“ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA : Barber
Original Air Date: 09/16/1966
Cast: Schippers; Díaz, Price, Thomas, Flagello, Elias
Media: MOD Audio SID.16520129 Tags: Archive; 2016
From MOD: Expectations were high when the Metropolitan Opera announced that the world premiere of Samuel Barber’s Antony and Cleopatra would christen its new house at Lincoln Center in the fall of 1966—a suitably grand work based on Shakespeare’s tragedy and written specifically for Leontyne Price as Cleopatra. A singer himself, the composer knew Price’s voice and what it could do, shaping his conception of the opera’s heroine around this iconic American diva.
The 26-year-old Puerto Rican–born bass Justino Díaz starred alongside Price as Antony while Ezio Flagello portrayed Antony’s friend Enobarbus. Tenor Jess Thomas brought his heroic presence to the role of Octavius Caesar, and the beloved mezzo-soprano Rosalind Elias, already a Met veteran in her 30s, sang the role of Cleopatra’s attendant Charmian.
Thanks to a Texaco–Metropolitan Opera Radio Network broadcast from the opera’s world premiere, this indelible piece of Met history has been preserved for generations.
***
This is the opening of the new Met at Lincoln Center and the world premiere of the opera. Leontyne never sang better than this night, and luckily it is well preserved for all to hear. Lady Bird Johnson and Imelda Marcos were among the dignitaries that night”
“FIDELIO : Beethoven
Original Air Date: 12/07/2002
Cast: Schneider; Meier, Botha, Fink, Salminen, Hong, Clarke
Media: MOD Audio SID.16520136 Tags: Archive; 2016
Botha sings well enough, as does Fink. Maybe I will be more impressed by Meier and Schneider this time around”
“L’ITALIANA IN ALGERI : Rossini
Original Air Date: 10/26/2016
Cast: Levine; Pizzolato, Abdrazakov, Barbera, Alaimo
Media: MOD Audio SID.16520140 Tags: LIVE; 2016, Levine
2016-2017 SEASON ENCORE BROADCAST”
“ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA : Barber
Original Air Date: 09/16/1966
Cast: Schippers; Díaz, Price, Thomas, Flagello, Elias
Media: MOD Audio SID.16520744 Tags: Archive; 2017
From MOD: Expectations were high when the Metropolitan Opera announced that the world premiere of Samuel Barber’s Antony and Cleopatra would christen its new house at Lincoln Center in the fall of 1966—a suitably grand work based on Shakespeare’s tragedy and written specifically for Leontyne Price as Cleopatra. A singer himself, the composer knew Price’s voice and what it could do, shaping his conception of the opera’s heroine around this iconic American diva.
The 26-year-old Puerto Rican–born bass Justino Díaz starred alongside Price as Antony while Ezio Flagello portrayed Antony’s friend Enobarbus. Tenor Jess Thomas brought his heroic presence to the role of Octavius Caesar, and the beloved mezzo-soprano Rosalind Elias, already a Met veteran in her 30s, sang the role of Cleopatra’s attendant Charmian.
Thanks to a Texaco–Metropolitan Opera Radio Network broadcast from the opera’s world premiere, this indelible piece of Met history has been preserved for generations.
***
This is the opening of the new Met at Lincoln Center and the world premiere of the opera. Leontyne never sang better than this night, and luckily it is well preserved for all to hear. Lady Bird Johnson and Imelda Marcos were among the dignitaries that night”
“COSÌ FAN TUTTE : Mozart
Original Air Date: 04/09/1988
Cast: Epstein; TeKanawa, Rendall, Montague, Hagegård, Hong, Cheek
Media: MOD Audio SID.16520745 Tags: Archive; 2017, Mozart
While the Met casting for Zauberflote may not always leave a memorable result, the broadcast annals have a number of fine Cosis, and this is one. Max Epstein, who was Levine’s chief assistant for several years before dying much too young (the Walkure studio recording is dedicated to him as he did the major musical preparation).
Te Kanawa always found Fiordiligi one of her most congenial assignments (and other Met Fiordiligis include such fine exponents as Steber (only available in the Sony studio recording because all her broadcasts are in translation), Vaness, Fleming (not on the airwaves, but a great studio recording, and a fine run at the Met), Lorengar (who followed TeKanawa in the new production and did the broadcast).”
