dates
No upcoming dates were found for this opera.
The story takes place on the road to Bethlehem, on the night of first Christmas. Amahl, a shepherd, sits outside his hut playing his pipes. His mother calls him to bed, but overcome by the beauty of one particular star that shines bright in the night sky, he continues to play his pipes and watch the sky. She scolds him for day-dreaming, but then confesses to the real reason she is upset: the last of their money has run out and they will have to go begging. Amahl, who is a cripple, comforts his mother as the two go to sleep.
Outside, three men in exotic dress arrive at the hut. One of them knocks, and Amahl is astonished to find Three Kings on his doorstep: Kaspar, the oldest is carrying a chalice of myrrh; Melchior is carrying a coffer of gold; and Balthazar, who is African, us carrying an urn of frankincense. Amahl's mother invites them into their hut. The Magi explain that they are following a bright star to a Child, for whom they have brought gifts. Shepherds arrive with food for the royal guests and soon, the weary kings go to sleep.
Amahl's mother lies awake staring at the king's gold. Furious that these kings would give their riches to a child they have never seen while her own son goes hungry, she takes some of it. Her hand is seized by the kings' servant whose cries of "thief!" wake the hut. Amahl begs the kings to release his mother. Melchior calmly tells her to keep the gold: "The Child we seek doesn't need our gold. On love, on love alone He will build his Kingdom." The mother spills all she has taken on the rug, saying that she has waited all her life for such a king and would give him a gift herself if she could. Amahl offers his handmade crutch as a gift for the Child, and without thinking holds it out to the kings and steps forward. He can walk.
The kings recognize that he has been blessed and soon Amahl, his mother, and the Magi set out with their gifts to find the Child.
Outside, three men in exotic dress arrive at the hut. One of them knocks, and Amahl is astonished to find Three Kings on his doorstep: Kaspar, the oldest is carrying a chalice of myrrh; Melchior is carrying a coffer of gold; and Balthazar, who is African, us carrying an urn of frankincense. Amahl's mother invites them into their hut. The Magi explain that they are following a bright star to a Child, for whom they have brought gifts. Shepherds arrive with food for the royal guests and soon, the weary kings go to sleep.
Amahl's mother lies awake staring at the king's gold. Furious that these kings would give their riches to a child they have never seen while her own son goes hungry, she takes some of it. Her hand is seized by the kings' servant whose cries of "thief!" wake the hut. Amahl begs the kings to release his mother. Melchior calmly tells her to keep the gold: "The Child we seek doesn't need our gold. On love, on love alone He will build his Kingdom." The mother spills all she has taken on the rug, saying that she has waited all her life for such a king and would give him a gift herself if she could. Amahl offers his handmade crutch as a gift for the Child, and without thinking holds it out to the kings and steps forward. He can walk.
The kings recognize that he has been blessed and soon Amahl, his mother, and the Magi set out with their gifts to find the Child.
Well, there are only two complete Amahl recordings out there, so here they are. You can also find the orchestral excerpts on a variety of discs. Menotti supervised an Italian film version in 1997, but I haven't been able to find it on DVD yet (I've never seen it, but it received mixed reviews). Of course, the original TV version is unfortunately lost.
Dobson, Maxwell, Watson, Haywood, cond. David Syrus
Orch. & Chorus Royal Opera House, Entertainment/Jay Records (1 disc)
This more recent recording, based on performances at Covet Garden, features much cleaner recorded sound than the original recording (which will be a plus to many listeners), as well as some truly fine performances from the mostly British cast. There is some uncertain intonation in some of the ensembles and in the orchestra brass, but is still a fine account of Menotti's score.
Kuhlmann, Allen, McKinley, Aiken, Lishner, cond. Thomas Schippers
Orch. & Chorus NBC Symphony, RCA (1 disc)
The first opera ever commissioned for television, Amahl & the Night Visitors was first performed by the NBC Television Theater on Christmas Eve, 1951. This recording, under the composer's personal direction, was made a few days later. It remains the definitive version, even though the sound is rather dated and rough in places. The young Chet Allen sings beautifully as Amahl, and the excellent cast is well supported under the baton of Maestro Schippers. For those lucky enough to have seen the original TV broadcasts (NBC's master tape was lost years ago and feared destroyed), this disc will bring back great memories. For everyone else, it's a great introduction to the piece.
For the full list of recommended recordings for this and other operas visit Chad's Choice.
Dobson, Maxwell, Watson, Haywood, cond. David Syrus
Orch. & Chorus Royal Opera House, Entertainment/Jay Records (1 disc)
This more recent recording, based on performances at Covet Garden, features much cleaner recorded sound than the original recording (which will be a plus to many listeners), as well as some truly fine performances from the mostly British cast. There is some uncertain intonation in some of the ensembles and in the orchestra brass, but is still a fine account of Menotti's score.
Kuhlmann, Allen, McKinley, Aiken, Lishner, cond. Thomas Schippers
Orch. & Chorus NBC Symphony, RCA (1 disc)
The first opera ever commissioned for television, Amahl & the Night Visitors was first performed by the NBC Television Theater on Christmas Eve, 1951. This recording, under the composer's personal direction, was made a few days later. It remains the definitive version, even though the sound is rather dated and rough in places. The young Chet Allen sings beautifully as Amahl, and the excellent cast is well supported under the baton of Maestro Schippers. For those lucky enough to have seen the original TV broadcasts (NBC's master tape was lost years ago and feared destroyed), this disc will bring back great memories. For everyone else, it's a great introduction to the piece.
For the full list of recommended recordings for this and other operas visit Chad's Choice.
Gian-Carlo Menotti (July 7, 1911 - )
Born in Cadegliano, Italy, Menotti studied at the Milan Conservatory and later at the Curtis Institute where he became friends with Samuel Barber. Menotti would go on to write the librettos for all of Barber's operas.
He gained fame as a composer with Amelia al Ballo (1937), which received performances at the Met. Some of his most well-known operas include The Old Maid & the Thief (1939), The Medium (1946), The Telephone (1947), The Consul (1950), and The Saint of Bleeker Street (1954). In 1951, Amahl & the Night Visitors became the first opera ever commissioned for TV and it premiered Christmas Eve on NBC and was repeated every year until the print was lost.
In 1958, Menotti founded the Festival of Two Worlds in Spoleto, Italy. The success of the popular, all-encompassing arts event led him to found an American version in 1977—the Spoleto Festival in Charleston, SC.
Born in Cadegliano, Italy, Menotti studied at the Milan Conservatory and later at the Curtis Institute where he became friends with Samuel Barber. Menotti would go on to write the librettos for all of Barber's operas.
He gained fame as a composer with Amelia al Ballo (1937), which received performances at the Met. Some of his most well-known operas include The Old Maid & the Thief (1939), The Medium (1946), The Telephone (1947), The Consul (1950), and The Saint of Bleeker Street (1954). In 1951, Amahl & the Night Visitors became the first opera ever commissioned for TV and it premiered Christmas Eve on NBC and was repeated every year until the print was lost.
In 1958, Menotti founded the Festival of Two Worlds in Spoleto, Italy. The success of the popular, all-encompassing arts event led him to found an American version in 1977—the Spoleto Festival in Charleston, SC.
Designed by: 