Amahl And The Night Visitors is a 20th century opera written by Italian-American composer and librettist Gian Carlo Menotti. It was commissioned by the American television network NBC and it premiered on December 24 (Christmas Eve) 1951 and it was the first made for television opera.
The opera takes place near Bethlehem just after the birth of Jesus Christ and it tells a story of a young boy by the name of Amahl. Amahl is a disabled boy who uses a crutch to walk and who also has a very vivid imagination. This imagination was made apparent through the tall tales and occasional lies that he would tell. One evening, after his mother call him in, he tells her of an amazing star that was "as big as a window" that he has seen when he was out playing his shepherd's pipe. Later that night, his mother, distressed over his son's condition, prays that Amahl will not become a beggar and after going to bed, there is a knock on their door. Amahl's mother tells him to answer it and upon opening the door, he sees the Three Wise Men. The Three Wise Men tell them that they are on a long journey to give gifts to a wondrous child and they would like to rest at their house. Amahl's mother takes them in for the night and goes out to fetch more firewood. While she was out, Amahl decides to speak to the wise men and King Balthazar answers the young boy's questions. The king then asked what Amahl does and Amahl answered that he was once a shepherd but his mother had to sell the sheep. Unfortunately, this led to both him and his mother to beg. Amahl starts a conversation with King Kaspar, who was hard of hearing, eccentric and childlike. Kaspar shows him a box of magic stones, beads, and licorice, and offers Amahl some of the candy. The mother returns and tells Amahl to go and invite the neighbors over so the kings could be properly entertained.
Once the neighbors went home and the kings went to bed, Amahl's mother decided to steal some of the kings treasures that were meant for Jesus. She gets caught by the kings' page and Amahl was wakened by the confrontation. In defense of his mother, Amahl attacks the page. Realizing the need for the gold and Amahl's condition, King Melchior decided to let the mother keep the gold knowing that Jesus himself would not need earthly power or wealth to build His kingdom. However, the mother decides to give back the gold anyway because she has waited all her life for such a king and she wished that she could give a gift herself. Amahl decided to give his crutch to the kings as a gift for Jesus and is miraculously healed. With the permission of his mother, Amahl goes on the journey with the Wise Men to see the newborn King.
See a presentation of Amahl And The Night Visitors on December 8, 2012 at 2:00pm and 7:30pm at The Salvation Army Ray & Joan Kroc Center of Coeur d'Alene in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. The cast will include Quincy McFaul as Amahl, Patty Mortier as the mother, Steve Mortier, Tim Campbell, John Frankhauser as the Three Kings, and the St. George's Chamber Choir. Members of the Coeur d'Alene Symphony comprise the live chamber orchestra. Tickets are $20.00 for Adults, $15.00 for Seniors and $8.00 for Youth or Students with I.D.
Looking for Sheet Music For Amahl And The Night Visitors? Click On The Selections Below.
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Amahl And The Night Visitors - Vocal Score
(Vocal Score). By Gian Carlo Menotti (1911-). For Piano, Vocal (Score). Vocal Score. 20th Century, Broadway and Christmas. Difficulty: medium. Vocal score. Choral notation, piano reduction and introductory text. 65 pages. G. Schirmer #ED2039. Published by G. Schirmer (HL.50337790)
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Amahl and the Night Visitors
(Libretto). By Gian Carlo Menotti (1911-). For Vocal. Opera. 36 pages. G. Schirmer #ED2042. Published by G. Schirmer (HL.50340010)
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Amahl and the Night Visitors
(Chorus Parts). By Gian Carlo Menotti (1911-). For Chorus, Orchestra, Piano, Vocal (SATB). Opera. 16 pages. G. Schirmer #ED2047. Published by G. Schirmer (HL.50337800)
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