Story Synopsis

Amahl, a disabled shepherd boy with a large imagination, tries to tell his mother about what he has seen outside: an enormous star with a long tail.  His mother, frustrated by his habitual lying, becomes angry.  Her anger increases when Amahl tells her that a knock at the door is three kings who have come to visit them.  Disbelieving him, she is surprised to open the door and be greeted by three kings.  The kings enter and tell the two peasants that they have been following a star to find a king, and they show the rich gifts they have brought him.

While Amahl’s mother is out gathering the firewood, Amahl asks the kings questions about their lives.  The mother returns, and the villagers present their gifts to the visitors.

That night, Amahl’s mother tries to steal some of the kings’ gold to use to help her child.  She is caught, and when the kings offer to let her keep the gold, explaining that the king they seek will need nothing but love to rule his kingdom, she returns it.

Amahl offers his staff as an additional gift, and suddenly finds that he can walk.  He leaves with the kings to pay homage to the child who has healed him.

Adapted from:  http://www.usopera.com/operas/amahl.shtml
Editorial improvements by Marco Bonito.

Additional Information of Interest

The links below are to information posted on other Web sites related to productions of Amahl that I found particularly interesting.  [Jesse]

• http://www.seasidemusictheater.org/guides/amahl.htm
  • A wonderful Amahl “study guide” by Gary Cadwallader posted on the Seaside Music Theater’s Education & Community Outreach site.  [Seaside Music Theater, Daytona Beach, FL.]
• http://www.nauticom.net/www/planet/files/singersAmahl1.htm
  • Moving notes about Amahl written by Tom Pedas, Director of the The Celebration Singers of Cranford, NJ.