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Amahl and the Night Visitors is an opera in one act by Gian Carlo Menotti on an original English libretto by the composer. It was first performed on 24 December 1951 in New York City, at the NBC studios, where it was broadcast on television. It was the first opera specifically composed for television in America^[1]. The opera is now a popular Christmas classic.

Contents 1 Characters 2 Plot and History 3 Trivia 4 Notes

• Principal roles
  • Amahl - Treble
  • Amahl's mother - Mezzo-Soprano or Soprano
  • King Kaspar - Tenor
  • King Melchior - Baritone
  • King Balthazar - Bass
• Other
  • Page - Baritone
  • Shepherds and shepherdesses - Chorus

Time: The 1st century.

Place: Near Bethlehem.

Amahl is a disabled boy who, although he has a kind and pleasant heart, has a problem with telling tall tales and, occasionally, lies. Because of this his mother does not believe him one evening when he tells her that there is an amazing star "as big as a window." Later that night, there is a knock at the door and his mother tells him to go see who it is. He is amazed when he sees three splendidly dressed kings (obviously the Magi). They tell the mother and Amahl that they are on a long journey to give gifts to a wondrous child, and that they would like to rest at Amahl's house. The mother agrees, suspecting that the child they seek may be Amahl. She goes to fetch all of her neighbors, so that the kings may be fed and entertained properly. Later that night, however, the mother, being poor and also sickened at the thought of her child being a beggar, attempts to steal some gold that was meant for the Christ child, but is thwarted by the Kings' Page. Upon seeing Amahl's weak defense of his mother, and realizing the mother's motives for the attempted theft, King Melchior says she may keep the gold, as the Holy Child will not need earthly power or wealth to build his kingdom. The mother says that knowing of the Child's greatness, she wishes to send a gift but has nothing to send. Amahl, too, has nothing to give the Christ Child except his crutch, but he offers it, and as he does so, his leg is healed, and he joyfully leaves his mother and goes off with the three kings to see the child and give thanks for being healed.

Amahl and the Night Visitors was the first Christmas special to become an annual television tradition. From 1951 until 1966, it was presented on NBC (which commissioned Menotti to write it) on or around Christmas Eve, as either a special presentation or as an episode of an existing anthology series, such as The Alcoa Hour. It has been presented on TV in foreign countries as well, and in foreign translations.

For years it was presented live, but in 1963 it was videotaped by NBC with an all-new cast, and this version was shown from 1963 to 1966. After 1966, it seemed to have been retired from television, but in 1978, a new production, starring Teresa Stratas as Amahl's mother, was filmed by NBC, partly on location in the Holy Land. It, however, did not become an annual tradition the way the 1951 and 1963 versions had. This 1978 production is the only one released on video, but cast recordings of both the 1951 and the 1963 productions were recorded by RCA Victor, and the 1951 cast recording was released on compact disc. The 1963 recording of Amahl was the first recording of the opera made in stereo.

There has also recently been a British television production of the opera (in 2002), but this production has not been broadcast in the United States as of 2006.

The opening credits of the original 1951 production, created by Ben Palmer, use the "howlaround" effect created by pointing a television camera at its own monitor. The titles later inspired graphics effect designer Bernard Lodge when he designed the original opening titles for Doctor Who.^[2]

For several years it was assumed that the original telecast, preserved on kinescope, had been accidentally erased by an NBC technician, but a surviving copy was found and now resides in the Museum of Radio and Television, available for viewing by visitors. This production, however, has not been broadcast on television for many years.

1. ^ http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?view=DETAILS&grid=&xml=/news/2007/02/02/db0201.xml Telegraph obituary. Last accessed 02/02/07
2. ^ http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A907544 "Doctor Who - Evolution of a Title Sequence." Last accessed 02/01/2007.