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Symphony in the Valley Presents Its Annual Holiday Concert in Two Parts
Dec.
1, at 7 p.m. Snowmass Chapel
Chapel concert kicks off
season A special event to start the Christmas season will be offered at the Snowmass Chapel on Saturday, Dec. 1, at 7 p.m. That’s when Symphony in the Valley, under the direction of Wendy Larson, will perform its annual holiday concert in two parts. First, the full orchestra will play a selection of holiday instrumental favorites, including “Carol of the Bells,” “Coventry Carol” and “Joy to the World.” After an intermission, the heartwarming story of “Amahl and the Night Visitors” will be performed in full costume by a 16-member opera chorus and a section of the orchestra. “Amahl and the Night Visitors” is a short opera by Gian Carlo Menotti, which debuted on Christmas Eve in 1951, in black and white on the very small television screens of the time and was rebroadcast annually for nearly two decades to become an American holiday favorite. Wendy Larson directed the 45-minute opera in 1976 in conjunction with Colorado Mountain College at the Aspen Community Church, with Julie Paxton playing the mother. She fell in love with this tiny gem and always wanted to have it return to the upper Roaring Fork Valley. With the death of Menotti in February of this year, she was determined to bring it back. With Symphony in the Valley looking for a place to hold its annual holiday concert and the Snowmass Chapel in search of a Christmas musical event, it was a perfect fit. While music has always had its place during services at the community-based chapel in Snowmass Village, it has reached new heights after Paul Dankers was chosen as music director. Passionate about music in general and church music specifically, he is always working to bring new programs to the chapel within and outside of Sunday services. “What I keep hearing from people in Snowmass Village is that they want to develop their own unique identity for the town, especially in the arts. This concert is one way to do this and I hope it becomes an annual event here. All we need is an audience. Now is the time to show that if we bring performance arts here, that they will be attended. This is a deciding moment,” said Dankers, who is the vocal director for “Amahl and the Night Visitors.” For those who fear or shun operas, be not afraid. Performed in English, it is readily understandable. In particular, the crystal clear voice of Maureen Jackson of Carbondale, who plays Amahl’s mother with angst and passion is a real treat. “It’s the age old story of generosity of love and giving with universal attraction for all people, young and old. It has humor and poignant moments, showing the great love between a mother and child. It’s good family entertainment,” said Larson. The story revolves around the very poor family of Amahl and his mother, who live near Bethlehem at the time of the birth of Jesus and are visited by the three kings on their way to find the holy infant. The crippled Amahl lives in a world of fantasy to the dismay of his mother. Amahl is played by Corbin Grainger, an eighth grader from Basalt. This is only his second performance on the stage. Last year he was in an Aspen production of “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.” His singing talent was discovered through a JazzAspen school program which offers three free music classes to Roaring Fork students. Grainger chose to study voice with Katie Hones of Basalt Middle School and was asked to audition for the part of Amahl by the opera’s local director John Goss. “I really like my role as Amahl. He’s a constant liar and when he finally tells the truth his mother doesn’t believe him. There are a lot of funny parts, especially when the rich kings come,” said the 13-year-old. “It’s a wonderful story and I’ve fallen in love with the music,” said John Goss, who has been overseeing the entire show to make sure the acting, staging and costumes are spot on. “A wonderful pinnacle of the story is when Amahl and his mother hear about the Christ child. It’s a story of giving and receiving which will help to get people into the Christmas spirit,” he said. There will be only one performance of the Symphony in the Valley’s annual holiday concert at the Snowmass Chapel. It’s set for Saturday, Dec. 1, at 7 p.m. Tickets are $15 for seniors and adults, $10 for children 3-18 and $40 for families. The concert, which is sponsored by BJ Adams Real Estate, will also be performed the following day at the First United Methodist Church in Glenwood Springs at 2 p.m. email
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