Expressly written for television it premiered on NBC on Christmas Eve, 1951 and was repeated thereafter for sixteen Christmas seasons.

As a young boy growing up in Western Pennsylvania it became an annual tradition for me to view this magical musical production featuring the poor crippled shepherd boy, his devoted mother and the knock on the door which changed their lives forever.

Amahl and the Night Visitors was written by the Italian composer Gian Carlo Menotti who as a young boy became lame. The doctors had no cure for him. He was taken to be blessed at the holy Sanctuary of Sacro Monte and thereafter, miraculously, the young Menotti was cured of lameness.

In 1951 when NBC commissioned the 40 year old Menotti to write a Christmas opera he could not come up with a subject. He despaired until one day, while strolling through the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, he chanced upon and was inspired by the famous painting “The Adoration of the Magi.” The idea of the Night Visitors was born and in less than two months Menotti finished the score. He wrote into it some of the magical sounds he remembered from his youth during St. Nicholas's festive visits to his mountain village in Italy where he was born.

Only an hour in length the one act opera “Amahl” with its beautiful score and touching libretto (the opera is sung in English) is appealing to all ages and musical backgrounds. It was written specifically for young imaginations which can easily relate to a child with a head full of dreams. It remains an inspiring story of how faith, charity, unselfish love and good deeds can work miracles.

I have, since my youth, treasured this timeless opera of the shepherd boy, his destitute mother and the visit from the star-guided Wise Men. I remain grateful to the Board of Directors of the Celebration Singers for their support when I suggested we undertake this ambitious production.