Ahmal and the Night Visitors

Back in 1951, NBC aired “Ahmal and the Night Visitors”, which was the first opera commissioned specifically for television. I saw it performed live at my parish church yesterday.

It was odd to see an opera being sung in English. The set was simple; since it is a play in one act, no set changes were necessary. The opera is a Christmas story. Its real star is Ahmal, a 12 year old boy. It is a story that is for all ages, but a story easy enough to follow for children.

Looking back, I don’t know how I managed to never see Ahmal before now. It has been around for almost literally my entire life. Was it that its was too new to be considered back when we were in grade school? Was opera looked upon suspiciously in our lower middle class neighborhood? And how have I avoided it my entire adult life?

I have no answers for these questions, but I am very glad I saw it yesterday. While it was a parish presentation, at just $10 a ticket, it was a professional performance. Personally, while I appreciated the wonderful music and singing talent, I would have enjoyed the story just as much as a spoken word performance.

The opera is less than an hour long. You can find it to buy online with not too much difficulty, and of course, there is always a chance of finding a presentation on You Tube. If you can find a local presentation, go, and take the kids. It’s a Christmas story, but not one they have heard before. There’s no Santa Claus, and not even a manger. Opera may be a new form to their ears, so give them the gift of introducing them to new types of music and a new form of entertainment.