{"id":2954,"date":"2020-12-29T15:15:56","date_gmt":"2020-12-29T21:15:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/anngumpperdesign.com\/?page_id=2954"},"modified":"2020-12-29T15:20:21","modified_gmt":"2020-12-29T21:20:21","slug":"amahl-and-the-night-visitors-review","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/anngumpperdesign.com\/index.php\/amahl-and-the-night-visitors-review\/","title":{"rendered":"Amahl and the Night Visitors Review"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"2954\" class=\"elementor elementor-2954\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-5b376f6 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"5b376f6\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-8cac8d7\" data-id=\"8cac8d7\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-afb06af elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"afb06af\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>2010 Review:<\/p><div id=\"article-section-header\"><section><div id=\"article-header\"><div class=\"article-header-title\"><h1 class=\"article-headline\">Review: &#8216;Amahl&#8217; performance near perfection<\/h1><div class=\"light-grey byline\">Written By:\u00a0<span id=\"noLink\" class=\"ttu\">news@duluthnewstribune.com<\/span>\u00a0|\u00a0<time class=\"timestamp\">Dec 18th 2010 &#8211; 12am.<\/time><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section><\/div><div id=\"article-section-body\"><div id=\"top-social-share\"><div class=\"addthis_inline_share_toolbox\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.duluthnewstribune.com\/lifestyle\/2304944-review-amahl-performance-near-perfection\" data-title=\"Review: 'Amahl' performance near perfection | Duluth News Tribune\" data-description=\"Friday's opening of &quot;Amahl and the Night Visitors,&quot; staged by the Lyric Opera of the North, was as close to perfect as one might imagine. Sam Anderson, as Amahl, allows the innocent sound of his young voice to capture all the sweetness and courag...\"><div id=\"atstbx\" class=\"at-resp-share-element at-style-responsive addthis-smartlayers addthis-animated at4-show\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"at-82d7496e-d87b-406f-a4b7-3e374e448851\"><span id=\"at-82d7496e-d87b-406f-a4b7-3e374e448851\" class=\"at4-visually-hidden\"><\/span><div class=\"at-share-btn-elements\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"article-header-media\"><div class=\"image\"><div class=\"landscape \"><img decoding=\"async\" id=\"topMedia\" class=\" lazyloaded\" src=\"https:\/\/www.duluthnewstribune.com\/incoming\/article1456490.ece\/alternates\/BASE_LANDSCAPE\/Amahl%20and%20the%20Night%20Visitors\" alt=\"loonopera.com\" width=\"\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.duluthnewstribune.com\/incoming\/article1456490.ece\/alternates\/BASE_LANDSCAPE\/Amahl%20and%20the%20Night%20Visitors\" data-srcset=\"\" \/><\/div><div class=\"caption\">loonopera.com<\/div><\/div><\/div><div id=\"piano-inline-container\">\u00a0<\/div><div class=\"article-body\"><div class=\"main-body\"><div class=\"first-p\">\u00a0<\/div><div class=\"p402_premium\"><p>Friday&#8217;s opening of &#8220;Amahl and the Night Visitors,&#8221; staged by the Lyric Opera of the North, was as close to perfect as one might imagine.<\/p><p>Sam Anderson, as Amahl, allows the innocent sound of his young voice to capture all the sweetness and courage that Gian Carlo Menotti envisioned in his main character. At the same time, the motherly concern of Kate Kulas and the modestly pompous behavior of the three kings added a touch of sincerity and lightness to the miracle of the evening. Today or Sunday, without any question, you should be in the audience.<\/p><div class=\"in-article-container\"><div id=\"in-article\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><p>Ann Gumpper designed a very realistic clay shell of a house where all the action takes place. An opera at the Scottish Rite Masonic Temple has to deal with the broad stage with no wings, so that changing scenery is not really an option. All the same, the star &#8220;as large as a window, with a tail,&#8221; is very convincing, and the fact that all three kings had to duck to enter the house is a very satisfying stroke of forced humility.<\/p><p>The limping Amahl has been a habitual liar, so why should his mother believe anything? But when a king at the door becomes three kings at the door, even his mother has to yield to Amahl&#8217;s perception. Ultimately, the surprise miracle of the evening makes everyone on stage pause and contemplate the vast nature of any situation that we simply cannot comprehend.