2017-18 Live Broadcasts

“LE SACRE DU PRINTEMPS / LE ROSSIGNOL / OEDIPUS REX : Stravinsky
Original Air Date: 02/21/2004
Cast: Gergiev; Trifonova, Banks, Zifchak / Forbis, Blythe, Nikitin
Media: SID.18390104 Tags: Archive; 2018
The Stravinsky evening as originally done by Levine with Hockney designs and Dexter direction was not as big a hit as the French evening, Parade, from Dexter and Hockney, but I prefer this to Rake’s Progress. Gergiev has a distinctive take on Stravinsky and always worth a listen in the Russian repertoire.”

“KÁT’A KABANOVÁ : Janácek
Original Air Date: 01/09/1999
Cast: Mackerras; Malfitano, Randová, Straka, Koptchak, Clarke, Karnéus
Media: SID.18390105 Tags: Archive; 2018
Mackerras is a notable Janacek conductor, and the whole is well
performed, but I don’t feel the warmth I do from Jenufa or even
Makropoulos . Still, a nice contrast to other repertory.

9/7/11 – Mackerras is a master of the Czech repertoire, but I really need the visual to work for me with Kat’a.Mackerras is a notable Janacek conductor, and the whole is well performed, but I don’t feel the warmth I do from Jenufa or even Makropoulos . Still, a nice contrast to other repertory.”

SAMSON ET DALILA : Saint-Saens
Elder; Garanca, Alagna, Naouri, Azizov, Belosselskiy
SID.18390106 
* Opening Night of 2018-2019 Season *
* LIVE Broadcast SirisuXm and Metopera.org *  Program *
When mezzo-soprano Elīna Garanča and tenor Roberto Alagna joined forces for a new production of Carmen at the Met, the results were electrifying. Now this star duo reunites for another sensual French opera when they open the season in the title roles of Saint-Saëns’s biblical epic Samson et Dalila. Darko Tresnjak, who won a Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical in 2014 for A Gentleman’s Guide to Love & Murder, makes his Met debut directing a vivid, seductive staging, featuring a monumental setting for the last-act Temple of Dagon, where the hero crushes his Philistine enemies. Sir Mark Elder conducts the first new Met production of the work in 20 years.

Production a gift of the Gramma Fisher Foundation, Marshalltown, Iowa, and H.M. Agnes Hsu-Tang, PhD. and Oscar Tang

Additional funding from The Walter and Leonore Annenberg Endowment Fund and William R. Miller”

“LES CONTES D’HOFFMANN : Offenbach
Original Air Date: 03/27/1982
Cast: Chailly; Domingo, Morris, Welting, Troyanos, Eda-Pierre, Howells
Media: MOD Audio SID.18390208 Tags: Archive; 2018, Domingo
This is Chailly’s only Met appearance, and is the premiere year of the Schenk, Schneider-Siemssen production. I’m surprised this performance is not the one in MOoD instead of the Levine from 1993. Much as I like Vaness and Held, an 11 year younger Domingo with the above cast (and especially Senechal) would seem more likely. Still, this performance is a welcome choice for the Sirius rotation (it’s not new this week, but not often included).”

“UN BALLO IN MASCHERA : Verdi
Original Air Date: 01/30/1971
Cast: Cleva; Domingo, Arroyo, Merrill, Peters, Dunn
Media: SID.18390209 Tags: Archive; 2018, Domingo, Verdi
This is a solid Ballo with early Domingo (he only arrived in 1968) and late Merrill (well Merrill had one more broadcast and 5 more seasons actually concluding his Met tenure in Detroit in May 1976. On the broadcast airwaves, Merrill totally dominated with 8 of the 9 broadcasts between 1955 and 1975. Arroyo has several impressive moments in the role, but while the top is very secure, the flow in the lower register is not her natural strength. Still, this is an afternoon with little to wince at from anyone.”

“LUISA MILLER : Verdi
Original Air Date: 03/29/2018
Cast: de Billy; Yoncheva, Beczala, Domingo, Vinogradov, Belosselskiy, Petrova
Media: Live Broadcast SID.18390210 Tags: LIVE; 2018, Domingo, Verdi
Encore broadcast from 2017-2018 Season.

