CAVALLERIA RUSTICANA / PAGLIACCI:Mascagni / Leoncavallo
Erede; Milanov, Tucker, Harvuot / Rigal, Baum, Warren
Original Air Date: 03/03/1951
MOD Audio
SID.20020422
The Cavalleria is strongly cast, and Warren was the major Tonio of the 1950s in Pagliacci. The two highlight vocal performances are Tucker in the Cavalleria and Warren in the Pagliacci. Milanov has a later broadcast on MetPlayer with Baum as Turiddu and Del Monaco as Canio. Representative Met performance, especially in Cavalleria, but Warren’s Prologue is something to hear as well.
LUISA MILLER:Verdi
Santi; Ricciarelli, Pavarotti, Nucci, Plishka, Cheek, Berini
Original Air Date: 01/23/1982
MOD Audio
SID.20020423
Luisa is probably Ricciarelli’s best role, and is well suited to the lyricism as well as technical skill for this part. This performance is also available in MOoD and one I highly recommend, even if Santi is rather lethargic at some critical points. Act 3 of Luisa Miller is among Verdi’s greatest inspirations.
DON GIOVANNI:Mozart
Bonynge; Morris, Sutherland, Bacquier, Varady, Brecknock, Tourangeau
Original Air Date: 03/25/1978
MOD Audio
SID.20020424
This is Julia Varady’s only season and broadcast from the Met, and earns a well-deserved place in MOoD. The missing piece is that 9 days earlier the Met telecast this, and it operatic stage. Traubel has never appeared in any form. There is so little Sutherland video from the Met. Of particular interest is Bacquier in his only season as Leporello and Morris makes a youthful but powerful Don. It also captures the last of the Berman production. The video please! Also Sutherland’s only other Donna Anna from the Met is from opening season of the new house at Lincoln Center under Karl Bohm with Siepi, Flagello, and Giaiotti with Lorengar as the Elvira. This has not been recently discussed on SIrius in 5 years and should be in MOoD.
LA GIOCONDA:Ponchielli
Cleva; Milanov, Poggi, Warren, Rankin, Siepi
Original Air Date: 04/20/1957
SID.20020425
Paul Jackson in his history of Met broadcasts only deals with 1953 and 1961 in his volume that covers post 1950 Milanov. Rankin, Warren and Siepi are all among the very best exponents of their roles, but I’ve never gotten Poggi’s message. So it’s all about Milanov, and generally always want her earlier (like 1939) rather than later. Milanov was definitely variable in the 50s for her Giocondas. She has 2 more going as last as 1961. Rankin, Warren and Siepi are fine support, and it all depends what kind of a day ZM is having. Her first (not yet broadcast by Sirius) is her best, though the 1946 is also very good (Tucker’s debut year, and he is leagues ahead of Poggi).
FIDELIO:Beethoven
Perick; Connell, Lakes, Welker, Moll, Donath, Kaasch
Original Air Date: 02/16/1991
SID.20020426
This revival comes in for some harsh words from Tim Page, and this broadcast marks the late Elizabeth Connell’s farewell to the Met. She has a more considerable overall career than her appearances at the Met show, but this Fidelio does not help much. Moll and Donath are the two members of the A team, but Rocco and Marzelline are not the essential casting for Fidelio, though I certainly appreciate good singers in the canon quartet.
IL TROVATORE:Verdi
Cleva; Bergonzi, Stella, Simionato, Bastianini, Wilderman
Original Air Date: 02/27/1960
SID.20020427
Wonder of wonders. Sirius/the Met finally figured out they could broadcast this again. This is Simionato’s only Met broadcast, and her supporting singers are in her league. Now this performance is worth hearing at least twice a year (at least until the Met sees fit to put it in the MOoD catalog. It’s also Bergonzi’s only broadcast Manrico from the Met. Please note that this performance is NOT in MOoD (it should be) and is rarely in rotation Outstanding broadcast alert. Simionato’s only Met broadcast; Bergonzi’s only Manrico broadcast. One of Bastianini’s outstanding broadcasts, as also for Stella.
CAVALLERIA RUSTICANA / PAGLIACCI:Mascagni / Leoncavallo
Erede; Milanov, Tucker, Harvuot / Rigal, Baum, Warren
Original Air Date: 03/03/1951
MOD Audio
SID.20020428
The Cavalleria is strongly cast, and Warren was the major Tonio of the 1950s in Pagliacci. The two highlight vocal performances are Tucker in the Cavalleria and Warren in the Pagliacci. Milanov has a later broadcast on MetPlayer with Baum as Turiddu and Del Monaco as Canio. Representative Met performance, especially in Cavalleria, but Warren’s Prologue is something to hear as well.