“ADRIANA LECOUVREUR : Cilea
Original Air Date: 02/11/1978
Cast: López-Cobos; Caballé, Carreras, Cossotto, Quilico
Media: MOD Audio SID.17010102 Tags: Archive; 2017
I’m not a special fan of Adriana, and like it best when the title role is a specialist like Olivero whom I saw in Hartford and Newark; the aircheck from Naples is the one to get with Simionato, Corelli, and Bastianini. There are 3 MOoD versions starting with the Caballe above, very solid, but a bit bland, a Scotto/Shicoff/Cortez performance from 1983 is a good late career effort from her (her commercial under Levine with Domingo and Obratzsova is better) but the most recent MOoD features 2009 Domingo in his only Met matinee broadcast with Guleghina,and Borodina.
Much too late for Domingo who debuted at the Met 4 decades earlier. Unlike Adriana, Maurizio is not a mid-range role. (RWW)
The great Renata Scotto gives a spellbinding performance as the legendary actress of the title. With all of France at her feet, she has doubts about the faithfulness of her lover, the handsome military hero Maurizio (Neil Shicoff). To aid his claim for the Saxon throne, Maurizio has been paying court to the Princess di Bouillon (Viorica Cortez). Emotions erupt at a party given by the Princess when Adriana publicly accuses her of adultery. But the Princess gets even by sending Adriana a bouquet of poisoned flowers… The great baritone Mario Sereni is Michonnet, the faithful friend and theater director who is hopelessly in love with Adriana. (metopera.org)”
“IL BARBIERE DI SIVIGLIA : Rossini
Original Air Date: 04/07/1973
Cast: Levine; Prey, Horne, Di Giuseppe, Corena, Tozzi
Media: MOD Audio SID.17010105 Tags: Archive; 2017, Levine
From 1954 until 1976 Fernando Corena was the only Dr. Bartolo to appear on the Met airwaves. Of all Corena’s distinctive characterizations, none rank higher than Bartolo. It would be worthwhile for the Met to unearth its experimental taping (with NHK of Japan) from November 1968 so people could get a taste of his visuals as well. The byplay of Corena with Horne, as well as with familiar bass clef tandem, Tozzi are a special delight.”
“LA BOHÈME : Puccini
Original Air Date: 12/19/1953
Cast: Erede; Güden, Conley, Fenn, Merrill, Scott
Media: MOD Audio SID.17010107 Tags: Archive; 2017, Puccini
This is the only season Merrill has Marcello, and broadcasts it twice, once in English, and once in Italian. I would love to hear the English language broadcast with Nadine Conner and Richard Tucker (whom Virgil Thomson thinks is ill matched to Conner), but among our many denials, translations are basically off-limits unless they are Janacek or the Dietz/Kanin Fledermaus from 1950.”
“LUCIA DI LAMMERMOOR : Donizetti
Original Air Date: 12/08/1956
Cast: Cleva; Callas, Campora, Sordello, Moscona
Media: MOD Audio SID.17010208 Tags: Archive; 2017
This is Callas’ only broadcast in the Met matinee series, and is not notable for her cast or her performance. Lucia is one of her most famous parts, but by general consensus she is much better heard live in Berlin under Karajan.”
“DIE WALKÜRE : Wagner
Original Air Date: 12/23/1961
Cast: Leinsdorf; Nilsson, Edelmann, Kuchta, Vickers, Dalis, Wiemann
Media: MOD Audio SID.17010209 Tags: Archive; 2017, Nilsson, Wagner
This performance was on not so long ago, and I caught most of it. Kuchta was much better than I had remembered; alas Edelmann seemed quite a bit worse. The two real vocal standouts were Nilsson and Vickers, who would put down in London a few months later a marvelous studio version with George London , Rita Gorr, and Gre Brouwenstijn under Leinsdorf; the Valkyries are a particularly strong group, among the best ever. A positive word on Ernst Wiemann, who for me is a German Giaiotti : a strong voice with a solid technique and well schooled in the German repertoire. Dalis is an incisive Fricka.”
