Amahl Opera at Ayala Museum Dec. 14

MusicArtes, with Ayala Museum and the Cultural Arts Events Organizers, presents the Christmas opera Amahl and the Night Visitors by Gian Carlo Menotti at Ayala Museum tomorrow (Dec. 14), starting at 7 p.m.

The music drama is about a crippled shepherd boy and his mother who are visited by the Three Kings on their way to Bethlehem. It is a heartwarming story that unfolds with a miracle, and fused with timeless unique melodies and harmonies that will captivate family audiences this yuletide season.

Directed by Anton Juan, Amahl features Diego Soler as Amahl, Kay Balajadia Liggayu as the Mother, Jan Briane Astom, Ronaldo Abarquez and Michael Bulaong as the Three Kings, with Rhenz Gabalonzo, the Pasipo Musicos and dancers choreographed by PJ Rebullida. Music direction is by Tenor Arthur Espiritu with pianist Gabby Paguirigan; production design is by Tata Tuviera.

Menotti was commissioned by NBC to write the first opera for television in 1951 which became the first Christmas special to become an annual tradition. Amahl was seen on 35 NBC affiliates coast-to-coast, the largest network hookup for an opera broadcast. An estimated five million people saw the live broadcast, the largest audience ever to see a televised opera.

The Musicartes production is part of an Opera Intima series and a tribute to Menotti, following the recent staging of The Medium at the Maybank Performing Arts Theater.

Amahl and the Night Visitors in Manila is by kind permission of the Music Sales Group. Tickets are available at Ticketworld (891-9999), and at MusicArtes, Inc. (895-8098/ 0918-9085088).