“L’ELISIR D’AMORE : Donizetti
Original Air Date: 02/19/1972
Cast: Franci, Bergonzi, Scotto, Corena, Sereni
Media: MOD Audio SID.16510105 Tags: Archive; 2016
In my book, this is as good as it gets. I think Bergonzi is just that scintilla more seductive than Kraus, and the other 3 Italians are close to perfection. I miss Sereni and Corena a lot when I hear the current crop of buffos. Don’t miss. “
“DIE MEISTERSINGER VON NÜRNBERG : Wagner
Original Air Date: 12/08/2001
Cast: Levine; Morris, Mattila, Heppner, Allen, Pape, Polenzani
Media: MOD Video SID.16510106 Tags: Archive; 2016, Levine, Wagner
A little late for Heppner, but still a fine Walther. An excellent
overall performance.”
“DIE MEISTERSINGER VON NÜRNBERG : Wagner
Original Air Date: 12/08/2001
Cast: Levine; Morris, Mattila, Heppner, Allen, Pape, Polenzani
Media: MOD Video SID.16510107 Tags: Archive; 2016, Levine, Wagner
A little late for Heppner, but still a fine Walther. An excellent
overall performance.”
“PETER GRIMES : Britten
Original Air Date: 01/10/1998
Cast: Atherton; Langridge, Racette, Opie, Christin, Blythe
Media: MOD Audio SID.16510116 Tags: Archive; 2016
I remember listening to this and thought this a good part for Racette. Langridge is fine in the title role, but for those of us who saw Jon Vickers, he simply WAS Peter Grimes and his 38 Met performances exceed the 33 done by the other 8 interpreters starting back with Frederick Jagel in 1948 and ending with Anthony Dean Griffey in 2008 (with Racette again). 2/22/16
***
This is a good part for Racette, and Langridge’s death just a few years ago was a shock. Atherton is a strong Britten conductor. 8/12/12
***
Racette’s first try at the Met as Ellen Orford and with Langridge as a distinguished Grimes. 11/14/11
“
“ANDREA CHÉNIER : Giordano
Original Air Date: 03/26/1977
Cast: Levine; Domingo, Arroyo, MacNeil, Kraft, Love, Chookasian
Media: MOD Audio SID.16510117 Tags: Archive; 2016, Levine, Domingo
“
“I PURITANI : Bellini
Original Air Date: 01/06/2007
Cast: Summers; Netrebko, Cutler, Vassallo, Relyea
Media: Live in HDMOD Video SID.16510118 Tags: Archive; 2016, Netrebko
This Puritani run launched Netrebko into superstardom, but also engendered some controversy from some bel cantists and Callas widows. Netrebko is a controversial singer in bel canto, but she had a huge success following her premiere of the new Don Pasquale the previous season. Netrebko is very fresh of voice, and will impress many. Her supporting cast is no more than OK, and for Callas fanatics she is totally inadequate. Watch and hear for yourself.
I did see Sutherland in 1976, which was well up to her standard
even though she had just turned 50. Netrebko in the second Live in HD performance (the English Flute had kicked the series off) was visually
electrifying, and that performance is available on DG Blu-Ray. This audio broadcast is also available in MOoD.
This performance duplicates the HD transmission and the DVD cast. This performance is best experience in its simultaneous HD video which is on Met Opera on Demand (MOoD) or on DVD or BLu-Ray. “
“BENVENUTO CELLINI : Berlioz
Original Air Date: 12/27/2003
Cast: Levine; Giordani, Bayrakdarian, Del Carlo, Jepson, Lloyd
Media: MOD Audio SID.16510121 Tags: Archive; 2016, Levine
This is the opera’s only broadcast from its only season. There is much lovely music along the way, but it does not have cumulative impact for me. Giordani copes not always pleasantly with an extremely challenging role. I think twice a year for Cellini is just about the maximum desired cycling. Once a year would be enough for me especially since it’s in MOoD.”