A Harrowing Story of Class Struggle Gets a Tame Retelling in Met’s ‘Luisa Miller’

www.newyorker.com/goings-on-about-town/classical-music/the-met-luisa-miller-review

www.operanews.com/Opera_News_Magazine/2018/6/Reviews/NEW_YORK_CITY__Luisa_Miller.html“

“THAÏS : Massenet
Original Air Date: 12/20/2008
Cast: López-Cobos; Fleming, Hampson, Schade
Media: Live in HDMOD Video SID.18390211 Tags: Archive; 2018
Although the video has been available almost continuously on MOoD, I find this performance preferable to the Sills Milnes, which was massively overplayed in the first years of Sirius Radio. I rather like Thais as a break from other titles in the repertory.”

“OTELLO : Verdi
Original Air Date: 10/13/1995
Cast: Levine; Domingo, Fleming, Morris, Croft
Media: MOD Video SID.18390212 Tags: Archive; 2018, Levine, Domingo, Verdi
This performance is also available as a DVD from Deutsche Grammophon. This was Fleming’s first big success at the Met, and she is a splendid Desdemona.This performance is also available as a DVD from Deutsche Grammophon. This was Fleming’s first big success at the Met, and she is a splendid Desdemona.”

LA BOHEME : Puccini
Original Air Date: 09/25/2018
Cast: Gaffigan; Car, Blue, Grigolo, Dupuis, Luciano, Rose, Maxwell
 SID.18390213 
* Live Broadcast on Siriusxm  * Program *
Puccini’s timeless masterpiece of love and loss features two casts of young stars. Sopranos Nicole Car (in her highly anticipated Met debut) and Ailyn Pérez share the role of the ill-fated Mimì, opposite tenors Vittorio Grigolo and Michael Fabiano as the ardent poet Rodolfo. After a celebrated Met debut as Mimì in 2017, Angel Blue returns as the spitfire Musetta, and Etienne Dupuis (in his Met debut) and Lucas Meachem share the role of Marcello. James Gaffigan conducts.  Production a gift of Mrs. Donald D. Harrington

“DIE WALKÜRE : Wagner
Original Air Date: 04/01/2000
Cast: Levine; Eaglen, Morris, Voigt, Domingo, Schwarz, Halfvarson
Media: MOD Audio SID.18390316 Tags: LIVE; 2018, Levine, Domingo
RWW: This is also on MOoD and catches some erratic artists at their best. Schwarz who shines in the Chereau Ring is still a potent force 12 years later in this broadcast. Vocally, this is one of the better Levine Walkures even though Morris and Domingo are the only ones I am particularly interested in.
*****
SR: A solid Walkuere expertly paced by Levine. In the house, Eaglen struck me as a particularly ungenerous Bruennhilde, saving her resources for some eventuality. (She only really opened up in the Siegfried awakening scene). On broadcast, however, this isn’t as noticeable except in contrast to Voigt, who pours it on when called for. Domingo still has the goods as her brother. Morris shows why he was the Met’s Wotan of choice for so many years. Schwarz is dependable while not erasing memories of Ludwig, while Halfvarson was a delightful surprise as Hunding.”

“DIE ZAUBERFLÖTE : Mozart
Original Air Date: 01/22/1977
Cast: Conlon; Valente, Burrows, Uppman, Shane, Plishka
Media: Live Broadcast SID.18390318 Tags: Archive; 2018, Mozart
This is a solid cast, with Valente bearing strong Mozartian credentials, as does Burrows with a studio complete under Solti. Maybe most notable for a future Broadway composer Adam Guettel (RRodgers’ grandson) as one of the Genie.
*****
SR: This Zauberfloete features old and new performers in a well-balanced performance. The conductor, James Conlon, was in his debut engagement; and the Sarastro, Paul Plishka, was doing his only series in the role (one of his first major roles). The talented Benita Valente was especially noted for her Mozart roles.

On the lesser known and underappreciated front, we have a sparkling Rita Shane as the Queen of the Night. Finally, on the veteran front, we have Theodore Uppman, doing the last of his 60 Papagenos at the Met.

All in all, an enjoyable Mozart outing.”