<\/p><p>At the center of the performance, dancers Suzanne Kritzberg and Ernest Lea Place offer a duet that lifts us all beyond the fragility of words. As they perform for the royal trio of William Bastian, Jeffrey Madison and Gabriel Mayfield, we watch kingly pride melt into a divine sense of humility.<\/p><div id=\"in-article-2-container\"><div id=\"in-article-2\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div id=\"article-mobile-2-container\"><div id=\"article-mobile-2\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><p>As young Amahl realizes that he can dispense with his crutches, the three kings also understand that a true miracle has blessed their arduous journey. All three of the kings sing their hearts out for this particular mother and son, even as they continue their trek with the renewed Amahl at their side.<\/p><p>Keith Swanson led the chamber orchestra in a crisp, lightly accented approach to the delicate score Menotti created. The chorus of shepherds and partners came through the house, then left, using the fullness of the Masonic Temple as their wide open space.<\/p><div id=\"in-article-3-container\"><div id=\"in-article-3\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div id=\"article-mobile-3-container\"><div id=\"article-mobile-3\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><p>Nonetheless, it remains to Kate Kulas and Sam Anderson as mother and son to offer an intimacy that is very tangible in this tightly defined space. Their two voices throughout the opera create many memorable moments. The powerful sense of miracle pervades this opera, yet the modest sense of overflowing warmth and compassion bring it to life at the corner of Lake Avenue and Second Street, right here in Duluth.<\/p><p>Under the competent leadership of Calland Metts and Sarah Lawrence, the LOON opera company has made a bold overture to carrying on the legacy of Ruth Jacobson, and we can only await the next opportunity to share in this creative enterprise.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-43d4287\" data-id=\"43d4287\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a2883e3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"a2883e3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>2020 Review:<\/p><div id=\"article-section-header\"><section><div id=\"article-header\"><div class=\"article-header-title\"><h1 class=\"article-headline\">Theater review: &#8216;Amahl and the Night Visitors&#8217; continues to charm audiences<\/h1><div class=\"light-grey byline\">Written By:\u00a0<span id=\"noLink\" class=\"ttu\">By Lawrance Bernabo, For the News Tribune<\/span>\u00a0|\u00a0<time class=\"timestamp\">Jan 25th 2020 &#8211; 2pm.<\/time><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section><\/div><div id=\"article-section-body\"><div id=\"top-social-share\"><div class=\"addthis_inline_share_toolbox\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.duluthnewstribune.com\/entertainment\/theater\/4881788-Theater-review-Amahl-and-the-Night-Visitors-continues-to-charm-audiences\" data-title=\"Theater review: 'Amahl and the Night Visitors' continues to charm audiences | Duluth News Tribune\" data-description=\"The Lyric Opera of the North production opened on Thursday.\"><div id=\"atstbx\" class=\"at-resp-share-element at-style-responsive addthis-smartlayers addthis-animated at4-show\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"at-c254f98d-a9ec-4cb1-b91f-cc1cdca6c2b3\"><span id=\"at-c254f98d-a9ec-4cb1-b91f-cc1cdca6c2b3\" class=\"at4-visually-hidden\"><\/span><div class=\"at-share-btn-elements\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"article-header-media\"><div class=\"image\"><div class=\"landscape \"><img decoding=\"async\" id=\"topMedia\" class=\" ls-is-cached lazyloaded\" src=\"https:\/\/www.duluthnewstribune.com\/incoming\/4875703-tj5by0-012320.F.DNT.Gigi-c02.JPG\/alternates\/BASE_LANDSCAPE\/012320.F.DNT.Gigi%20c02.JPG\" alt=\"From left: King Balthazar (Gregory Rahming), King Melchior (John Pierce), Amahl (Giulia Calland) and King Kaspar (Calland Metts) rehearse scenes from &quot;Amahl and the Night Visitors&quot; at the Masonic Temple. (Tyler Schank \/ tschank@duluthnews.com)\" width=\"\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.duluthnewstribune.com\/incoming\/4875703-tj5by0-012320.F.DNT.Gigi-c02.JPG\/alternates\/BASE_LANDSCAPE\/012320.F.DNT.Gigi%20c02.JPG\" data-srcset=\"\" \/><\/div><div class=\"caption\">From left: King Balthazar (Gregory Rahming), King Melchior (John Pierce), Amahl (Giulia Calland) and King Kaspar (Calland Metts) rehearse scenes from &#8220;Amahl and the Night Visitors&#8221; at the Masonic Temple. (Tyler Schank \/ tschank@duluthnews.com)<\/div><\/div><\/div><div id=\"piano-inline-container\">\u00a0<\/div><div class=\"article-body\"><div class=\"main-body\"><div class=\"first-p\"><p>For those inclined to think that Lyric Opera of the North\u2019s production of \u201cAmahl and the Night Visitors,&#8221; which opened Thursday night at the Masonic Temple, is a Christmas show that should have been scheduled in December, remember that the Adoration of the Magi is celebrated as the Feast of the Epiphany on Jan. 6.