“L’ELISIR D’AMORE : Donizetti
Original Air Date: 02/19/1972
Cast: Franci, Bergonzi, Scotto, Corena, Sereni
Media: MOD Audio SID.16510122 Tags: Archive; 2016
In my book, this is as good as it gets. I think Bergonzi is just that scintilla more seductive than Kraus, and the other 3 Italians are close to perfection. I miss Sereni and Corena a lot when I hear the current crop of buffos. Don’t miss. “
“DIE MEISTERSINGER VON NÜRNBERG : Wagner
Original Air Date: 12/08/2001
Cast: Levine; Morris, Mattila, Heppner, Allen, Pape, Polenzani
Media: MOD Video SID.16510123 Tags: Archive; 2016, Levine, Wagner
A little late for Heppner, but still a fine Walther. An excellent
overall performance.”
“DIE MEISTERSINGER VON NÜRNBERG : Wagner
Original Air Date: 12/08/2001
Cast: Levine; Morris, Mattila, Heppner, Allen, Pape, Polenzani
Media: MOD Video SID.16510124 Tags: Archive; 2016, Levine, Wagner
A little late for Heppner, but still a fine Walther. An excellent
overall performance.”
“ANDREA CHÉNIER : Giordano
Original Air Date: 03/26/1977
Cast: Levine; Domingo, Arroyo, MacNeil, Kraft, Love, Chookasian
Media: MOD Audio SID.16510135 Tags: Archive; 2016, Levine, Domingo
“
“PETER GRIMES : Britten
Original Air Date: 01/10/1998
Cast: Atherton; Langridge, Racette, Opie, Christin, Blythe
Media: MOD Audio SID.16510133 Tags: Archive; 2016
I remember listening to this and thought this a good part for Racette. Langridge is fine in the title role, but for those of us who saw Jon Vickers, he simply WAS Peter Grimes and his 38 Met performances exceed the 33 done by the other 8 interpreters starting back with Frederick Jagel in 1948 and ending with Anthony Dean Griffey in 2008 (with Racette again). 2/22/16
***
This is a good part for Racette, and Langridge’s death just a few years ago was a shock. Atherton is a strong Britten conductor. 8/12/12
***
Racette’s first try at the Met as Ellen Orford and with Langridge as a distinguished Grimes. 11/14/11
“
“I PURITANI : Bellini
Original Air Date: 01/06/2007
Cast: Summers; Netrebko, Cutler, Vassallo, Relyea
Media: Live in HDMOD Video SID.16510134 Tags: Archive; 2016, Netrebko
This Puritani run launched Netrebko into superstardom, but also engendered some controversy from some bel cantists and Callas widows. Netrebko is a controversial singer in bel canto, but she had a huge success following her premiere of the new Don Pasquale the previous season. Netrebko is very fresh of voice, and will impress many. Her supporting cast is no more than OK, and for Callas fanatics she is totally inadequate. Watch and hear for yourself.
I did see Sutherland in 1976, which was well up to her standard
even though she had just turned 50. Netrebko in the second Live in HD performance (the English Flute had kicked the series off) was visually
electrifying, and that performance is available on DG Blu-Ray. This audio broadcast is also available in MOoD.
This performance duplicates the HD transmission and the DVD cast. This performance is best experience in its simultaneous HD video which is on Met Opera on Demand (MOoD) or on DVD or BLu-Ray. “
“BENVENUTO CELLINI : Berlioz
Original Air Date: 12/27/2003
Cast: Levine; Giordani, Bayrakdarian, Del Carlo, Jepson, Lloyd
Media: MOD Audio SID.16510137 Tags: Archive; 2016, Levine
This is the opera’s only broadcast from its only season. There is much lovely music along the way, but it does not have cumulative impact for me. Giordani copes not always pleasantly with an extremely challenging role. I think twice a year for Cellini is just about the maximum desired cycling. Once a year would be enough for me especially since it’s in MOoD.”
