The Chattanooga Symphony & Opera was forced to trim opera from its yearly lineup two years ago because of the expense involved, so it turned to the city that supports it for inspiration.
When the idea of presenting “Amahl and the Night Visitors” was broached, CSO officials decided to do it “the Chattanooga way.” The phrase has become a slogan for the cooperative efforts responsible for the city’s renaissance, and it fits here, as well.
The result was an hourlong production Friday night at the Tivoli Theatre that featured a collaborative effort by the CSO, the CSO Chorus, the Chattanooga Theatre Centre, Chattanooga Ballet and artist Shaun LaRose, who designed the set.
The show, which is a retelling of the Magi story created by Gian Carlo Menotti in 1961 for television, was highlighted by the performance of Chattanooga School for the Arts and Sciences eighth-grader Monte Coulter IV.