AIDA : Verdi
Original Air Date: 09/26/2018
Cast: Luisotti; Netrebko, Rachvelishvili, Antonenko, Kelsey, Belosselskiy, Green
SID.18390321
* Live Broadcast  *  Program   *  Synopsis  *
In what should be a highlight of the new season, soprano Anna Netrebko sings her first Met Aida, going toe-to-toe with mezzo-soprano Anita Rachvelishvili as Amneris. Later in the season, a second star-studded cast takes over, with Sondra Radvanovsky and Dolora Zajick as the leading ladies.Tenors Aleksandrs Antonenko and Yonghoon Lee alternate as Radamès, and Nicola Luisotti and Plácido Domingo take the podium for the Met’s monumental production.

Production a gift of Mrs. Donald D. Harrington
Revival a gift of Viking Cruises

CAVALLERIA RUSTICANA / PAGLIACCI : Mascagni / Leoncavallo
Original Air Date: 12/10/1988
Cast: Siciliani; Dimitrova, Mauro, Fondary / Giacomini, Soviero, Pons
Media: SID.18400102 Tags: Archive; 2018

Though Dimitrova was well regarded for her power and skill in the “big” roles, her Santuzza was one of the very best I’ve ever heard, and more importantly, seemed very personal. Her voice is satisfyingly volcanic this afternoon. No less impressive is the Pagliacci with Giacomini’s farewell to the Met. I much enjoyed his Don Carlo, and he is on top form for this Canio. Soviero has a strong Nedda as well. Siciliani gives full veristic sway in his conducting. Recommended.

DER ROSENKAVALIER : Strauss
Original Air Date: 02/18/1956
Cast: Kempe; Stevens, Della Casa; Edelmann, Güden, Herbert
Media: MOD Audio SID.18400103 Tags: Archive; 2018, Strauss

RWW-Sadly, we lost Della Casa this past week [December 2012]. No more
beautiful woman ever trod the operatic stage. With Kempe in the pit
for his final Met broadcast, this is a wonderful all-around performance. This performance has been on, but not frequently. I found a reference to my hearing it in January 2010, but Met Database does not show it has having been on Sirius. In any case I give the performance an absolute rave. If maybe a little late for Stevens, Della Casa and Guden are in absolute prime. Kempe appeared too little and we certainly need his Arabella (in English) with Steber, Guden and London to appear on Sirius. Don’t miss

SR-This broadcast featured Della Casa’ second Marschallin at the Met. She had done it for the first time in Vienna after doing both Sophie and Octavian.. and she was equally splendid as the Marschallin.  Hilde Gueden is the delightful Sophie, while Rise Stevens sings her justly admired Octavian. Otto Edelmann is the boorish but charming Baron Ochs, one of his signature roles. Combine this with the elegant conducting of Rudolf Kempe, and this a fine Straussian broadcast.  As a side note, the Marschallin’s Major Domo is James McCracken before his later fame.

LES TROYENS : Berlioz
Original Air Date: 02/18/1984
Cast: Levine; Norman, Sooter, Monk, Taillon, Plishka, Ahlstedt
Media: MOD Audio SID.18400104 Tags: Archive; 2018, Levine
“Norman repeated Verrett’s double assumption on this broadcast (Verrett’s was for the opening of the production in 1973 when Ludwig was indisposed–I was there, quite an evening). I rather prefer Norman’s Didon to her Cassandre, but this broadcast now takes its place in MOoD. Enee is close to an impossible part, but Sooter is no worse than Ronald Dowd was in Boston for Caldwell.”

FAUST : Gounod
Original Air Date: 02/26/1972
Cast: Rich; Domingo, Zylis-Gara, Tozzi, Sereni, von Stade
Media: MOD Audio SID.18400106 Tags: Archive; 2018, Domingo
This over-programmed Faust is on again, but there are so many better Fausts on the shelf. Domingo is better than expected in one of his early broadcasts, but Tozzi, a Met stalwart, is in poor form. Mercifully, the rotation has slowed down on this performance.

There are a number of excellent Fausts, 2 with Bjorling (and Siepi) which Sirius has never played, and there are several much better Fausts in the Sirius rotation. This one does not deserve such airplay.

