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Amahl and the Night Visitors
Relates how a crippled young shepherd comes to accompany the three Kings on their way to pay hommage to the newborn Jesus
64 pages, Library Binding
First published September 1, 1986
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
January 17, 2010
This book is taken from Menotti's opera. The book on its own can not stand. I think more appreciation could be made for the book if the reader had seen the opera and had the opportunity to relive it in the written word.
Amahl and his mother are poor and near starvation. Amahl laments that he can not properly care for his mother because he his a cripple. They realize they will have to begin begging because their situation is so poor.
That night Amahl recognizes a new, brilliant star. Shortly after three "kings" knock on their door seeking rest for the night. They come baring gold, frankincense and myrrh. They say they are following the star to find their king.
That night Amahl's mother cannot resist taking the gold. She is caught. The kings, initially angry, forgive her and offer her the gold. She ends up refusing. Amahl suggests they give the new king, the wise men seek, a gift. He offers his crutch. Upon which he is immediately healed. He is donned blessed by the {Christ} child and all want to touch him. At this point the boy leaves is mother and travels with the kings to present his crutch.
The main problem I had was that as soon as Amahl is healed he leaves his mother. She now had someone who could take care of her, but he runs off to give his crutch to the new King. It was just bizarre.
Also with the version of the story that I had the drawings were very poor. The drawings represents a boy and mother who looked to be living in the Swiss Alps within the last 200 hundred years and not poor people between Mesopotamia and Israel 2,000 years ago.
I'm sure the vocal score is wonderful. I just can't get past the story line.
Amahl and his mother are poor and near starvation. Amahl laments that he can not properly care for his mother because he his a cripple. They realize they will have to begin begging because their situation is so poor.
That night Amahl recognizes a new, brilliant star. Shortly after three "kings" knock on their door seeking rest for the night. They come baring gold, frankincense and myrrh. They say they are following the star to find their king.
That night Amahl's mother cannot resist taking the gold. She is caught. The kings, initially angry, forgive her and offer her the gold. She ends up refusing. Amahl suggests they give the new king, the wise men seek, a gift. He offers his crutch. Upon which he is immediately healed. He is donned blessed by the {Christ} child and all want to touch him. At this point the boy leaves is mother and travels with the kings to present his crutch.
The main problem I had was that as soon as Amahl is healed he leaves his mother. She now had someone who could take care of her, but he runs off to give his crutch to the new King. It was just bizarre.
Also with the version of the story that I had the drawings were very poor. The drawings represents a boy and mother who looked to be living in the Swiss Alps within the last 200 hundred years and not poor people between Mesopotamia and Israel 2,000 years ago.
I'm sure the vocal score is wonderful. I just can't get past the story line.
August 14, 2009
This is a storybook version of the popular Christmas opera by the same author. Amahl, a crippled shepherd boy, and his mother are visited by the three wise men on their way to visit the Christ child. That night Amahl's mother is caught trying to steal the gold intended for Christ. The king forgives her, explaining that Christ has come to establish a kingdom "built on love alone." Amahl's mother, ashamed, returns the gold and wishes that she could send a gift of her own, and Amahl offers his handmade crutch. Immediately he is healed of his limp, and the Kings invite him to meet the child. He bids his mother farewell and rides away with them.
The story touchingly evokes the longing endured by our world until the advent of Christ. The illustrations are very nice, but the writing reads more like a screenplay than a book. Those who have enjoyed the opera will be able to relive it through the book, but the book alone may not bring the same pleasure.
In our family we prefer to keep our Christmas stories very close to the biblical account until children are able to distinguish between fact and fiction. For parents who share this priority, it may be better to defer this story until children are old enough to appreciate the opera version, and use this book as a supplement.
The story touchingly evokes the longing endured by our world until the advent of Christ. The illustrations are very nice, but the writing reads more like a screenplay than a book. Those who have enjoyed the opera will be able to relive it through the book, but the book alone may not bring the same pleasure.
In our family we prefer to keep our Christmas stories very close to the biblical account until children are able to distinguish between fact and fiction. For parents who share this priority, it may be better to defer this story until children are old enough to appreciate the opera version, and use this book as a supplement.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews