Amahl and the Night Visitors, a one-act opera by Gian Carlo Menotti, was first performed on Christmas Eve 1951 by the NBC Television Theater. Amahl and the Night Visitors is a perfect introduction to opera for children and families. For many, it has become a holiday tradition.

Amahl At Bethesda

The annual production of Amahl by the Western Connecticut State University Opera, under the direction of Margaret Astrup, has become a delightful holiday tradition at Bethesda.

Click here to see an image gallery from the 2005 production of Amahl at Bethesda.

When and Where:

Bethesda Music Series will be presenting Amahl and the Night Visitors in December 2009, date TBD.

Watch future issues of the Visitor for more information on the Music Series Concerts.

Come and bring your family and friends. There is no charge for this special Christmas performance, but a free-will offering will be taken.

The Story of Amahl

Somewhere in the world lives a crippled little shepherd called Amahl, with his mother, an impoverished widow. Nothing is left to them of the little they ever had, and they are now faced with hunger and cold in their empty house.

Three Wise Men, on their way to Bethlehem, stop at the hut and ask to be taken in for the night. Amahl and his mother welcome them and their Page as well as they can, and are much astonished at the splendor of their robes and the wealth of gifts they are carrying with them. When Amahl's mother realizes that the Three Kings are looking for a newborn babe and that the expensive gifts are all destined for him, she becomes bitter and envious. She cannot understand why at least some of these gifts could not be given to her own child, who is so poor and sickly.

Under cover of darkness, while the Three Kings are asleep, she steals some of the gold from them - and is caught red-handed. When she explains to the Three Kings that she needs the gold to feed her starving child, she is readily forgiven. With great tenderness they try to explain to her who this newborn child is and how much he needs the love of every human being to build his coming kingdom. Touched by their words, the poor widow not only gives back the stolen gold, but wishes she could add a gift of her own. Little Amahl comes to her rescue. He impulsively hands the Three Kings his wooden crutch, his most precious possession, and in so doing he is miraculously cured of his lameness.

As dawn appears in the sky, the Three Kings prepare to resume their journey. Amahl begs his mother to let him join them, and he is finally allowed to follow the Kings to Bethlehem to adore and give thanks to the Christ Child.