Paul Terracini conductor
Christine Douglas director
Lucy McAlary chorus director
Benjamin Johnston Amahl
Corinne Parker The Mother
Evan Kirby King Kaspar
Vincenzo Nesci King Melchior
Christopher Nazarian King Balthazar
Soonki Park The Page
Shanul Sharma tenor
Amahl and the Night Visitors is an uplifting Christmas story of devotion, compassion and healing. Inspired by Hieronymus Bosch’s painting “The Adoration of the Magi”, Menotti conceived the work to recapture his own childhood in Italy, where the Three Kings, rather than Santa Claus, are
the traditional Christmas figures. Commissioned by NBC in 1951, it was the first opera written expressly for television in America and for many years was broadcast annually at Christmas time.
Amahl is a crippled boy who lives in poverty with his mother. Three kings stop at their humble house, seeking rest and refreshment on their long journey bearing gifts to the Christ Child. Villagers are gathered to help feed and entertain the kings. As events unfold, Amahl’s mother is overcome by her desire to send a gift to the Child, but she and her son have nothing valuable to send. When Amahl offers his most valued possession – his crutch – he is miraculously healed and is able to walk. He sets off to accompany the kings to visit the Child and give thanks for being healed.