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Menotti: Amahl & the Night Visitors, My Christmas
Naxos

Menotti: Amahl & the Night Visitors, My Christmas

$9.99
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Details

Composer
MENOTTI, GIAN CARLO
Artist
Hawkersmith, Gunlogson, Anthony, Mabry
Format
CD
Label
Naxos
Released
Nov 18, 2008
Catalog #
8669019
UPC
730099901970

About

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

Tracklist 28 tracks

  1. 1 Amahl! Amahl! (Mother, Amahl) 03:49
    Track
    1
    Title
    Amahl! Amahl! (Mother, Amahl)
    Duration
    03:49
    Composer
    Gian Carlo Menotti
    Performer
    Kirsten Gunlogson, Ike Hawkersmith
    Ensemble
    Nashville Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Alastair Willis
  2. 2 Oh, Mother, you should go out and see! (Amahl, Mother) 01:36
    Track
    2
    Title
    Oh, Mother, you should go out and see! (Amahl, Mother)
    Duration
    01:36
    Composer
    Gian Carlo Menotti
    Performer
    Ike Hawkersmith, Kirsten Gunlogson
    Ensemble
    Nashville Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Alastair Willis
  3. 3 Stop bothering me! (Mother, Amahl) 01:04
    Track
    3
    Title
    Stop bothering me! (Mother, Amahl)
    Duration
    01:04
    Composer
    Gian Carlo Menotti
    Performer
    Kirsten Gunlogson, Ike Hawkersmith
    Ensemble
    Nashville Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Alastair Willis
  4. 4 Poor Amahl! Hunger has gone to your head (Mother) 00:45
    Track
    4
    Title
    Poor Amahl! Hunger has gone to your head (Mother)
    Duration
    00:45
    Composer
    Gian Carlo Menotti
    Performer
    Kirsten Gunlogson
    Ensemble
    Nashville Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Alastair Willis
  5. 5 Don't cry, Mother dear (Amahl, Mother) 02:19
    Track
    5
    Title
    Don't cry, Mother dear (Amahl, Mother)
    Duration
    02:19
    Composer
    Gian Carlo Menotti
    Performer
    Ike Hawkersmith, Kirsten Gunlogson
    Ensemble
    Nashville Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Alastair Willis
  6. 6 From far away we come (King Kaspar, King Melchior, King Balthazar) 02:21
    Track
    6
    Title
    From far away we come (King Kaspar, King Melchior, King Balthazar)
    Duration
    02:21
    Composer
    Gian Carlo Menotti
    Performer
    Dean Anthony, Todd Thomas, Kevin Short
    Ensemble
    Nashville Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Alastair Willis
  7. 7 Amahl… Yes, Mother (Mother, Amahl) 03:01
    Track
    7
    Title
    Amahl… Yes, Mother (Mother, Amahl)
    Duration
    03:01
    Composer
    Gian Carlo Menotti
    Performer
    Kirsten Gunlogson, Ike Hawkersmith
    Ensemble
    Nashville Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Alastair Willis
  8. 8 Good Evening! Good Evening! (King Kaspar, King Melchior, King Balthazar, Amahl, Mother) 01:18
    Track
    8
    Title
    Good Evening! Good Evening! (King Kaspar, King Melchior, King Balthazar, Amahl, Mother)
    Duration
    01:18
    Composer
    Gian Carlo Menotti
    Performer
    Dean Anthony, Todd Thomas, Kevin Short, Ike Hawkersmith, Kirsten Gunlogson
    Ensemble
    Nashville Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Alastair Willis
  9. 9 Come in, Come in! (Mother, King Melchior, Amahl) 02:01
    Track
    9
    Title
    Come in, Come in! (Mother, King Melchior, Amahl)
    Duration
    02:01
    Composer
    Gian Carlo Menotti
    Performer
    Kirsten Gunlogson, Todd Thomas, Ike Hawkersmith
    Ensemble
    Nashville Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Alastair Willis
  10. 10 Are you a real king? (Amahl, King Balthazar, King Kaspar) 02:23
    Track
    10
    Title
    Are you a real king? (Amahl, King Balthazar, King Kaspar)
    Duration
    02:23
    Composer
    Gian Carlo Menotti
    Performer
    Ike Hawkersmith, Kevin Short, Dean Anthony
    Ensemble
    Nashville Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Alastair Willis
  11. 11 This is my box (King Kaspar) 01:43
    Track
    11
    Title
    This is my box (King Kaspar)
    Duration
    01:43
    Composer
    Gian Carlo Menotti
    Performer
    Dean Anthony
    Ensemble
    Nashville Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Alastair Willis
  12. 12 Amahl, I told you not to be a nuisance! (Mother, Amahl) 00:37
    Track
    12
    Title
    Amahl, I told you not to be a nuisance! (Mother, Amahl)
    Duration
    00:37
    Composer
    Gian Carlo Menotti
    Performer
    Kirsten Gunlogson, Ike Hawkersmith
    Ensemble
    Nashville Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Alastair Willis
  13. 13 Oh, these beautiful things (Mother, King Melchior) 00:43
    Track
    13
    Title
    Oh, these beautiful things (Mother, King Melchior)
    Duration
    00:43
    Composer
    Gian Carlo Menotti
    Performer
    Kirsten Gunlogson, Todd Thomas
    Ensemble
    Nashville Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Alastair Willis
  14. 14 Have you seen a child (King Melchior, Mother, King Balthazar, King Kaspar) 04:04
    Track
    14
    Title
    Have you seen a child (King Melchior, Mother, King Balthazar, King Kaspar)
    Duration
    04:04
    Composer
    Gian Carlo Menotti
