One of the most beautifully articulated children’s operas in the repertoire composed in the last century is GianCarlo Menotti’s Amahl and the Night Visitors. This will take place at Teatru Manoel on the 23rd, 24th and 25th November.
This deceptively simple opera is all about a Christmas miracle wherein the birth of the Christ Child is implied and the miracle takes place during the voyage of the Three Kings to Betlehem.
They are forced to take shelter in the very humble home of a Widow and her crippled son Amahl and this is how the miracle happens in music ‘that never fails to bring tears to my eyes ‘ says the Artistic Director of the TEATRU MANOEL. Kenneth Zammit Tabona, who has long had the dream of presenting this beautiful work of art at the theatre for many years and has finally managed to with the help of the well established Żigużajg Festival.
Fresh from attending the annual Opera Europa conference in Paris, Zammit Tabona reiterates that the emphasis was put on the nurturing of young audiences and what better way is there to do this than to present young and young at heart audiences with accessible operas like this?
“My aim is to beat Germany where statistics show that 8% of the population attend opera. That’s a larger percentage than those who attend football! “Michael Summers, Amahl’s Conductor states, “The moment of the miracle – one of the most magical and moving scenes in the entire operatic repertoire.”, while the Director, Tama Matheson explains “The perfect children’s opera – sweet, melodious, and enchanting. A marvellous introduction to the magic of theatre.”
Tickets can be bought from www.teatrumanoel.mt , bookings@teatrumanoel.mt or tel:
2124 6389.
