Amahl and the Night Visitors (vaimusic.com)

[TerriUp]

William McIver was my choral director at UNC-G in the early 1970's. We would all sit mesmerized when he sang musical passages. What a shame that he is gone. RIP

[bravaLiz]

Have seen many professional versions of 'Amahl" (for years I loved the 70's version broadcast that featured the beautiful and talented Teresa Stratus) but from a vocal standpoint, Kuhlmann's technique is pristine, and I don't believe I've ever heard a more perfect boy soprano doing this. Wonder what he sounded like when he grew up??? ,

[TerriUp]

@bravaLiz He was my choral director in college and he had a beautiful voice. It was incredible to hear him sing.

[presbyterosBassI]

English cathedral choirs are full of kids who can do this.

[AnonymousInaWay]

im playin his role :D

[AnonymousInaWay]

i can sing higher. not joking. :P and im a boy!

[dbrewer80221]

@AnonymousInaWay We'll see what happens when you hit puberty :P

[TheRestlesswind1]

Spine-tingling!!

Thank-you : )) This is a treasure..

as is its creator 'Gian Carlo Menotti'...

[christinerhaller]

my son is 10 and performing this in december!

[gabelogan997]

The interesting thing is that this is now available on DVD. PM me if you're interested.

[melgaskins09]

I always think of Amahl and the Night Visitors when I hear Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody". Can someone please explain that?

[spectreagent]

The BBC broadcast a version of it in 1959, for which one of the special effects shots (known as a "howlaround" where the camera records it's own feedback) was used as the opening shot for the famous title sequence of the long-running science-fiction series, DOCTOR WHO (1963-89; 2005- ).

[zigfried64]

I have the 1951 video (Chet Allen) the 1952 video (first time for McIver) + this version (1955). Would REALLY like to find the April 1952 broadcast (also with Allen) + any of the other videos after McIver left (I already have two with him). Saw the April 1952 version at Paley Center -anyone know where I can get it? I also saw the 1963 (or was it 65?) version, which is the one that pissed Menotti off + he pulled the broadcast rights. It was TERRIFIC. Looking for any other videos of this opera!

[coxmosia1]

I remember watching this as a little girl. Thanks for posting this excerpt.

[jjzuc]

Let's also not forget the talents of Chet Allen who starred in the original 1951 broadcast. The early versions were all broadcast live! Try to keep your young one focused on something for ten minutes let alone perform an opera of this magnitude. I raise a toast to both Chet & Bill. Truly amazing.

[jjzuc]

Does it get any better than this? Even a loud rock & roll musician like myself has always been amazed by McIver's talent. Menotti's composition is musically and emotionally stunning and the cast is exquisite. It's a shame we don't see this on TV anymore. The 1978 version was a nice try but didn't quite measure up to the original. Please keep this music alive at the holidays!

[peacesigner]

why am i watching this again

[peacesigner]

in the beginning it sounds like she says a bagel

[BabkaPierogi]

Where else is it playing? One place is where it all started, New York City. December 18th, 2010, live at Avery Fisher Hall, Lincoln Center.

[newlyintroducingjess]

that's my great uncle.... he was truely amazing...i love him.

[kdavisification]

@newlyintroducingjess Yes he was amazing. What was his name and is he still living?

[janeezzard]

Just love this opera and this cast. 

[jfbecks17]

wow nice boy soprano.

[jfbecks17]

@jfbecks17 reminds me of Oberlin.

[DruidTwilight]

This boy grew up to become a distinguished Professor of voice...(Professor William McIver) He was

much loved by his pupils: I believe he passed away in 2003

[pppion1]

Yes, he did, at the age of 61. He was a gift to those of us fortunate enough to study with him. I understand he founded the graduate program in vocal pedagogy at Eastman.

[DruidTwilight]

@pppion1 Yes...He joined the Eastman School of music in 1999..and was passionate about the science of vocal pedagogy: As a memorial to him..I believe that the UNCG voice faculty has established the William McIver lectureship in vocal pedagogy:

What a wonderful treble /boy soprano voice he had!

[GrumpyOleBear]

Is there a copy of the complete production (DVD or VHS?) If so, where can I obtain a copy?

[Locklyn30]

Heavenly!

[EDTMKT]

Ahh, chills! What a beautiful voice... and convincing delivery!

[Ramona817]

Thanks for posting this...

[MGB1977]

I was in Amal 47 years ago. One of many for me. It is a wonderful Christmas treat.

Jay

[soccerline365]

OMG r u the amal in the video we did this in music class in just wondering

[softballmack365]

hey c its

its m

[softballmack365]

r u the one from the video

[binkle1]

We listened to this in seventh grade music class. I loved it!

[jancoetzer12]

I sang this opera 3 years ago.

[ResearchMachine]

The tale is adorable and the music is absolutely exquisite.

Its a shame the Menotti is still holding the broadcasting rights (its seems even from beyond the grave).

[singingfool14]

I'm playing him in the opera at the university! I know I'm a girl.. but hey it's very rare you find boys that can sing like this:)

[jamesthemaniac]

unfortunately that's what happens. I played the role my 8th grade year. Praying every night that my voice wouldn't change, lol

[singingfool14]

@singingfool14 wow.. i can't believe i did it two years ago.. and i'm just NOW finding some footage from it! 

[0pIIq0]

@singingfool14 ooooh ohohoh im a boy who is playing amahl at my highschool :D

[singingfool14]

@0pIIq0 sweetness! :)

[glitterbat107]

I remember seeing this in my 5th grade music class.

wow, that was sooo long ago!