    Performer
    Todd Thomas, Kirsten Gunlogson, Kevin Short, Dean Anthony
    Ensemble
    Nashville Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Alastair Willis
  15. 15 Shepherds! Shepherdesses! (Chorus, Mother, King Melchior) 00:20
    Track
    15
    Title
    Shepherds! Shepherdesses! (Chorus, Mother, King Melchior)
    Duration
    00:20
    Composer
    Gian Carlo Menotti
    Performer
    Kirsten Gunlogson, Todd Thomas
    Ensemble
    Nashville Symphony Chorus, Chicago Symphony Chorus, Nashville Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Alastair Willis
  16. 16 Emily! Emily! (Chorus, Mother) 01:31
    Track
    16
    Title
    Emily! Emily! (Chorus, Mother)
    Duration
    01:31
    Composer
    Gian Carlo Menotti
    Performer
    Kirsten Gunlogson
    Ensemble
    Nashville Symphony Chorus, Chicago Symphony Chorus, Nashville Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Alastair Willis
  17. 17 Olives and quinces (Chorus, King Kaspar, King Melchior, King Balthazar, Mother) 01:03
    Track
    17
    Title
    Olives and quinces (Chorus, King Kaspar, King Melchior, King Balthazar, Mother)
    Duration
    01:03
    Composer
    Gian Carlo Menotti
    Performer
    Dean Anthony, Todd Thomas, Kevin Short, Kirsten Gunlogson
    Ensemble
    Nashville Symphony Chorus, Chicago Symphony Chorus, Nashville Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Alastair Willis
  18. 18 Shepherds' Dance 03:20
    Track
    18
    Title
    Shepherds' Dance
    Duration
    03:20
    Composer
    Gian Carlo Menotti
    Ensemble
    Nashville Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Alastair Willis
  19. 19 Thank you, good friends (King Balthazar, Chorus, Amahl, King Kaspar) 03:07
    Track
    19
    Title
    Thank you, good friends (King Balthazar, Chorus, Amahl, King Kaspar)
    Duration
    03:07
    Composer
    Gian Carlo Menotti
    Performer
    Kevin Short, Ike Hawkersmith, Dean Anthony
    Ensemble
    Nashville Symphony Chorus, Chicago Symphony Chorus, Nashville Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Alastair Willis
  20. 20 All that gold! (Mother) 02:39
    Track
    20
    Title
    All that gold! (Mother)
    Duration
    02:39
    Composer
    Gian Carlo Menotti
    Performer
    Ike Hawkersmith
    Ensemble
    Nashville Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Alastair Willis
  21. 21 Thief! Thief! (Page, King Melchoir, King Balthazar, King Kaspar) 00:18
    Track
    21
    Title
    Thief! Thief! (Page, King Melchoir, King Balthazar, King Kaspar)
    Duration
    00:18
    Composer
    Gian Carlo Menotti
    Performer
    Bart LeFan, Todd Thomas, Kevin Short, Dean Anthony
    Ensemble
    Nashville Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Alastair Willis
  22. 22 Don't you dare! (Amahl) 00:49
    Track
    22
    Title
    Don't you dare! (Amahl)
    Duration
    00:49
    Composer
    Gian Carlo Menotti
    Performer
    Ike Hawkersmith
    Ensemble
    Nashville Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Alastair Willis
  23. 23 Oh, woman, you may keep the gold (King Melchior) 01:55
    Track
    23
    Title
    Oh, woman, you may keep the gold (King Melchior)
    Duration
    01:55
    Composer
    Gian Carlo Menotti
    Performer
    Todd Thomas
    Ensemble
    Nashville Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Alastair Willis
  24. 24 Oh, no, wait… take back your gold! (Mother, Amahl) 00:36
    Track
    24
    Title
    Oh, no, wait… take back your gold! (Mother, Amahl)
    Duration
    00:36
    Composer
    Gian Carlo Menotti
    Performer
    Kirsten Gunlogson, Ike Hawkersmith
    Ensemble
    Nashville Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Alastair Willis
  25. 25 I walk, mother! (Amahl, King Kaspar, King Melchior, King Balthazar, Mother, Page) 02:17
    Track
    25
    Title
    I walk, mother! (Amahl, King Kaspar, King Melchior, King Balthazar, Mother, Page)
    Duration
    02:17
    Composer
    Gian Carlo Menotti
    Performer
    Ike Hawkersmith, Dean Anthony, Todd Thomas, Kevin Short, Kirsten Gunlogson, Bart LeFan
    Ensemble
    Nashville Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Alastair Willis
  26. 26 Do you really want to go? (Mother, Amahl, King Kaspar, King Balthazar) 01:27
    Track
    26
    Title
    Do you really want to go? (Mother, Amahl, King Kaspar, King Balthazar)
    Duration
    01:27
    Composer
    Gian Carlo Menotti
    Performer
    Kirsten Gunlogson, Ike Hawkersmith, Dean Anthony, Kevin Short
    Ensemble
    Nashville Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Alastair Willis
  27. 27 Shepherds, Arise! (Chorus, King Melchior, Amahl) 01:59
    Track
    27
    Title
    Shepherds, Arise! (Chorus, King Melchior, Amahl)
    Duration
    01:59
    Composer
    Gian Carlo Menotti
    Performer
    Todd Thomas, Ike Hawkersmith
    Ensemble
    Nashville Symphony Chorus, Chicago Symphony Chorus, Nashville Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Alastair Willis
  28. 28 My Christmas 12:31
    Track
    28
    Title
    My Christmas
    Duration
    12:31
    Composer
    Gian Carlo Menotti
    Ensemble
    Nashville Symphony Chorus, Nashville Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    George Mabry