DIE ENTFÜHRUNG AUS DEM SERAIL:Mozart
Janowski; Donat, Winbergh, Salminen, Mills, Zednik
Original Air Date: 12/12/1987
SID.20020529
The main news here is Winbergh who had too few Met appearances and Salminen who is a solid Osmin, if not as good as Moll. My memory of Donat (the Polish coloratura, not Helen Donath) is limited and certainly in this performance. Janowski only has three broadcast appearances at the Met (Arabella, and Salome with Marton are the other two). He’s a major conductor, and if Salminen lacks some of the smoothness of Moll, to me he is much preferable to Talvela in this role. Winbergh left us much too soon, and Mills and Zednik are lively performers. Donat is too low profile for Konstanze (and this is her final Met performance), but the men are very good, and Janowski is a conductor we saw too little of. Salminen reappears four years later in a broadcast that is in MOoD with Devia and Olsen as support under Levine in one of his best efforts. Winbergh only has three other Met broadcasts, two Ottavios in Don Giovanni and his final Met appearance as Jose in Carmen. Since that is where his career was going — Parsifal and Tristan were on his calendar in final year, it would be nice to hear his Jose, and Uria-Monzon would be a break from the typical Carmen–she’s native French speaker.
SIMON BOCCANEGRA:Verdi
Levine; Agache, Mattila, Sylvester, Scandiuzzi, Fu
Original Air Date: 02/06/1999
SID.20020530
This performance is very close to the same cast as the Covent Garden performance under Solti with te Kanawa for Mattila. Scandiuzzi did not turn out to be the successor to the lion Siepi. Sylvester is better with Solti ; his only remaining Met performances are a Radames the Fall of 1999, and 2 Calafs in the Fall of 2000. To me the best recent performance was from 2010 with Hvorostovsky, Frittoli, Vargas, and Furlanetto with Levine in particularly inspired form.This performance is very close to the same cast as the Covent Garden performance under Solti with te Kanawa for Mattila. Scandiuzzi did not turn out to be the successor to the lion Siepi. Sylvester is better with Solti ; his only remaining Met performances are a Radames the Fall of 1999, and 2 Calafs in the Fall of 2000. To me the best recent performance was from 2010 with Hvorostovsky, Frittoli, Vargas, and Furlanetto with Levine in particularly inspired form.
THAÏS:Massenet
López-Cobos; Fleming, Hampson, Schade
Original Air Date: 12/20/2008
Live in HDMOD Video
SID.20020747
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.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.
JENUFA:Janácek
Belohlávek; Mattila, Silja, Silvasti, Morris, Dever
Original Air Date: 02/17/2007
SID.20020532
RWW was disappointed in this production when it was new in 2003, and had seen Silja recently in Barcelona and found her inferior to Marton who was almost as impressive as Rysanek had been as the Kostelnicka. This is Mattila’s second Jenufa broadcast, here first 4 years earlier was with Polaski under Jurowski. Now that we are more aware of Jay Hunter Morris, I will take another listen. Do love Jenufa, but not every performance automatically clicks. The Benackova/ Rysanek under Conlon in 1992 broadcast definitely clicks! Alas no Jenufa in MOoD. Belohlavek is a fine Janacek conductor, but both Mattila and Silja are too mature for my taste. The other interest is the first Met broadcast appearance of Jay Hunter Morris,now a Met Siegfried; he had debuted 3 days earlier as Steva. Wish the Met had telecast Mattila’s Jenufa either the first year of the production or with this revival.
TOSCA:Puccini
Adler; Price, Corelli, MacNeil
Original Air Date: 04/07/1962
SID.20020533
One of the great Saturday afternoons. Adler is at best dutiful, and Price is not an ideal Tosca, but she is returning after a vocal rest in full command of her resources. It is her last New York appearance in the role. Cavaradossi was always one of Corelli’s best parts, and MacNeil is in magnificent form. With such vocal riches, it’s a barnburner of an afternoon. The Met has issued this performance as part of Sony’s Historical CD series.
