The first half of the Arizona Arts Chorale holiday concert is a collection of carols from various parts of the world that are sure to get you in the holiday spirit; Africa, France, Wales, Germany, Spain, Catalonia, the West Indies, the Ukrane and America, of course. This is followed by a short intermission with some refreshment of cookies and candy and the concert continues with “Amahl and the Night Visitors”.
One of the most popular of American operas, Gian Carlo Menotti's work is performed throughout the country every Christmas season. This short opera was the first ever written expressly for television and was telecast on Dec. 24, 1951 on NBC.The story is one of a crippled, shepherd boy, Amahl, who has a habit of telling tales.His mother, now destitute and starving, is worried that hunger has begun to take it’s toll on their minds.
When Amahl tries to tell his mother that he has seen a great star outside, she passes it off as another lie from her fragile child. She is short tempered when there is knock at the door and Amahl tells her that there are 3 kings standing outside their small hut. Once again she believes he is not telling the truth. In fact there are three kings who enter for a short rest on their long journey to find the Christ Child, that they believe is the Messiah, and that a great star is leading them in their quest.
The kings bring gifts and gold and in the night the mother attempts to steal the gold to help her only child. She is caught, but defended by her son. The kings offer to allow her to keep some of the gold. Amahl offers his crutch as a gift and is miraculously healed. He then accompanies the Kings to see the Child himself who has healed him.
The Arizona Arts Chorale is presenting a concert version of this operetta without staging. The beautiful voices of opera singers Earl Hazel and Alexis Davis, who toured the globe this past summer in international performances of Porgy and Bess and the lovely. angelic voice of Phoenix Boys Choir member, Joey Lynch carry the poignant tale to the audience. A valley favorite in opera and broadway performances, Jeffrey Stevens portrays Melchior with a delightful performance by Ben Shafer as the comic deaf King Kaspar. The Chorale plays the part of the shepherds of the village.