“IL TROVATORE : Verdi
Original Air Date: 03/17/1973
Cast: Cillario; Domingo, Caballé, Cossotto, Merrill, Vinco
Media: MOD Audio SID.17010315 Tags: Archive; 2017, Domingo, Verdi
Caballe only has one broadcast among her 8 Leonoras, but she’s not the only one bidding farewell to Trovatore on the airwaves with this run-Domingo and Merrill were also concluding. The most successful performer for the afternoon is Cossotto in her first Azucena broadcast. She has two more concluding with her 16 years later effort with Millo, Pavarotti and Milnes (available on MOoD). It’s one of her best parts and she was one of the pre-eminent interpreters worldwide for 3 decades.”
“ADRIANA LECOUVREUR : Cilea
Original Air Date: 02/11/1978
Cast: López-Cobos; Caballé, Carreras, Cossotto, Quilico
Media: MOD Audio SID.17010316 Tags: Archive; 2017
I’m not a special fan of Adriana, and like it best when the title role is a specialist like Olivero whom I saw in Hartford and Newark; the aircheck from Naples is the one to get with Simionato, Corelli, and Bastianini. There are 3 MOoD versions starting with the Caballe above, very solid, but a bit bland, a Scotto/Shicoff/Cortez performance from 1983 is a good late career effort from her (her commercial under Levine with Domingo and Obratzsova is better) but the most recent MOoD features 2009 Domingo in his only Met matinee broadcast with Guleghina,and Borodina.
Much too late for Domingo who debuted at the Met 4 decades earlier. Unlike Adriana, Maurizio is not a mid-range role. (RWW)
The great Renata Scotto gives a spellbinding performance as the legendary actress of the title. With all of France at her feet, she has doubts about the faithfulness of her lover, the handsome military hero Maurizio (Neil Shicoff). To aid his claim for the Saxon throne, Maurizio has been paying court to the Princess di Bouillon (Viorica Cortez). Emotions erupt at a party given by the Princess when Adriana publicly accuses her of adultery. But the Princess gets even by sending Adriana a bouquet of poisoned flowers… The great baritone Mario Sereni is Michonnet, the faithful friend and theater director who is hopelessly in love with Adriana. (metopera.org)”
“IL BARBIERE DI SIVIGLIA : Rossini
Original Air Date: 04/07/1973
Cast: Levine; Prey, Horne, Di Giuseppe, Corena, Tozzi
Media: MOD Audio SID.17010319 Tags: Archive; 2017, Levine
From 1954 until 1976 Fernando Corena was the only Dr. Bartolo to appear on the Met airwaves. Of all Corena’s distinctive characterizations, none rank higher than Bartolo. It would be worthwhile for the Met to unearth its experimental taping (with NHK of Japan) from November 1968 so people could get a taste of his visuals as well. The byplay of Corena with Horne, as well as with familiar bass clef tandem, Tozzi are a special delight.”
“LUCIA DI LAMMERMOOR : Donizetti
Original Air Date: 12/08/1956
Cast: Cleva; Callas, Campora, Sordello, Moscona
Media: MOD Audio SID.17010422 Tags: Archive; 2017
This is Callas’ only broadcast in the Met matinee series, and is not notable for her cast or her performance. Lucia is one of her most famous parts, but by general consensus she is much better heard live in Berlin under Karajan.”
“DIE WALKÜRE : Wagner
Original Air Date: 12/23/1961
Cast: Leinsdorf; Nilsson, Edelmann, Kuchta, Vickers, Dalis, Wiemann
Media: MOD Audio SID.17010423 Tags: Archive; 2017, Nilsson, Wagner
This performance was on not so long ago, and I caught most of it. Kuchta was much better than I had remembered; alas Edelmann seemed quite a bit worse. The two real vocal standouts were Nilsson and Vickers, who would put down in London a few months later a marvelous studio version with George London , Rita Gorr, and Gre Brouwenstijn under Leinsdorf; the Valkyries are a particularly strong group, among the best ever. A positive word on Ernst Wiemann, who for me is a German Giaiotti : a strong voice with a solid technique and well schooled in the German repertoire. Dalis is an incisive Fricka.”
