Menotti: Amahl & the Night Visitors, My Christmas

$9.99
Label
Naxos
Release Date
November 18, 2008
Format
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    Featuring ⌄
    • COMPOSER
      MENOTTI, GIAN CARLO
    • ORCHESTRA / ENSEMBLE
      Nashville Symphony Orchestra A
    • PERFORMER
      Hawkersmith, Gunlogson, Anthony, Mabry
    Product Details ⌄
    • RELEASE DATE
      November 18, 2008
    • UPC
      730099901970
    • CATALOG NUMBER
      8669019
    • LABEL
      Naxos
    • NUMBER OF DISCS
      1
    • GENRE
      Orchestral & Symphonic
    Works ⌄

    1. Amahl! Amahl! (Mother, Amahl)

      Composer: Gian Carlo Menotti

      Ensemble: Nashville Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Kirsten Gunlogson, Ike Hawkersmith

      Conductor: Alastair Willis

    2. Oh, Mother, you should go out and see! (Amahl, Mother)

      Composer: Gian Carlo Menotti

      Ensemble: Nashville Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Ike Hawkersmith, Kirsten Gunlogson

      Conductor: Alastair Willis

    3. Stop bothering me! (Mother, Amahl)

      Composer: Gian Carlo Menotti

      Ensemble: Nashville Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Kirsten Gunlogson, Ike Hawkersmith

      Conductor: Alastair Willis

    4. Poor Amahl! Hunger has gone to your head (Mother)

      Composer: Gian Carlo Menotti

      Ensemble: Nashville Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Kirsten Gunlogson

      Conductor: Alastair Willis

    5. Don't cry, Mother dear (Amahl, Mother)

      Composer: Gian Carlo Menotti

      Ensemble: Nashville Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Ike Hawkersmith, Kirsten Gunlogson

      Conductor: Alastair Willis

    6. From far away we come (King Kaspar, King Melchior, King Balthazar)

      Composer: Gian Carlo Menotti

      Ensemble: Nashville Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Dean Anthony, Todd Thomas, Kevin Short

      Conductor: Alastair Willis

    7. Amahl… Yes, Mother (Mother, Amahl)

      Composer: Gian Carlo Menotti

      Ensemble: Nashville Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Kirsten Gunlogson, Ike Hawkersmith

      Conductor: Alastair Willis

    8. Good Evening! Good Evening! (King Kaspar, King Melchior, King Balthazar, Amahl, Mother)

      Composer: Gian Carlo Menotti

      Ensemble: Nashville Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Dean Anthony, Todd Thomas, Kevin Short, Ike Hawkersmith, Kirsten Gunlogson

      Conductor: Alastair Willis

    9. Come in, Come in! (Mother, King Melchior, Amahl)

      Composer: Gian Carlo Menotti

      Ensemble: Nashville Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Kirsten Gunlogson, Todd Thomas, Ike Hawkersmith

      Conductor: Alastair Willis

    10. Are you a real king? (Amahl, King Balthazar, King Kaspar)

      Composer: Gian Carlo Menotti

      Ensemble: Nashville Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Ike Hawkersmith, Kevin Short, Dean Anthony

      Conductor: Alastair Willis

    11. This is my box (King Kaspar)

      Composer: Gian Carlo Menotti

      Ensemble: Nashville Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Dean Anthony

      Conductor: Alastair Willis

    12. Amahl, I told you not to be a nuisance! (Mother, Amahl)

      Composer: Gian Carlo Menotti

      Ensemble: Nashville Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Kirsten Gunlogson, Ike Hawkersmith

      Conductor: Alastair Willis

    13. Oh, these beautiful things (Mother, King Melchior)

      Composer: Gian Carlo Menotti

      Ensemble: Nashville Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Kirsten Gunlogson, Todd Thomas

      Conductor: Alastair Willis

    14. Have you seen a child (King Melchior, Mother, King Balthazar, King Kaspar)

      Composer: Gian Carlo Menotti

      Ensemble: Nashville Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Todd Thomas, Kirsten Gunlogson, Kevin Short, Dean Anthony

      Conductor: Alastair Willis

    15. Shepherds! Shepherdesses! (Chorus, Mother, King Melchior)

      Composer: Gian Carlo Menotti

      Ensemble: Nashville Symphony Chorus, Chicago Symphony Chorus, Nashville Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Kirsten Gunlogson, Todd Thomas

      Conductor: Alastair Willis

    16. Emily! Emily! (Chorus, Mother)

      Composer: Gian Carlo Menotti

      Ensemble: Nashville Symphony Chorus, Chicago Symphony Chorus, Nashville Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Kirsten Gunlogson

