While I didn't grow up listening to opera often, this children's opera was one that I knew by heart. We listened to our record of this every Christmas while putting up our tree and decorations. This charming fictional tale explains how Amahl, a young, crippled shepherd boy, troubles his poor, widowed mother with stories that he invents, maybe while caring for his goat. When he tells her that he has seen a huge star with a tail as large as a window, and then that there are three kings at their door, she is a her wit's end. She discovers the truth as she opens the door and sees three kings standing there!
One of my favorite songs was always the song about the box that one of the 3 kings was carrying with him that had black licorice in it! I loved how he shared some of it with Amahl.
Perhaps you will have the opportunity of watching this opera performed live in your community. If not, this video will allow you to enjoy the charm of this endearing story which has softened my heart year by year of the plight of widows and those who suffer from disability or other loss. As with other operas, if you can get the lyrics ahead of time, it might help you to enjoy the story better. (Try checking out the storybook version of this opera at your local library.)
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