Nicolai Gedda is third in all-time performances (42) as Faust surpassed only by Jean de Reszke at 71 and Giovanni Martinelli at 56, and yet is represented by only one Faust broadcast in MOoD and Sirius reports replay of the 1972, but neither his 1966 or 1969 with interesting casts have been heard on either. Nicolai Gedda is still with us, A little more attention on him please. He was a Met star tenor for two decades, and we mostly hear him in Vanessa (where he is remarkable), but he was the leading Faust in the world with the passing of Bjorling his Swedish countryman.

RIGOLETTO : Verdi
Original Air Date: 12/29/1945
Cast: Sodero; Warren, Sayão, Björling, Cordon, Lipton
Media: MOD Audio SID.18400107 Tags: Archive; 2018, Verdi
This is the only broadcast Duke from the Met with Bjorling and while relatively early Warren, he is the vocal master of this part. Sound is typical AM 40s, but the voices are well captured.

I prefer this Bjorling Warren pairing to the RCA commercial from the mid-50s. Sayao is flattered a bit by the microphones, but there are some other 1940s Met broadcasts that should join this fine go at Rigoletto.

For years the Met with great regularity put out Warren, Merrill, and MacNeil in the title role. For Met listeners what’s not to like. Sayao and Bjorling are not exactly lesser grade. Don’t look for a Gossett critical edition, but Verdi is VERY well served. This performance is also on Met Player, as it should be.

FIDELIO : Beethoven
Böhm; Nilsson, King, Evans, Edelmann, Pracht, Anthony
Original Air Date: 01/22/1966
Media: MOD Audio SID.18400208 

I was in attendance for this broadcast, and while I prefer the classic 1960 broadcast with Bohm, Nilsson, and Vickers, Nilsson and King are fine, but Geraint Evans, an artist I much admire is not meant for this kind of role vocally. Uhde has his deficiencies but is much more appropriate. It’s a bit too late for Edelmann, but I think there “never was” for Czerwenka in the 1960. The 1960 performance also appears on a Sony Historical CD. What has not appeared in the Sirius run is the Beethoven 1971 bicentenary broadcast of the new production with Rysanek, Vickers with an excellent effort by Berry and Tozzi also under Bohm. Serious omission!

THE GAMBLER : Prokofiev
Original Air Date: 03/31/2001
Cast: Gergiev; Galouzine, Guryakova, Alexashkin, Obraztsova
Media: SID.18400209 Tags: Archive; 2018
This is the Met broadcast premiere of this work. Seven years later Galouzine and Gergiev are together again for another broadcast at the Met, but with Diadkova in for Obraztsova.

Galouzine has been through a lot of heavy singing in the seven years, so this is overall the best bet for experiencing the Prokofiev. Unfortunately, the MOoD only has the 2008 broadcast.
—
I don’t know that this is an ideal opera for the radio, but this Met premiere cast give it everything they’ve got. I like it better than Semyon Kotko, and it’s shorter than War and Peace.
—
In the theatre with lot of intense visuals, this was a most enjoyable production. Even with audio only Gergiev and Galouzine are still powerhouses.

ELEKTRA : Strauss
Original Air Date: 02/16/1980
Cast: Levine; Nilsson, Rysanek, Dunn, McIntyre, Nagy
Media: SID.18400210 Tags: Archive; 2018, Nilsson, Strauss

This run of Elektras marked Nilsson’s return to the house after an absence of four years. It is also Levine’s first go at Elektra at the Met (maybe his first staged ones). Nilsson, by her standards is somewhat diminished compared to the 1971 performance under Bohm which catches her in much fresher form and under arguably one of the great Strauss conductors in history and luckily is available in MOoD. This 1980 performance was filmed and is available on DVD on Deutsche Grammophon.

I love Nilsson’s Elektra, but this is not the way to remember her. The video of this performance at least gives you some visuals. The 1971 despite Madeira’s unfortunate Met farewell Klytemnestra (she died not long thereafter) is the Met broadcast to hear Nilsson’s Elektra.

