Perrysburg Symphony Orchestra to Present 'Amahl and Night Visitors'

Childhood is a wonderful time to begin a lifelong love of opera, and the holiday season lends an extra special magic to the memories.

The Perrysburg Symphony Orchestra will help you and your families create those memories with a free production of "Amahl and the Night Visitors" on Dec. 12 at Zoar Lutheran Church in Perrysburg.

When Italian-born composer Gian-Carlo Menotti was commissioned in 1951 by NBC to create a children's opera for television, he came up with the one-act piece from his childhood holiday memories of the "three kings" -- the magi who visit the Christ child in the biblical story.

In "Amahl and the Night Visitors," a young shepherd boy and his mother receive the traveling visitors for a night's stay. Destitution prompts the mother to steal for her crippled son some of the gold meant for the Christ child, but mercy and forgiveness propel the family to generosity and reverence for the prince of peace.

The Perrysburg Symphony Orchestra will offer the free concert and performance at 7 p.m. that Friday at the church, 314 E. Indiana Ave., Perrysburg.