Various:Various
Various Artists
Original Air Date: 01/01/9999
SID.20020534
CAVALLERIA RUSTICANA / PAGLIACCI:Mascagni / Leoncavallo
Erede; Milanov, Tucker, Harvuot / Rigal, Baum, Warren
Original Air Date: 03/03/1951
MOD Audio
SID.20020637
The Cavalleria is strongly cast, and Warren was the major Tonio of the 1950s in Pagliacci. The two highlight vocal performances are Tucker in the Cavalleria and Warren in the Pagliacci. Milanov has a later broadcast on MetPlayer with Baum as Turiddu and Del Monaco as Canio. Representative Met performance, especially in Cavalleria, but Warren’s Prologue is something to hear as well.
DIE ENTFÜHRUNG AUS DEM SERAIL:Mozart
Janowski; Donat, Winbergh, Salminen, Mills, Zednik
Original Air Date: 12/12/1987
SID.20020638
The main news here is Winbergh who had too few Met appearances and Salminen who is a solid Osmin, if not as good as Moll. My memory of Donat (the Polish coloratura, not Helen Donath) is limited and certainly in this performance. Janowski only has three broadcast appearances at the Met (Arabella, and Salome with Marton are the other two). He’s a major conductor, and if Salminen lacks some of the smoothness of Moll, to me he is much preferable to Talvela in this role. Winbergh left us much too soon, and Mills and Zednik are lively performers. Donat is too low profile for Konstanze (and this is her final Met performance), but the men are very good, and Janowski is a conductor we saw too little of. Salminen reappears four years later in a broadcast that is in MOoD with Devia and Olsen as support under Levine in one of his best efforts. Winbergh only has three other Met broadcasts, two Ottavios in Don Giovanni and his final Met appearance as Jose in Carmen. Since that is where his career was going — Parsifal and Tristan were on his calendar in final year, it would be nice to hear his Jose, and Uria-Monzon would be a break from the typical Carmen–she’s native French speaker.
Various:Various
Various Artists
Original Air Date: 01/01/9999
SID.20020639
DON GIOVANNI:Mozart
Bonynge; Morris, Sutherland, Bacquier, Varady, Brecknock, Tourangeau
Original Air Date: 03/25/1978
MOD Audio
SID.20020641
This is Julia Varady’s only season and broadcast from the Met, and earns a well-deserved place in MOoD. The missing piece is that 9 days earlier the Met telecast this, and it operatic stage. Traubel has never appeared in any form. There is so little Sutherland video from the Met. Of particular interest is Bacquier in his only season as Leporello and Morris makes a youthful but powerful Don. It also captures the last of the Berman production. The video please! Also Sutherland’s only other Donna Anna from the Met is from opening season of the new house at Lincoln Center under Karl Bohm with Siepi, Flagello, and Giaiotti with Lorengar as the Elvira. This has not been recently discussed on SIrius in 5 years and should be in MOoD.
LA GIOCONDA:Ponchielli
Cleva; Milanov, Poggi, Warren, Rankin, Siepi
Original Air Date: 04/20/1957
SID.20020642
Paul Jackson in his history of Met broadcasts only deals with 1953 and 1961 in his volume that covers post 1950 Milanov. Rankin, Warren and Siepi are all among the very best exponents of their roles, but I’ve never gotten Poggi’s message. So it’s all about Milanov, and generally always want her earlier (like 1939) rather than later. Milanov was definitely variable in the 50s for her Giocondas. She has 2 more going as last as 1961. Rankin, Warren and Siepi are fine support, and it all depends what kind of a day ZM is having. Her first (not yet broadcast by Sirius) is her best, though the 1946 is also very good (Tucker’s debut year, and he is leagues ahead of Poggi).
FIDELIO:Beethoven
Perick; Connell, Lakes, Welker, Moll, Donath, Kaasch
Original Air Date: 02/16/1991
SID.20020743
This revival comes in for some harsh words from Tim Page, and this broadcast marks the late Elizabeth Connell’s farewell to the Met. She has a more considerable overall career than her appearances at the Met show, but this Fidelio does not help much. Moll and Donath are the two members of the A team, but Rocco and Marzelline are not the essential casting for Fidelio, though I certainly appreciate good singers in the canon quartet.
