When Lyric Opera of the North (LOON) resumes its 2025–26 season with the family-friendly opera Amahl and the Night Visitors, the University of Wisconsin-Superior Music Department will be prominently represented onstage and behind the scenes.

The production stars UW-Superior Professor Vicki Fingalson as Amahl’s Mother and is directed by Jeffrey Madison, senior lecturer at UW-Superior. Musical direction is led by Michael Fuchs, associate professor and chair of the UW-Superior Music Department. The opera orchestra also features UW-Superior Professor Erin Aldridge as concertmaster.

“It’s always a treat to work with colleagues in a different professional context,” Fingalson said. “It reminds me how much skill they have – and how lucky our students are to learn from professors who actively practice what we teach in the ‘real world.’”

Alumni Return to the Stage

The opera chorus includes several UW-Superior music alumni: Sydney Adkins, Rebecca Farmer, Aine Miller, Riley Hinnenkamp, Ben Pelerin, David Greenberg and Steve Johnson.

“It’s so gratifying to see our alumni seek out opportunities to participate in and support the very things we spent years developing together,” Fingalson said. “Floods of teacher-and-student memories brighten these new professional shared experiences.”

A Timeless Opera for All Ages

Originally created for television, Gian Carlo Menotti’s Amahl and the Night Visitors tells a vivid and accessible story through beautiful melodies, engaging characters and themes of generosity, love and hope. With a 55-minute runtime, the opera is ideal for audiences of all ages, including children.

“It’s incredibly accessible – the music is gorgeous, the singing is thrilling and the story immediately connects through its timeless themes of generosity, love and community,” Fingalson said.

Performance Details and Community Giving

Performances will take place Friday, January 23, and Saturday, January 24, at 7 p.m., and Sunday, January 25, at 3 p.m., at the Depot Theatre in downtown Duluth.

In keeping with the opera’s themes, LOON will collect donations before each performance to support CHUM. Audience members are encouraged to bring shelf-stable food items, gloves, socks, toilet paper or cash donations, which will be accepted in the lobby.

Tickets are available online or by calling (218) 464-0922.