AMAHL, A PERFECT OPERA STORY FOR THE SEASON

BY mARGARETTA WA gACHERU (POSTED nOVEMBER 27, 2023 Opera is a form of theatre that most Kenyans don’t know much about. Yet it’s easy to understand once you see it as a form of storytelling using music and song as its key components. It’s very much like musical theatre, only that the voices must be trained to a professional standard of beauty, audibility, and articulation which is so clear and strong that the singers never need a microphone to be heard and ought to always be accompanied by a live orchestra. Baraka Opera Kenya was started by Rhoda Ondeng Wilhelmsen with the specific goal to promote opera by staging wonderful stories with the desire to arouse broad public appreciation of opera. It was launched a decade ago with the performance by her company of Kenya’s first indigenous opera entitled Nyanga, Runaway Grandmother. “It was based on the life of my own grandmother who ran away from her village to become a Christian [and to marry Rhoda’s grandfather, a Christian missionary],” Rhoda, a professional opera singer herself, told BD Life late last year when the opera was being restaged. Baraka Opera Kenya ushered in the holiday season this past weekend with the glorious production of ‘Amahl and the Night Visitors’ at the Visa Oshwal Auditorium. Amahl may not be as well-known a Christmas story as for instance, Charles Dickens’ novelle, A Christmas Carol or the animated cartoon adaptations of the holiday classic like Scrooge: A Christmas Carol and Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas. But it’s a beautiful story, especially as it was adapted for Kenyan audiences by Michael James who also conducted the BOK orchestra, assisted by his wife Chiru. The story itself is a charming one. It’s based on the Nativity story and the coming of the three kings who are following the Star which they know is guiding them to the new-born babe, the Christ child. All three are kings bearing gifts to give the babe, gold and exotic spices The story (all of which is sung) is set in the home of Amahl and his destitute, widowed mother. Amahl is a shepherd boy who can only walk with a crutch that he’s made himself. It is dusk and he is seated outside, watching a giant star shine right over his home. His mother calls him to come inside, but he’s in no hurry. He is clearly a mischievous little boy who’s adored by his mother. But because he’s told her so many fanciful tales in the past, she doesn’t believe him when he speaks about a brightly shining star. Finally, he comes in and she reveals her fears for their future since they have nothing more to sell, so they may have to begin begging to stay alive. He is not bothered by the prospect as long as they stay together. Their story is beautifully sung by the 12-year-old Barak Malachi Mwangi as Amahl and Mariah Gichu as his mum. But then, after they sleep, knocks at the door rouse Amahl who refuses to let the gentlemen in. Finally, Mama Amahl goes to the door and welcomes in the three kings. They explain that they are following the star. Meanwhile, the mama has sent Amahl to get the villagers to come greet and entertain the visitors with song and dancing. Then the three men sleep, but the mama is tempted by the gold which she feels she needs to save her son. Of course, she is caught, and the kings tell her she can keep the gold since the Christ child has come to build God’s kingdom not with gold but with Love. She is so moved by his message that she gives all the gold back and wishes she had more to give to the babe. So does Amahl who offers his crutch and claims he wants to go with them to meet the Messiah and give him the one thing of value that he has. It’s by that act of selflessness that Amahl is suddenly healed and is able to walk again. After that they head out together, and we are also meant to learn the value and power of selfless love. It's a beautiful story written in 1951 by the Italian composer Gian Carlo Menotti. It was the first opera ever written for American television. It’s been performed annually ever since. The second half of the musical showcase was a beautiful Pan-African collection of Christmas carols, several of which the audience at Chandaria Auditorium were invited to since along with.