ERNANI : Verdi
Original Air Date: 03/09/1985
Cast: Fulton; Mauro, Mitchell, Elvira, Plishka
Media: MOD Audio SID.18400211

This first revival retains only Leona Mitchell from the production premiere. Particular attention should be paid to Pablo Elvira, a little light for his character, but a most agreeable voice. Mauro is no Pavarotti, but this is a well prepared performance of one of my favorite Verdi operas.

COSÌ FAN TUTTE : Mozart
Original Air Date: 01/20/1990
Cast: Levine; Mims, Hadley, Troyanos, Hampson, Hong, Van Allan
Media: MOD Audio SID.18400212

This performance is notable as Troyanos’ only Met season as Dorabella, and the same holds true for Hampson’s Guglielmo. She has a well regarded RCA recording from 1968 (!!!) very early in her career. I find Levine at his most inspired in Mozart, and especially so in Cosi. It will be his return opera to the Met next season and is scheduled for Live in HD. The ensemble is well drilled. Worth a listen.

Updated note : Sirius subscribers have heard Levine’s return in Cosi already with the matinee broadcast and Live in HD to come in March 2014. I thought Levine lived up to his considerable reputation in the fall Cosis.

AIDA : Verdi
Original Air Date: 10/02/2018
Cast: Luisotti; Netrebko, Rachvelishvili, Antonenko, Kelsey, Belosselskiy, Green
 SID.18400214 
*
Live Broadcast   Program for October 2nd
*
NYT Review   (Tommassini)  Last spring at the Metropolitan Opera, the soprano Anna Netrebko took on the title role of Puccini’s “Tosca” for the first time. She claimed that touchstone part for her own, and put her mark on the whole season. On Wednesday at the Met, Ms. Netrebko did it again, this time in the title role of Verdi’s “Aida.” She is still fairly new to this challenging part, which she introduced at the Salzburg Festival a year ago. There was something fresh and exploratory about her performance on Wednesday. Yet it also felt fully formed, dramatically deep. And she sang magnificently.

Observer (Jorden)  “Ritorna vincitor!” cries the Egyptian throng in the first scene of Aida as they send their hero off to war: “Return in triumph!”  And that’s what the Met’s undisputed prima donna Anna Netrebko did last night in her first local performance of the protean title role of this opera: she came, she sang and she conquered.

Reviews 

DER FLIEGENDE HOLLÄNDER : Wagner
Original Air Date: 02/16/1963
Cast: Böhm; London, Rysanek, Kónya, Tozzi
Media: MOD Audio SID.18400315 Tags: Archive; 2018
This is a legendary partnership of Bohm with London and Rysanek. Bohm and Rysanek are together for two later broadcasts in 1965 with David Ward, and 1970 with William Dooley. Neither of those have been on Sirius. This 1963 broadcast was swapped with Ariadne 2 weeks earlier when the Hollander cast could not be assembled. That swap denied the broadcast audience the chance to hear Della Casa’s Ariadne. For my money there is no Senta like Rysanek. Read the Opera-L archives for my appreciation (I saw a tour performance from the stage). Rysanek and London are certainly a remarkable pair, and the applause for their Act 2 duet (in the 3 act version) regularly seemed unending.
———-
10/10/11 This performance was originally scheduled 2 weeks earlier when Konya was sick and Ariadne was switched at the last minute (and effectively knocked Della Casa out of an Ariadne broadcast). The Met Hollander premiere 3 years earlier with Rysanek and London was with Schippers. Bohm takes command of 3 broadcasts all with Rysanek, but David Ward is on the second (I would love to hear this again– a fine singer almost forgotten), and the third in 1970 with Dooley. For me, Senta and Kaiserin are Rysanek’s two most singular creations. There is nothing like the finale and as I’ve noted in other Opera-L postings I once saw this creation from the stage with her first husband standing right behind me. Fortunately this performance is on Met Player, and is far more thrilling than the studio performance with much the same cast under Dorati.

IL BARBIERE DI SIVIGLIA : Rossini
Original Air Date: 03/09/1963
Cast: Strasfogel; Guarrera, D’Angelo, Shirley, Corena, Tozzi
Media: SID.18400316 Tags: Archive; 2018
The only known I will vouch for in advance is Corena, one of his very best roles. Tozzi becomes more variable in this period, so I don’t want to praise a performance I have not recently heard. This performance could be anything from a train wreck to a secret gem. What I am sure about is that it is not the Zedda critical edition (not yet published).