“L’ELISIR D’AMORE : Donizetti
Original Air Date: 02/19/1972
Cast: Franci, Bergonzi, Scotto, Corena, Sereni
Media: MOD Audio SID.16510138 Tags: Archive; 2016
In my book, this is as good as it gets. I think Bergonzi is just that scintilla more seductive than Kraus, and the other 3 Italians are close to perfection. I miss Sereni and Corena a lot when I hear the current crop of buffos. Don’t miss. “
“HANSEL AND GRETEL : Humperdinck
Original Air Date: 01/01/2008
Cast: Jurowski; Coote, Schäfer, Langridge, Plowright, Held
Media: Live in HDMOD Video SID.16510140 Tags: Archive; 2016
Special Holiday Encore Presentation, Original Transmission Live January 1, 2008 This deliciously dark take on the beloved Brothers Grimm fairy tale, appealing to audiences of all ages, was part of the Met’s popular English-language holiday series. Alice Coote and Christine Schäfer star as the famous siblings lost in the woods, who battle the ravenous Witch—a zany portrayal by tenor Philip Langridge—while the Met orchestra, under the baton of Vladimir Jurowski, glories in the rich, folk-inspired score. [metopera.org]SATURDAY AFTERNOON BROADCAST”
“I PURITANI : Bellini
Original Air Date: 01/06/2007
Cast: Summers; Netrebko, Cutler, Vassallo, Relyea
Media: Live in HDMOD Video SID.16510144 Tags: Archive; 2016, Netrebko
This Puritani run launched Netrebko into superstardom, but also engendered some controversy from some bel cantists and Callas widows. Netrebko is a controversial singer in bel canto, but she had a huge success following her premiere of the new Don Pasquale the previous season. Netrebko is very fresh of voice, and will impress many. Her supporting cast is no more than OK, and for Callas fanatics she is totally inadequate. Watch and hear for yourself.
I did see Sutherland in 1976, which was well up to her standard
even though she had just turned 50. Netrebko in the second Live in HD performance (the English Flute had kicked the series off) was visually
electrifying, and that performance is available on DG Blu-Ray. This audio broadcast is also available in MOoD.
This performance duplicates the HD transmission and the DVD cast. This performance is best experience in its simultaneous HD video which is on Met Opera on Demand (MOoD) or on DVD or BLu-Ray. “
“DIE MEISTERSINGER VON NÜRNBERG : Wagner
Original Air Date: 12/08/2001
Cast: Levine; Morris, Mattila, Heppner, Allen, Pape, Polenzani
Media: MOD Video SID.16510146 Tags: Archive; 2016, Levine, Wagner
A little late for Heppner, but still a fine Walther. An excellent
overall performance.”
“DIE MEISTERSINGER VON NÜRNBERG : Wagner
Original Air Date: 12/08/2001
Cast: Levine; Morris, Mattila, Heppner, Allen, Pape, Polenzani
Media: MOD Video SID.16510147 Tags: Archive; 2016, Levine, Wagner
A little late for Heppner, but still a fine Walther. An excellent
overall performance.”
“PETER GRIMES : Britten
Original Air Date: 01/10/1998
Cast: Atherton; Langridge, Racette, Opie, Christin, Blythe
Media: MOD Audio SID.16520101 Tags: Archive; 2016
I remember listening to this and thought this a good part for Racette. Langridge is fine in the title role, but for those of us who saw Jon Vickers, he simply WAS Peter Grimes and his 38 Met performances exceed the 33 done by the other 8 interpreters starting back with Frederick Jagel in 1948 and ending with Anthony Dean Griffey in 2008 (with Racette again). 2/22/16
***
This is a good part for Racette, and Langridge’s death just a few years ago was a shock. Atherton is a strong Britten conductor. 8/12/12
***
Racette’s first try at the Met as Ellen Orford and with Langridge as a distinguished Grimes. 11/14/11
“
“FIDELIO : Beethoven
Original Air Date: 12/07/2002
Cast: Schneider; Meier, Botha, Fink, Salminen, Hong, Clarke
Media: MOD Audio SID.16520103 Tags: Archive; 2016
Botha sings well enough, as does Fink. Maybe I will be more impressed by Meier and Schneider this time around”
“TRISTAN UND ISOLDE : Wagner
Original Air Date: 03/18/1961
Cast: Rosenstock; Nilsson, Dalis, Liebl, Cassel, Hines
Media: MOD Audio SID.16520104 Tags: Archive; 2016, Nilsson, Wagner
This is Nilsson’s second of four Isolde broadcasts from the Met, and is also available in MOoD as is the exact same cast but under Solti in one of his rare Met broadcasts two years later in 1963.
Rosenstock rarely thrills me, but the key question is how well Liebl holds up two years into his Tristan ventures. Nilsson’s first Isolde broadcast from 1960 features Bohm in the pit, but has never been on Sirius, an unfortunate omission.
