Product: Menotti - Amahl and the Night Visitors (1955)
Rating: 5.0
A Christmas Opera for Even Those Who Hate Opera
This DVD was created from a video tape of the 1955 live TV performance, so don't expect color or high resolution. Having said that, the viewing of this 40-minute written-for-TV opera makes it obvious why it was wildly popular in the 50's and deeply affected the lives of those who performed in it. Excellent liner notes and a recent interview with Rosemary Kuhlmann, who sang the role of the Mother, give even more depth to the experience. Synopsis: The three wise men show up at the house of a poor widow and her crippled son. The boy is miraculously healed and departs with the Kings to give his crutch to the Holy Child. You'll have to watch the video to find out what happens in between. A Classic for the ages. Linda Ronstadt once said that it was the only opera that she had ever seen, which is undoubtedly true for millions of other Americans.