Bethlehem: There are actually two Bethlehems in present-day Israel. The one usually honored as the birthplace of Jesus is about six miles south of Jerusalem, is known as the City of David, and is the one cited by Matthew in the Bible. He describes the Wise Men stopping to see Herod in Jerusalem on their way. The people were waiting for the Messiah prophesizd in Micah 5:1-6 to be born there of an ancient line, i.e. as a descendant of David. The second Bethlehem is near Nazareth, the home of the parents of Jesus in northern Israel. Its citizens claim Jesus was born there. Amahl is not explicit about the setting of the opera. It may have been quite a distance away from Bethlehem. Wherever they were from, it would have taken the MAgi a long time to come from their native land(s) to Israel.

Tail: The star with a tail would have been a comet, one of the many hypotheses about the nature of the star the Wise Men followed

Kings: The Bible calls them Magi (probably Zoroastrian priests), often translated as Wise Men . They did not come to be called Kings until several centuries later. For more on them and the legends surrounding them see the article on Magi.

Possessions: Among these are a carpets, a parrot and extravagant objects truly worthy as gifts for a new King, gold, frankincense and myrrh.

Balthazar is usually portrayed as a black man from Africa.

Kaspar: (usually Caspar) According to legend, he is usually described as the youngest but in Amahl he is elderly and almost deaf. Menotti tells us this is because of his brother.

Child: This is the first time the child, whom the audience already knows is Jesus, is mentioned.

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Revised November 2007
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