FAUST : Gounod
Original Air Date: 02/26/1972
Cast: Rich; Domingo, Zylis-Gara, Tozzi, Sereni, von Stade
Media: MOD Audio SID.18400318 Tags: Archive; 2018, Domingo
This over-programmed Faust is on again, but there are so many better Fausts on the shelf. Domingo is better than expected in one of his early broadcasts, but Tozzi, a Met stalwart, is in poor form. Mercifully, the rotation has slowed down on this performance.

There are a number of excellent Fausts, 2 with Bjorling (and Siepi) which Sirius has never played, and there are several much better Fausts in the Sirius rotation. This one does not deserve such airplay.

Nicolai Gedda is third in all-time performances (42) as Faust surpassed only by Jean de Reszke at 71 and Giovanni Martinelli at 56, and yet is represented by only one Faust broadcast in MOoD and Sirius reports replay of the 1972, but neither his 1966 or 1969 with interesting casts have been heard on either. Nicolai Gedda is still with us, A little more attention on him please. He was a Met star tenor for two decades, and we mostly hear him in Vanessa (where he is remarkable), but he was the leading Faust in the world with the passing of Bjorling his Swedish countryman.

BENVENUTO CELLINI : Berlioz
Original Air Date: 12/27/2003
Cast: Levine; Giordani, Bayrakdarian, Del Carlo, Jepson, Lloyd
Media: MOD Audio SID.18400320  

“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.”

ORFEO ED EURIDICE : Gluck
Original Air Date: 01/18/1958
Cast: Rudolf; Stevens, Amara, Cundari
Media: MOD Audio SID.18400422 Tags: Archive; 2018

The strongest thing about this performance is Rudolf’s conducting. Stevens was definitely a star Orfeo, but she’s never an audio favorite of mine. A very great artist outstanding advocate for American artists , and the role of the arts in general. She had quite a following, but her audios alone do not make a career. She is still with us, and may she have many more years.

For me this is much too late for Stevens (She retires in 1960). I did check Paul Jackson’s authoritative volume on Met broadcasts– and he’s at his best in the 40s and 50s, but has nothing to say about this performance. This performance has been on before and is on MOoD. 

LA FANCIULLA DEL WEST : Puccini
Armiliato; Westbroek, Eyvazov, Bosi, Lucic, Simpson, Rose, Gradus
SID.18400428 
* Season Premiere * Live Broadcast on SIRIUSXM  *  PROGRAM  

Soprano Eva-Maria Westbroek sings Puccini’s gun-slinging heroine in this romantic epic of the Wild West. Tenor Yusif Eyvazov portrays Dick Johnson for opening night (Oct 4, 8, 12)  Jonas Kaufmann returns to the MET for performances on Oct 17, 20, 23, and 27.   Baritone Željko Lučić is the vigilante sheriff Jack Rance, and Marco Armiliato conducts.

Parterre’s Porgy Amor on FANCIULLA: All about the ‘Girl’ who came to Stay

AIDA : Verdi
LIVE IN HD 
Luisotti; Netrebko, Rachvelishvili, Antonenko, Kelsey, Belosselskiy, Speed Green
Media: Live in HD SID.18400600 

NYT Review   (Tommassini)  Last spring at the Metropolitan Opera, the soprano Anna Netrebko took on the title role of Puccini’s “Tosca” for the first time. She claimed that touchstone part for her own, and put her mark on the whole season. On Wednesday at the Met, Ms. Netrebko did it again, this time in the title role of Verdi’s “Aida.” She is still fairly new to this challenging part, which she introduced at the Salzburg Festival a year ago. There was something fresh and exploratory about her performance on Wednesday. Yet it also felt fully formed, dramatically deep. And she sang magnificently.

Observer (Jorden)  “Ritorna vincitor!” cries the Egyptian throng in the first scene of Aida as they send their hero off to war: “Return in triumph!”  And that’s what the Met’s undisputed prima donna Anna Netrebko did last night in her first local performance of the protean title role of this opera: she came, she sang and she conquered.

Reviews