Now about "Amahl and the Night Visitors".

I did some snooping around the community. Although TV performances of the opera are rare (I wonder why), a local actors group puts on "Juan Diego and the Night Visitors".

It turns out that there are large numbers of Hispanic workers in the area (many down at Shelbyville to help out with the horse farms). It is almost impossible to find a young Semitic looking male for the rather demanding role of Amahl, but many of the Hispanic youth have absolutely wonderful voices. As a Hispanic is featured in the lead role, and to be culturally sensitive, they changed the marquee name to Juan.

It takes nothing away from the performance, they assure me, because if you've seen Juan you've seen Amahl.

That is all.