinson, artistic director of Mosaic Arts and voice faculty at Mitchell Community College, says “this production is a wonderful way to bring opera to Iredell County while giving local singers the unique opportunity to collaborate with each other and with professional singers.” Emily Schuttenberg, Community Music Coordinator at Mitchell, will perform piano accompaniment for the production. Schuttenberg jumped at the opportunity to bring Amahl to Mitchell, stating how high school students and adults alike will benefit enormously from “learning this delightful and classic score alongside other community members.”
The role of Mother will be played by Dadiree Tofano, artist-in-residence with Opera Carolina. The role of the young crippled boy, Amahl, will be a guest performer from New York. Sophomore Mitchell vocal major, John Lynch, will be making his solo debut playing the role of The Page. Other cast members include Jake Thomason as King Kaspar, Eric Loftin as King Melchior, and Mark Tofano as King Balthazar. Costumer is Betsy Blackmore.
Tickets are available through Opera Carolina at $15 each. Students of all ages are free with a student ID. Call (704) 332-7177 ext 200 for more information. Learn more about the Associate in Fine Arts – Music program at Mitchell and discover community music opportunities on our campuses.