“LA BOHÈME : Puccini
Original Air Date: 12/19/1953
Cast: Erede; Güden, Conley, Fenn, Merrill, Scott
Media: MOD Audio SID.17010128 Tags: Archive; 2017, Puccini
This is the only season Merrill has Marcello, and broadcasts it twice, once in English, and once in Italian. I would love to hear the English language broadcast with Nadine Conner and Richard Tucker (whom Virgil Thomson thinks is ill matched to Conner), but among our many denials, translations are basically off-limits unless they are Janacek or the Dietz/Kanin Fledermaus from 1950.”
“IL TROVATORE : Verdi
Original Air Date: 03/17/1973
Cast: Cillario; Domingo, Caballé, Cossotto, Merrill, Vinco
Media: MOD Audio SID.17010130 Tags: Archive; 2017, Levine, Domingo, Verdi
Caballe only has one broadcast among her 8 Leonoras, but she’s not the only one bidding farewell to Trovatore on the airwaves with this run-Domingo and Merrill were also concluding. The most successful performer for the afternoon is Cossotto in her first Azucena broadcast. She has two more concluding with her 16 years later effort with Millo, Pavarotti and Milnes (available on MOoD). It’s one of her best parts and she was one of the pre-eminent interpreters worldwide for 3 decades.”
“ADRIANA LECOUVREUR : Cilea
Original Air Date: 02/11/1978
Cast: López-Cobos; Caballé, Carreras, Cossotto, Quilico
Media: MOD Audio SID.17010131 Tags: Archive; 2017
I’m not a special fan of Adriana, and like it best when the title role is a specialist like Olivero whom I saw in Hartford and Newark; the aircheck from Naples is the one to get with Simionato, Corelli, and Bastianini. There are 3 MOoD versions starting with the Caballe above, very solid, but a bit bland, a Scotto/Shicoff/Cortez performance from 1983 is a good late career effort from her (her commercial under Levine with Domingo and Obratzsova is better) but the most recent MOoD features 2009 Domingo in his only Met matinee broadcast with Guleghina,and Borodina.
Much too late for Domingo who debuted at the Met 4 decades earlier. Unlike Adriana, Maurizio is not a mid-range role. (RWW)
The great Renata Scotto gives a spellbinding performance as the legendary actress of the title. With all of France at her feet, she has doubts about the faithfulness of her lover, the handsome military hero Maurizio (Neil Shicoff). To aid his claim for the Saxon throne, Maurizio has been paying court to the Princess di Bouillon (Viorica Cortez). Emotions erupt at a party given by the Princess when Adriana publicly accuses her of adultery. But the Princess gets even by sending Adriana a bouquet of poisoned flowers… The great baritone Mario Sereni is Michonnet, the faithful friend and theater director who is hopelessly in love with Adriana. (metopera.org)”
“IL BARBIERE DI SIVIGLIA : Rossini
Original Air Date: 04/07/1973
Cast: Levine; Prey, Horne, Di Giuseppe, Corena, Tozzi
Media: MOD Audio SID.17010134 Tags: Archive; 2017, Levine
From 1954 until 1976 Fernando Corena was the only Dr. Bartolo to appear on the Met airwaves. Of all Corena’s distinctive characterizations, none rank higher than Bartolo. It would be worthwhile for the Met to unearth its experimental taping (with NHK of Japan) from November 1968 so people could get a taste of his visuals as well. The byplay of Corena with Horne, as well as with familiar bass clef tandem, Tozzi are a special delight.”
“LUCIA DI LAMMERMOOR : Donizetti
Original Air Date: 12/08/1956
Cast: Cleva; Callas, Campora, Sordello, Moscona
Media: MOD Audio SID.17010138 Tags: Archive; 2017
This is Callas’ only broadcast in the Met matinee series, and is not notable for her cast or her performance. Lucia is one of her most famous parts, but by general consensus she is much better heard live in Berlin under Karajan.”
“DIE WALKÜRE : Wagner
Original Air Date: 12/23/1961
Cast: Leinsdorf; Nilsson, Edelmann, Kuchta, Vickers, Dalis, Wiemann
Media: MOD Audio SID.17010139 Tags: Archive; 2017, Nilsson, Wagner
This performance was on not so long ago, and I caught most of it. Kuchta was much better than I had remembered; alas Edelmann seemed quite a bit worse. The two real vocal standouts were Nilsson and Vickers, who would put down in London a few months later a marvelous studio version with George London , Rita Gorr, and Gre Brouwenstijn under Leinsdorf; the Valkyries are a particularly strong group, among the best ever. A positive word on Ernst Wiemann, who for me is a German Giaiotti : a strong voice with a solid technique and well schooled in the German repertoire. Dalis is an incisive Fricka.”
