Composers of opera have been known to tailor their works to the spaces in which they premiere.

The wild sets and grand arias of Mozart's "The Magic Flute" suited the soaring ceilings of the Wiednertheater in Vienna, Austria. Léo Delibes envisioned his lush, India-inspired "Lakmé" playing first at the Opéra Comique in Paris.

Gian Carlo Menotti had a much different venue in mind when he wrote "Amahl and the Night Visitors," which was slated to premiere in a box — a very small box.

"Because this was an opera specifically written to be broadcast on NBC in 1951, it has a different feel than most other operas, I think. It's much more intimate, for one thing, and since it had to work on television, even the miracles had to be believable," said Debra Lenssen, co-director of OperaLancaster's upcoming production of Menotti's "Amahl."

"It's an amazing show," she said. "And the perfect thing for the lazy days after the Christmas rush."

The production runs Jan. 19 and 20 at Millersville University's Lyte Auditorium and stars John Couch, John Landis, Laura Heydt and Saralee Riggs. The performances, conducted by Walter Blackburn, also feature the dancers of Contemporary Ballet of Pennsylvania.

Set just outside Bethlehem during the birth of Jesus, "Amahl and the Night Visitors" focuses on a poor family whose youngest member, Amahl, walks with a crutch. The family is called upon to help three kings who are journeying to Bethlehem to attend the birth of Jesus.

"Usually companies will put this on as part of the lead up to Christmas, but the truth is this is really an opera about Epiphany. In the story, by the time the three Magi arrive, the Christ child has already been born," Lenssen said. "For us, it seemed like putting the show on after Christmas not only made logistical sense ... but it was a way of keeping the warmth of the holiday in our hearts."

Presented annually on NBC from 1951 to 1966, the original black-and-white production helped define Christmas Eve for a generation of viewers who grew up watching the opera on shows like the Alcoa Hour and Hallmark Hall of Fame.

In 1966, NBC refilmed the opera in color, a move that met with mixed reviews and led to the production being retired from the network's holiday lineup. A lavish 1978 production with scenes shot on location in the Holy Land also failed to capture the imaginations of viewers, and the show soon disappeared into the dusty archives of television history.

"Amahl" has fared much better in live performance, running consistently for more than 50 years in community theaters and opera houses.

Lenssen, who directs the show with her mother, former Lancaster Opera Company director Dorothy Rose Smith, said she was attracted to the show because it was in English and "packed full of wonderful things," such as poetic dialogue and songs for full chorus.

"It's a show that has a real fascination with a world where miracles can occur. It's distinct and very unique, which is why it has been continuously performed for over half a century," Lenssen said. "It's an opera where we can promise ... there's not a boring moment.

"This is a show that ignites the imagination," she said. "It's packed so full of wonderful things for adults and children alike, and at only 50 minutes, it's a manageable opera that the whole family can enjoy."

OperaLancaster's production of "Amahl and the Night Visitors" begins at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 19, and at 3 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 20, at Lyte Auditorium on the campus of Millersville University. For ticket information, call the university box office at 872-3811.