<\/p><\/div><div class=\"p402_premium\"><p>As has been amply publicized, the title role of Amahl is played by Giulia Calland, daughter of LOON\u2019s general artistic directors Sarah Lawrence and Calland Metts. Obviously, substituting a girl soprano for a boy soprano was going to make this \u201cAmahl\u201d sound decidedly different.<\/p><p>Calland creates an Amahl who is such a complete kid. She sings like a kid rather than an opera singer, which actually makes her Amahl more real than most and director Jeffrey Madison takes full advantage of what she brings to the table.<\/p><p>Calland gets plenty of laughs insisting to her mother there are kings knocking on the door and pestering the night visitors with questions (\u201dAre You A Real King?\u201d). But she delivers the dramatic moments equally as well, first with her spirited defense of her mother in \u201cDon\u2019t You Dare!\u201d and then when Amahl decides he should give a gift to the Holy Child as well (\u201cOh, No, Wait\u201d).<\/p><p>Also developing her character through her singing is Vicki Fingalson as the Mother, who makes \u201cStop Bothering Me!\u201d and \u201cAmahl, I Told You Not To Be A Nuisance!\u201d work by how she is singing and not just what she is saying. The payoff for this is her soaring notes at the start of \u201cAll That Gold,\u201d before lowering the volume and playing up the emotions of the moment.<\/p><div class=\"in-article-container\"><div id=\"in-article\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><p>The three kings make a dramatic entrance that starts in the balcony, proceeding down the stairs and through the audience. Gregory Rahming\u2019s King Balthazar is so kindly answering Amahl\u2019s questions, Metts has fun with the half-deaf King Kaspar as he extols the treasures in his box, and John Pierce\u2019s King Melchior gives \u201cOh, Woman, You Can Keep That Gold!\u201d a nice emotional weight.<\/p><p>One of the most impressive elements of this production are the shepherd and villagers who come to help entertain the kings. The choral work on \u201cShepherds! Shepherds!\u201d was simply wonderful, as was how they \u201coohed\u201d and \u201caahed\u201d every time dancing shepherd Ryo Munakata lifted his dancing partner Brianna Crockett off of the ground. The choreography by Nikolaus Wourms infused the folk dance with simple charm.<\/p><p>Ann Gumpper\u2019s scenic design is especially stellar, with the Star of Bethlehem high above the stage and stars extending to the ceiling during the night sequence. That is also where Alex Flinner\u2019s lighting of the Mother being tempted by \u201cAll That Gold\u201d was particularly effective.<\/p><p>The Masonic Temple is a gorgeous setting for this opera, and provides an intimacy larger venues cannot match, but there are some moments when conductor Dirk Meyer\u2019s 14-piece orchestra overwhelms the singing. Fortunately, these are few and far between, and in the end \u201cAmahl and the Night Visitors\u201d delivers everything you want from this holiday classic.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>2010 Review: Review: &#8216;Amahl&#8217; performance near perfection Written By:\u00a0news@duluthnewstribune.com\u00a0|\u00a0Dec 18th 2010 &#8211; 12am. \u00a0loonopera.com\u00a0\u00a0 Friday&#8217;s opening of &#8220;Amahl and the Night Visitors,&#8221; staged by the Lyric Opera of the North, was as close to perfect as one might imagine. Sam Anderson, as Amahl, allows the innocent sound of his young voice to capture all the [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-2954","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/anngumpperdesign.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2954","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/anngumpperdesign.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/anngumpperdesign.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/anngumpperdesign.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/anngumpperdesign.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2954"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/anngumpperdesign.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2954\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2957,"href":"https:\/\/anngumpperdesign.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2954\/revisions\/2957"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/anngumpperdesign.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2954"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}