5/24/2012 – This is Nilsson’s second Isolde broadcast, and Liebel is much helped by the microphones. Nilsson is also available in 1963 with much the same cast under Solti. Both this performance and the Solti are on MOoD.
What has not been on Sirius is Nilsson’s first Isolde from 1960 which features Bohm’s only season in the pit for Tristan and Vinay as her Tristan. The supporting cast is otherwise much the same. Could we dig that one out as well?
8/7/2011 – This performance has been available for some time on Met Player, and Met Player recently added the Nilsson Solti from 1963 with much the same supporting cast. My records show that Nilsson’s debut year Isolde under Bohm has still not been on Sirius.”
“COSÌ FAN TUTTE : Mozart
Original Air Date: 04/09/1988
Cast: Epstein; TeKanawa, Rendall, Montague, Hagegård, Hong, Cheek
Media: MOD Audio SID.16520108 Tags: Archive; 2016, 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).”
“ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA : Barber
Original Air Date: 09/16/1966
Cast: Schippers; Díaz, Price, Thomas, Flagello, Elias
Media: MOD Audio SID.16520113 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.16520119 Tags: Archive; 2016
Botha sings well enough, as does Fink. Maybe I will be more impressed by Meier and Schneider this time around”
“TRISTAN UND ISOLDE : Wagner
Original Air Date: 03/18/1961
Cast: Rosenstock; Nilsson, Dalis, Liebl, Cassel, Hines
Media: MOD Audio SID.16520120 Tags: Archive; 2016, Nilsson, Wagner
This is Nilsson’s second of four Isolde broadcasts from the Met, and is also available in MOoD as is the exact same cast but under Solti in one of his rare Met broadcasts two years later in 1963.
Rosenstock rarely thrills me, but the key question is how well Liebl holds up two years into his Tristan ventures. Nilsson’s first Isolde broadcast from 1960 features Bohm in the pit, but has never been on Sirius, an unfortunate omission.
5/24/2012 – This is Nilsson’s second Isolde broadcast, and Liebel is much helped by the microphones. Nilsson is also available in 1963 with much the same cast under Solti. Both this performance and the Solti are on MOoD.
What has not been on Sirius is Nilsson’s first Isolde from 1960 which features Bohm’s only season in the pit for Tristan and Vinay as her Tristan. The supporting cast is otherwise much the same. Could we dig that one out as well?
8/7/2011 – This performance has been available for some time on Met Player, and Met Player recently added the Nilsson Solti from 1963 with much the same supporting cast. My records show that Nilsson’s debut year Isolde under Bohm has still not been on Sirius.”
“COSÌ FAN TUTTE : Mozart
Original Air Date: 04/09/1988
Cast: Epstein; TeKanawa, Rendall, Montague, Hagegård, Hong, Cheek
Media: MOD Audio SID.16520123 Tags: Archive; 2016, 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).”
“TRISTAN UND ISOLDE : Wagner
Original Air Date: 03/18/1961
Cast: Rosenstock; Nilsson, Dalis, Liebl, Cassel, Hines
Media: MOD Audio SID.16520124 Tags: Archive; 2016, Nilsson, Wagner
This is Nilsson’s second of four Isolde broadcasts from the Met, and is also available in MOoD as is the exact same cast but under Solti in one of his rare Met broadcasts two years later in 1963.
Rosenstock rarely thrills me, but the key question is how well Liebl holds up two years into his Tristan ventures. Nilsson’s first Isolde broadcast from 1960 features Bohm in the pit, but has never been on Sirius, an unfortunate omission.
5/24/2012 – This is Nilsson’s second Isolde broadcast, and Liebel is much helped by the microphones. Nilsson is also available in 1963 with much the same cast under Solti. Both this performance and the Solti are on MOoD.
What has not been on Sirius is Nilsson’s first Isolde from 1960 which features Bohm’s only season in the pit for Tristan and Vinay as her Tristan. The supporting cast is otherwise much the same. Could we dig that one out as well?
8/7/2011 – This performance has been available for some time on Met Player, and Met Player recently added the Nilsson Solti from 1963 with much the same supporting cast. My records show that Nilsson’s debut year Isolde under Bohm has still not been on Sirius.”
“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”