Menotti - Amahl and the Night Visitors

Customer Rating:
Summary: in no hurry to buy
Comment: Sometimes being "original" isn't necessarily better. Now don't get me wrong... I love this opera and grew up watching it on tv as did many reviewers.. But I'm not wasting my money on a black and white early tv video. What I am hoping for is a DVD of the wonderful video filmed on location in Israel with Theresa Stratas as the mother. I saw this the first time on PBS circa 1979, and was able to find a video tape produced by VAI. However it is time for a release of that performance on DVD. If I want to hear the original cast, I have the cd of that performance.

Customer Rating:
Summary: Very complete
Comment: excellent quality. The content is excellent too, with an insight of what was happening behind the stage from the mother's point of view, is where you really start knowing what happens in the real world, also I liked the chorus that was a bonus.

Customer Rating:
Summary: Beautiful and nostalgic
Comment: It has been a long time since I have seen this wonderful opera. I don't know why they don't put it on TV particularly on the educational channels. I thoroughly enjoyed this dvd and it brought back such enjoyable memories. The music is very good and the melodies stay with you after it is over.

Customer Rating:
Summary: Wonderful Memories!
Comment: I ordered a copy of the 1955 prformance of Amahl and the Night Visitors for many reasons which I think valid, and for some personal reasons.
As mentioned in other reviews, this performance offers no glitzy color or modern day technical perfection to which we have become accustomed. However, we should not always seek such shallowness when
we wish to purchase musical performances. What this performance does have is a dramatically staged version by the composer, a hand-chosen conductor, by the composer, a soprano who, by all accounts was the composer's ideal, a fine trio of Kings, an emsemble which is one of the
tightest I have ever heard and an Amahl who combines vulnerability, sweetness and strength in every way possible. I saw many peformances of this as a child and surely gained much from what it teaches as well as the sublime musical and dramatic moments. I was lucky to have been the college roommate of Bill McIver as we experienced early musical life together. Hearing about his role as he child comprised one of the best periods of my life. I see the man in this child in many ways. I own a number of recordings. This one is all I really need. Recommended highly!!!

David Evans, Kill Devil Hills, NC

Customer Rating:
Summary: Most exemplery performance
Comment: I agree that the DVD is somewhat dark.....but if you were one who saw this opera in 1952 (when I was 5 yrs old), which I did, under the close direction of Menotti himself, you will realize that this is the most exemplery rendering of the opera, unforgettable for the time, and never equalled in subsequent editions. No actress has ever equalled Rosemary Kuhlman's performance as the mother.