from the one act English opera Amahl and the Night Visitors by Gian-Carlo Menotti

Libretto: Gian-Carlo Menotti

Role: Amahl's Mother

Voice Part: soprano       Fach: lyric soprano

Setting: a small shepherd's hut, the Middle East, around 0 AD

Synopsis: After everyone has gone to sleep, Amahl's mother gazes longingly at the gifts for the Messiah that the kings are carrying. She wonders if these obviously rich kings understand how the poor live their lives. She decides that this unknown child to whom they are bringing the gifts isn't as important as her own crippled son and grabs some of the gold. Immediately, she is caught by the page of the kings who is guarding the gifts. This aria (and the role itself) is frequently sung by both mezzo-sopranos and sopranos.

from the one act English opera Amahl and the Night Visitors by Gian-Carlo Menotti

Libretto: Gian-Carlo Menotti

Role: King Kaspar, a slightly deaf king, one of the three eastern kings who bear gifts to the newborn Messiah

Voice Part: tenor       Fach: buffo tenor

Setting: a small shepherd's hut, the Middle East, around 0 AD

Synopsis: At the request of Amahl, King Kaspar tells all about his box, without which he never goes anywhere. As he explains in great detail, it contains all of his magic gems and stones. These stones protect and help him from the dangers. It also contains beads for him to play with and licorice for Amahl.