      Conductor: Alastair Willis

    17. Olives and quinces (Chorus, King Kaspar, King Melchior, King Balthazar, Mother)

      Composer: Gian Carlo Menotti

      Ensemble: Nashville Symphony Chorus, Chicago Symphony Chorus, Nashville Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Dean Anthony, Todd Thomas, Kevin Short, Kirsten Gunlogson

      Conductor: Alastair Willis

    18. Shepherds' Dance

      Composer: Gian Carlo Menotti

      Ensemble: Nashville Symphony Orchestra

      Conductor: Alastair Willis

    19. Thank you, good friends (King Balthazar, Chorus, Amahl, King Kaspar)

      Composer: Gian Carlo Menotti

      Ensemble: Nashville Symphony Chorus, Chicago Symphony Chorus, Nashville Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Kevin Short, Ike Hawkersmith, Dean Anthony

      Conductor: Alastair Willis

    20. All that gold! (Mother)

      Composer: Gian Carlo Menotti

      Ensemble: Nashville Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Ike Hawkersmith

      Conductor: Alastair Willis

    21. Thief! Thief! (Page, King Melchoir, King Balthazar, King Kaspar)

      Composer: Gian Carlo Menotti

      Ensemble: Nashville Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Bart LeFan, Todd Thomas, Kevin Short, Dean Anthony

      Conductor: Alastair Willis

    22. Don't you dare! (Amahl)

      Composer: Gian Carlo Menotti

      Ensemble: Nashville Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Ike Hawkersmith

      Conductor: Alastair Willis

    23. Oh, woman, you may keep the gold (King Melchior)

      Composer: Gian Carlo Menotti

      Ensemble: Nashville Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Todd Thomas

      Conductor: Alastair Willis

    24. Oh, no, wait… take back your gold! (Mother, Amahl)

      Composer: Gian Carlo Menotti

      Ensemble: Nashville Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Kirsten Gunlogson, Ike Hawkersmith

      Conductor: Alastair Willis

    25. I walk, mother! (Amahl, King Kaspar, King Melchior, King Balthazar, Mother, Page)

      Composer: Gian Carlo Menotti

      Ensemble: Nashville Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Ike Hawkersmith, Dean Anthony, Todd Thomas, Kevin Short, Kirsten Gunlogson, Bart LeFan

      Conductor: Alastair Willis

    26. Do you really want to go? (Mother, Amahl, King Kaspar, King Balthazar)

      Composer: Gian Carlo Menotti

      Ensemble: Nashville Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Kirsten Gunlogson, Ike Hawkersmith, Dean Anthony, Kevin Short

      Conductor: Alastair Willis

    27. Shepherds, Arise! (Chorus, King Melchior, Amahl)

      Composer: Gian Carlo Menotti

      Ensemble: Nashville Symphony Chorus, Chicago Symphony Chorus, Nashville Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Todd Thomas, Ike Hawkersmith

      Conductor: Alastair Willis

    28. My Christmas

      Composer: Gian Carlo Menotti

      Ensemble: Nashville Symphony Chorus, Nashville Symphony Orchestra

      Conductor: George Mabry


REVIEW:

It's remarkable that this classic Christmas opera hasn't received more recordings, but one reason may be its relatively short length (45-50 minutes) and the fact that it's more about the story and its quickly-paced dramatic aspects than the singing--Menotti focuses primarily on dialogue and less on stand-alone arias (this was written for television after all!). But the ensemble nature of the score, the sensitively wrought interaction of the sympathetically drawn characters, the humor, and the poignant relationship of the poor, crippled shepherd boy and his mother, are what give the work its charm and make it so affecting. Not that there aren't many clever and catchy, very pleasing tunes and a couple of fine ensemble numbers and choruses. Menotti's music is just enough and just the right blend of old and newer style.

Although the original 1951 television production conducted by Thomas Schippers (RCA) retains a dramatic edge over this excellent and very welcome newcomer--not to mention a vocally more solid cast--conductor Alastair Willis and his colleagues present a fully satisfying performance that has the advantage of first-rate, modern sound.

My only criticisms concern the acting--there could be a little more use of dramatic pauses and inflective touches, especially at the shocking moment when Amahl discovers he can walk, or in the scene when the Page discovers the Mother and the gold, which here lack the full measure of dramatic force exemplified by Schippers' cast. However, we mostly enjoy the easy interaction of the characters, such as the very effective, poignant moment when the Mother discovers the Kings at the door, or in Amahl's engaging banter with the Kings. The chorus is also fine, as is the orchestra, whose particular colors and instrumental balances are so important to the proper effect of the performance. Ultimately this is a production of this classic work that will hold up to many years of repeat hearings--and it's a pleasure to have it in a recording that obviously relishes and successfully captures the ambience of its chamber-opera character.

--David Vernier, ClassicsToday.com