“DIE WALKÜRE : Wagner
Original Air Date: 12/23/1961
Cast: Leinsdorf; Nilsson, Edelmann, Kuchta, Vickers, Dalis, Wiemann
Media: MOD Audio SID.17010140 Tags: Archive; 2017, Nilsson, Wagner
This performance was on not so long ago, and I caught most of it. Kuchta was much better than I had remembered; alas Edelmann seemed quite a bit worse. The two real vocal standouts were Nilsson and Vickers, who would put down in London a few months later a marvelous studio version with George London , Rita Gorr, and Gre Brouwenstijn under Leinsdorf; the Valkyries are a particularly strong group, among the best ever. A positive word on Ernst Wiemann, who for me is a German Giaiotti : a strong voice with a solid technique and well schooled in the German repertoire. Dalis is an incisive Fricka.”
“LA BOHÈME : Puccini
Original Air Date: 12/19/1953
Cast: Erede; Güden, Conley, Fenn, Merrill, Scott
Media: MOD Audio SID.17010143 Tags: Archive; 2017, Puccini
This is the only season Merrill has Marcello, and broadcasts it twice, once in English, and once in Italian. I would love to hear the English language broadcast with Nadine Conner and Richard Tucker (whom Virgil Thomson thinks is ill matched to Conner), but among our many denials, translations are basically off-limits unless they are Janacek or the Dietz/Kanin Fledermaus from 1950.”
“IL TROVATORE : Verdi
Original Air Date: 03/17/1973
Cast: Cillario; Domingo, Caballé, Cossotto, Merrill, Vinco
Media: MOD Audio SID.17020101 Tags: Archive; 2017, Domingo, Verdi
Caballe only has one broadcast among her 8 Leonoras, but she’s not the only one bidding farewell to Trovatore on the airwaves with this run-Domingo and Merrill were also concluding. The most successful performer for the afternoon is Cossotto in her first Azucena broadcast. She has two more concluding with her 16 years later effort with Millo, Pavarotti and Milnes (available on MOoD). It’s one of her best parts and she was one of the pre-eminent interpreters worldwide for 3 decades.”
“SIEGFRIED : Wagner
Original Air Date: 01/30/1937
Cast: Bodanzky; Melchior, Flagstad, Schorr, Thorborg, Laufkötter, Habich
Media: MOD Audio SID.17020104 Tags: Archive; 2017, Wagner
Melchior is simply in a class by himself because no one has a voice like his. The supporting cast are of major stature. This also appears in the Sony Wagner CD box from the Met.
This writer fails to recall an occasion when they sang the final duet of the opera in such fashion, with such wealth of tone and heroic passion … It was the lyrical flight of eagles – New York Times, 1937
Melchior had learned the role under the composer’s son, Siegfried, and widow, Cosima, at Bayreuth in the 1920s. Quite simply, no other tenor has been able to sing Siegfried like this – how the role was meant to be sung.
Two other cast members stand out. Friedrich Schorr was the leading interpreter of Wotan / Wanderer in the inter-war years. Norwegian soprano Kirsten Flagstad as Brunnhilde was the dominant Wagnerian soprano at the Met between 1935 and 1941 and Melchior and Flagstad together were the hottest opera ticket in New York. Her voice is beautifully controlled, delivering golden tone with ease.
This is the only complete recording of Melchior in Siegfried, and it is the only recording of Melchior and Flagstad together in the opera.
by Andrew Rose May 26, 2017”
“SIEGFRIED : Wagner
Original Air Date: 01/30/1937
Cast: Bodanzky; Melchior, Flagstad, Schorr, Thorborg, Laufkötter, Habich
Media: MOD Audio SID.17020105 Tags: Archive; 2017, Wagner
Melchior is simply in a class by himself because no one has a voice like his. The supporting cast are of major stature. This also appears in the Sony Wagner CD box from the Met.
