Amahl and the Night Visitors

In a darkened corner way down in New Orleans, incense curls through the cathedral air whilst the bayou whispers a secret story: three kings appear under cover of night following a promise told by the wind. Among them: Balthazar—robed in mystery, bearing gold, and bearing a world of wisdom in his foreboding presence.

This hauntingly reimagined production of Amahl and the Night Visitors fused Menotti’s sacred chamber opera with the deep folklore and musical textures of Cajun Louisiana. Candlelit and conjured like a fever dream, the staging blurred the lines between nativity and nightmare, pilgrimage and possession.

"Seph Stanek, as Balthazar, commands the stage with otherworldly presence—regal, restrained, and terrifyingly brilliant. His every movement breathes new life into a familiar story, his voice a thunderous benediction the likes of which have never been heard in the bayou." -The New Orleans Tribune

Being a part of such a rich telling of a classic story was a career highlight for me. Being surrounded by such talented performers in the cast allows you to really dig in deeper to your own character's storyline; sharing the stage with Katherine Knauer and Christopher Trepinski will elevate any staging of any opera, quite frankly. And any excuse to make the winter season a little less 'Christmas card' and more mystery is welcome in my book!