Product: Menotti - Amahl and the Night Visitors (1955)
Rating: 3.0
"quintessential version"? WRONG!
Having recently purchased and watched this, the only DVD version of this absolutely marvelous opera, Amahl and the Night Visitors, here are my two bits on the subject.First, yours truly is not a reviewer, but a devoted fan of Amahl dating to 1955 when I first watched the show at age 3. Add to this my lifetime background in Theatre as tech and actor, I submit that my opinion here is based upon knowing a good story when it comes along; having trained ability to gauge performance value, both as a former actor and Technical Director; and owning great feelings for this show.While I would recommend this version of Amahl, simply because it is the only one so far put on disc, I can say without hesitation that this is not the best of them.One review leads with the comment that this Billy McIver version is the "quintessential" Amahl, but that opinion is groundless and simple-minded. The ONLY quintessential version is that production which aired three times between 1963 and 1965, staring Kurt Yaghjian. Not only is this performance my sentimental favorite, but of ALL the boys who played Amahl, on stage or Television (all of which I have seen), Kurt best captured the boyish characteristics of imagination, innocence, insatiable curiosity, and devotion to his mother. In addition to his masterful job of acting, including the excellent physical business with his crutch, Kurt's voice sounds more like a little boy than any of the other actors.To illustrate the quality of the Kurt Yaghjian performance, you need only watch and listen to his "Don't You Dare" to feel the deep empathy for his mother character. Or, how about the duet between Amahl and Kaspar during the number, "This Is My Box" - a mesmerizing bit of work between two actors living completely in the moment. And, what of the imposing character of the King Basso in this version - man what a scary yet empathetic Balthazar - none better.Finally, there is the so-called disdain by Menotti of this version of Amahl. But, it is obvious that Gian Carlo's disapproval was based upon politics and ego, and not upon production value. Menotti did not dislike the performance; rather he was ticked-off at being left out of the taping. It is a damned shame that the Kurt Yaghjian Amahl has been kept from us all due to a pissing contest between GCM and NBC. I here and now make a plea to anyone still holding the distribution rights to release the video taped version of this Kurt Yaghjian production for DVD sale, so we all can enjoy this wonderful performance of Amahl and the Night Visitors - the best of them all. Please bring back the magic of that time when as a boy myself, I lived for awhile inside Amahl's character while watching the wonderful story of a boy that knew no limits to life or love. Give a profound Christmas gift to the world - release this Amahl.