Product Details

• Actors: Menotti, Kuhlmann, McIver, Schippers
• Format: Black & White, Classical, DVD, Subtitled, NTSC
• Language: English
• Subtitles: English, French, German, Italian, Spanish
• Region: All Regions
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: Video Artists Int'l
• DVD Release Date: October 9, 2007
• Run Time: 45 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (32 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B000VZAV5I
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #22,365 in Movies & TV (See Bestsellers in Movies & TV)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #14 in	Music > Opera & Vocal > Languages > English
  #38 in	Movies & TV > Musicals & Performing Arts > Classical > Symphonies

• For more information about "Menotti - Amahl and the Night Visitors" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

58 of 59 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Quintessential Version of "Amahl", October 28, 2007

By	Kathryn A. Bledsoe (Shoreline, WA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is the quintessential version of this gorgeous, infinitely enduring story of the Three Kings visiting the cottage of a poverty-stricken shepherd's widow and her crippled son. Menotti's music here is amazing, the characterizations and voices are marvelous. I have listened to this opera for 45 years, at least annually, and never fail to be moved to tears. No one should miss this lovely thing. This version was the very first, telecast live on December 24, 1951. I researched and revised my original statement regarding the telecast date based on a comment by Scott in L.A. Thanks for the correction!

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Original Is Finally Released, December 12, 2007

By	bbuono - See all my reviews

I cannot confirm whether this is the 1954 version or later (it lists it as 1955 telecast). The original (1951)had Chet Allen as Amahl. This version has Bill McIver. I watched the Hallmark Hall of Fame each year as they showed this wonderful performance. I have been looking for a release of this version for years. This is close enough to the "original" to be collected. The sound and video quality are very good, especially considering what the telecast was like. I have no complaints. The story should be well known from the summary, later versions and the reviews. 50 years have not diminished the greatness and enjoyment of this classic.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful Memories!, January 31, 2008

By	David F. Evans (Kill Devil Hills, NC United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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