This writer fails to recall an occasion when they sang the final duet of the opera in such fashion, with such wealth of tone and heroic passion … It was the lyrical flight of eagles – New York Times, 1937
Melchior had learned the role under the composer’s son, Siegfried, and widow, Cosima, at Bayreuth in the 1920s. Quite simply, no other tenor has been able to sing Siegfried like this – how the role was meant to be sung.
Two other cast members stand out. Friedrich Schorr was the leading interpreter of Wotan / Wanderer in the inter-war years. Norwegian soprano Kirsten Flagstad as Brunnhilde was the dominant Wagnerian soprano at the Met between 1935 and 1941 and Melchior and Flagstad together were the hottest opera ticket in New York. Her voice is beautifully controlled, delivering golden tone with ease.
This is the only complete recording of Melchior in Siegfried, and it is the only recording of Melchior and Flagstad together in the opera.
by Andrew Rose May 26, 2017”
“FALSTAFF : Verdi
Original Air Date: 02/03/1996
Cast: Levine; Plishka, Daniels, Quilico, Horne, Bonney, Groves
Media: MOD Audio SID.17020207 Tags: Archive; 2017, Levine, Verdi
Levine, Plishka, Bonney, and Horne are all in the 1992 revival which is on MOoD, but with Freni for Daniels, and Bruno Pola for Quilico. My experience with almost all of the Falstaff casting in the Levine era is OK, but not really an ensemble. We still keep having the Bernstein performance overlooked (LB’s only other Met broadcast beside Cavalleria) from 1964. The bad luck continues with Rosenstock’s conducting from 1965 and Amaducci’s conducting fom 1967. The Dohnanyi performance from 1972 features Gobbi in one of HIS two Met broadcasts (the other is Otello, no Scarpia on the Met airwaves alas) with Tebaldi, Resnik, Paskalis in sterling support. This performance has been on Sirius but by my records not in the last three years, but again should be in MOoD.”
“I LOMBARDI : Verdi
Original Air Date: 01/15/1994
Cast: Levine; Flanigan, Pavarotti, Beccaria, Plishka
Media: MOD Audio SID.17020211 Tags: Archive; 2017, Levine, Pavarotti
This is the Met’s only broadcast of Lombardi. Pavarotti is in both the December telecast and January broadcast and Ramey was in the premiere and telecast, Plishka in the audio broadcast. Neither Flanigan nor Beccaria are really up to this major assignment. Flanigan except for 2 Musettas the following fall, disappears from the Met roster. Her contributions to contemporary opera are signficant, and she has some excellent work at NYCO, including a fine Lady Macbeth.”
“DON GIOVANNI : Mozart
Original Air Date: 02/15/2003
Cast: Cambreling; Mattei, Radvanovsky, Furlanetto, Diener, Trost, Netrebko
Media: MOD Audio SID.17020314 Tags: Archive; 2017, Netrebko, Mozart
This Don Giovanni is a solid performance especially in key roles, and proof that not all fine performances are pre-1980. Radvanovsky and Netrebko have gone on to extraordinary careers, but Mattei and Furlanetto make for a fresh and effective pairing as the Don and Leporello (Mattei will reprise his DON later in the 2014-2015 season, but I don’t think Furlanetto does Leporello so much these days. I’ve listened to this performance
thanks to previous Sirius appearances. Recommended.
8/22/11 – This performance is on Met Player and I think it’s a splendid afternoon. I saw an earlier performance with Mattei and found him one of the very best of recent Giovannis. I’m not forgetting Siepi, but Mattei managed to be both dark of drama and sunny of voice. The women are among the very best of recent trios, with Radvanovsky just starting to take off, Diener very solid, and Netrebko one of the lushest Zerlinas ever. Furlanetto is not chopped liver as Leporello, and Trost is OK. Not all fine
performances took place 40 years ago.”
“EUGENE ONEGIN : Tchaikovsky
Original Air Date: 02/24/2007
Cast: Gergiev; Hvorostovsky, Fleming, Vargas, Zaremba, Aleksashkin
Media: Live in HDMOD AudioMOD Video SID.17020315 Tags: Archive; 2017
This performance is on DVD, Met Player, and certainly the combination of Gergiev, Hvorostovsky and Fleming is all to the good. A performers giving A performances. I would like a better Gremin.”