Christmas Concert: Amahl and the Night Visitors

GIAN CARLO MENOTTI ~ AMAHL AND THE NIGHT VISITORS
BENJAMIN BRITTEN ~ A CEREMONY OF CAROLS, OP. 28
This opera is an annual tradition, and we will be offering excerpts during
our Epiphany mass. It is always a time of fun, talent, and beauty alongside our boys
and girls choirs!
The story of Amahl and the Night Visitors is about Amahl, a boy who can only walk
with a crutch, and who lives in poverty with his mother. They are visited by the
Three Kings, who are on their way to see the infant Jesus. During the night, the
mother succumbs to temptation and attempts to steal some of their gold. She is
caught, but then she is allowed to keep the gold because the infant king awaiting in
Bethlehem doesn’t need the gold but will be the Savior to all. The mother gives back
the gold, however, longing for such a king, and only regrets that she doesn’t have
something to offer the newborn Savior. Suddenly, Amahl offers his crutch, his only
possession! What happens next is a delight to all who watch the work of Gian Carlo
Menotti, whose beloved 1951 work is considered to be the first opera composed for
television.

BENJAMIN BRITTEN ~ A CEREMONY OF CAROLS, OP. 28
A Ceremony of Carols is an extended choral composition for Christmas scored for
three-part treble chorus, solo voices, and harp. The text, structured in 11 movements,
is taken from The English Galaxy of Shorter Poems. It was composed in 1942 on Britten’s
sea voyage from the United States to England.
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All tickets include both in-person and on-line attendance via live streaming service.
COT YouTube live stream links will be sent out to ticket holders 48 hours prior to the time of
concert.