[number1Marj]

Rosemary Kuhlmann is alive and well, living in Narragansett, RI

[gilyat]

You can buy this very production on DVD at Amazon. I have just recently purchased it, because like others on here it had a profound affect on me as a child, I would think it being my first introduction to opera.

[atmandothers]

I have to watch this in Music class

[dmfkiller24]

LOL same here

[Rothko50]

Thank you so much for this gift. Is there any way we can get the whole thing?

This is Christmas for me, and you have done a kind thing. God bless you.

[ChristianThomas777]

Ha. I played Amahl 8 years ago. Haven't heard any of the songs since then. Thanks for uploading!

[FredericaE]

God Bless you for posting this !! I watched this on TV as a child--my parents said I never even breathed through the entire production, except to cry at the breathtaking music. I am now a 50 year old music teacher (for almost 25 yrs)--partly inspired by the TV production of this very work! Thanks again !!!! FredericaE

[RitesOfOnyx]

My mother made it a family tradition to listen to Amahl And The Night Visitors every holiday season throughout my childhood. I have seen live performances several times and had the opera memorized by the time I was 8. I am 33 now and it still never fails to bring back a nostalgic warm feeling whenever I listen to it.

[witherwings14]

same here.

:)

she passed away a little more than a month ago, but my memories of her will always be reflected in this operetta.

[hambie21]

my name is amahl.but i didn't even know what it means.can somebody explain to me?please..thanks!

[TedShepherd]

The boy's name Amahl can also be a girl's name. Amahl is a variant of Amal (Hebrew, Sanskrit, Arabic) and Hamal (Arabic). Amahl means "labor, hard work; pure; hope; lamb". So, at least, one internet source says.

[Goethefemme]

I saw this wonderful opera on TV when I was 5. It was broadcast almost every year for a few years afterwards. It should be still. I know the libretto and score from those broadcasts, as I never owned a recording. I still cry to think how they walked off at the end & left the mother alone, hungry, and homeless. Why couldn't she have gone to see the Christ Child too?

[pannicatack]

I have the DVD of this. Such a beautiful opera.

[cmhmuscle]

Gosh I had no idea that this was available! It was RELIGIOUS for us to watch this for the years they broadcast it in the 50's

[skipperdee171]

I am auditioning for Amahl this week, and I need to learn this song. Even though I'm a girl, the notes are still pretty high!

[Metaphysics1221]

I love this entire Opera!

I got to be Amahl in my last year before my voice changed, it was the best experience of my life.

[DLee594]

Isn't it? I got to be it when I was 4th Grade.

[shmoogle14]

I was Amahl when I was like 11. I remember I had a rehearsal on my birthday. A week after the last performance, my voice dropped. so that the was end of that. Then I was in it again and played King Kaspar.

[newro1]

I just performed in this thing like a week ago, we do it every single year and I'm so tired of it, it's boring, corny and ridiculous, the only kind of interesting part would be the quartet and the part when the mother steals the gold, and that's it.

[nhbright]

Why do you do it then? Its short and the music is memorable- magical feel. Maybe if you give it a break 20 years from now you'll see it differently.

[cosmosmoon63]

sorry you can't appreciate Menotti's genius. Maybe you can ask to perform Santa is coming to town next time...

[newro1]

As much as I appreciate sarcasm... what you said was just plain stupid, like I said, I can't help it thinking of this like corny and ridiculous except for the parts I already mentioned so I do appreciate Menotti, not all of it, but I do, gosh... read first, you ass whipe.

[djgrizzy]

I understand. Sometimes nothing can ruin a production for you more than being in it

[UseYourBrainFool]

The only stupid one here is this immature little jackass who performes in a "thing"(musical operetta) he considers boring, corny and ridiculous-no sarcasm intended.

[PeaceLoveToYou]

Sorry newro1-I posted as UseYourBrainFool then deleted my account;It was stupid and immature of me to judge you. I need to use my brain more often!

[GrannySea]

I appeared in a chorus of a production in St Albans in 1969, you can buy a CD of it on Amazon, I just did......!!

[pacuuuuu3]

were did you get this? Please respond! I need more

[cosmosmoon63]

amazon sells the dvd now.

[edegeorg]

I am touched to find this. I remember this though I was a very young child. It was powerful and wonderful. It has colored my lifelong memories of Christmas.

[oneworldguy]

I remember seeing a color production of this production. I remember Amahl's voice being AMAZINGLY powerful, like ADULT experience in a child's voice.

[freakylittlegnome]

I saw this when I was a little child and it made me weep happy tears. I told my wife about it and she now loves it too. where can we find a DVD of this version?

love to all. thanks for posting.

[johnmarkf]

is this from the original NBC production? menotti staged it?

[MUSICALLAN]

Original production, though not the premiere. Premiere was Dec. 1951. Same cast & crew repeated it the following Easter. After that, the original Amahl dropped out (his voice had changed) and Bill McIver took over for the next 4 telecasts -- Christmases '52 to '55 -- the longest-running Amahl. This telecast is the last with McIver and the only one to have an official (i.e, non-pirated) DVD release. As with all the telecasts, Menotti was very much present as stage director. Highly recommended!

[billyguns2]

I heard that the 1951 premiere tape was lost in a fire; do you know if that's true? I don't care for the Amahl on this clip, and have a memory that the original boy was better. Is the commercal RCA recording of the 1951 cast? It's very good!

[cosmosmoon63]

It is true but it is available to view at the NY Museum of Movies and Television AKA "Paley Museum" IMO, the 1951 version not as good as this one. I felt this Anmahl far outdid the Original, with all due respect.