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Donald Macleod explores Amahl and the Night Visitors, Menotti's creation of an American Christmas tradition that introduced a whole new generation to opera.

Donald Macleod explores Amahl and the Night Visitors, Menotti's creation of an American Christmas tradition that introduced a whole generation to the joy of opera. The composer finished only days before the broadcast from Studio 8-H of New York's Radio City Music Hall, on Christmas Eve 1951, when the first opera written expressly for television went live on the air. It became one of the most frequently performed pieces on the American stage, clocking up over 2,000 performances in the late 1960s alone.

1 hour

Music Played

  • Gian Carlo Menotti

    Amahl and the night visitors - television opera in 1 act

    Performer: Kevin SHORT(Baritone) Performer: Nashville S O

    • Naxos.
    • 8.669019.
  • Gian Carlo Menotti

    Excerpt [The] Saint of Bleeker Street

    Conductor: Richard HICKOX Performer: Timothy RICHARDS(Tenor) Performer: Sandra ZELTZER(Soprano) Performer: Yvonne HOWARD(Contralto) Performer: Riccardo BARTOLI(Singer) Performer: Spoleto Festival Choir Performer: Spoleto Festival Orchestra

    • Chandos.
    • CHAN 9971.
  • Gian Carlo Menotti

    Apocalypse for large orchestra

    Conductor: James DEPREIST Performer: Oregon Symphony Orchestra

    • KOCH.
    • 3-7156-2H1.

Broadcasts

  • Wed 6 Jul 2011 12:00
  • Wed 6 Jul 2011 18:30

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