JENUFA:Janácek
Belohlávek; Mattila, Silja, Silvasti, Morris, Dever
Original Air Date: 02/17/2007
SID.20020744
RWW was disappointed in this production when it was new in 2003, and had seen Silja recently in Barcelona and found her inferior to Marton who was almost as impressive as Rysanek had been as the Kostelnicka. This is Mattila’s second Jenufa broadcast, here first 4 years earlier was with Polaski under Jurowski. Now that we are more aware of Jay Hunter Morris, I will take another listen. Do love Jenufa, but not every performance automatically clicks. The Benackova/ Rysanek under Conlon in 1992 broadcast definitely clicks! Alas no Jenufa in MOoD. Belohlavek is a fine Janacek conductor, but both Mattila and Silja are too mature for my taste. The other interest is the first Met broadcast appearance of Jay Hunter Morris,now a Met Siegfried; he had debuted 3 days earlier as Steva. Wish the Met had telecast Mattila’s Jenufa either the first year of the production or with this revival.
LA GIOCONDA:Ponchielli
Cleva; Milanov, Poggi, Warren, Rankin, Siepi
Original Air Date: 04/20/1957
SID.20020745
Paul Jackson in his history of Met broadcasts only deals with 1953 and 1961 in his volume that covers post 1950 Milanov. Rankin, Warren and Siepi are all among the very best exponents of their roles, but I’ve never gotten Poggi’s message. So it’s all about Milanov, and generally always want her earlier (like 1939) rather than later. Milanov was definitely variable in the 50s for her Giocondas. She has 2 more going as last as 1961. Rankin, Warren and Siepi are fine support, and it all depends what kind of a day ZM is having. Her first (not yet broadcast by Sirius) is her best, though the 1946 is also very good (Tucker’s debut year, and he is leagues ahead of Poggi).
SIMON BOCCANEGRA:Verdi
Levine; Agache, Mattila, Sylvester, Scandiuzzi, Fu
Original Air Date: 02/06/1999
SID.20020746
This performance is very close to the same cast as the Covent Garden performance under Solti with te Kanawa for Mattila. Scandiuzzi did not turn out to be the successor to the lion Siepi. Sylvester is better with Solti ; his only remaining Met performances are a Radames the Fall of 1999, and 2 Calafs in the Fall of 2000. To me the best recent performance was from 2010 with Hvorostovsky, Frittoli, Vargas, and Furlanetto with Levine in particularly inspired form.This performance is very close to the same cast as the Covent Garden performance under Solti with te Kanawa for Mattila. Scandiuzzi did not turn out to be the successor to the lion Siepi. Sylvester is better with Solti ; his only remaining Met performances are a Radames the Fall of 1999, and 2 Calafs in the Fall of 2000. To me the best recent performance was from 2010 with Hvorostovsky, Frittoli, Vargas, and Furlanetto with Levine in particularly inspired form.
IL PIRATA:Bellini
Campanella; Fleming, Giordani, Croft
Original Air Date: 02/08/2003
MOD Audio
SID.20020748
This is the Met premiere of Pirata and to date its only broadcast season, but I don’t find either the soprano or tenor quite right for their parts. This was the performance that started me on my Giordani no listen zone . RWW was lucky enough to see Caballe do a stage Pirata (2x) in Philadelphia, and she was almost ideally cast. Fleming is a versatile, highly skilled singer, but this part was not for her.
LUISA MILLER:Verdi
Santi; Ricciarelli, Pavarotti, Nucci, Plishka, Cheek, Berini
Original Air Date: 01/23/1982
MOD Audio
SID.20020749
Luisa is probably Ricciarelli’s best role, and is well suited to the lyricism as well as technical skill for this part. This performance is also available in MOoD and one I highly recommend, even if Santi is rather lethargic at some critical points. Act 3 of Luisa Miller is among Verdi’s greatest inspirations.
THE FIRST EMPEROR:Dun
Dun; Domingo, Futral, Groves, Tian, DeYoung
Original Air Date: 01/13/2007
Live in HDMOD Video
SID.20030101
This is Domingo’s vehicle and the broadcast and HD performance from its premiere season. Sony issued a commercial DVD. Better to watch than listen to. I enjoyed seeing the production, and while it’s not on my weekly rotation, it held my interest more than Glass’ The Voyage. The simultaneous broadcast/HD moviecast is available on commercial DVD and MOoD (Metropolitan Opera on Demand).
DER ROSENKAVALIER:Strauss
Schippers; Della Casa, Schwarzkopf, Edelmann, Raskin, Dönch
Original Air Date: 12/19/1964
MOD Audio
SID.20030102
Della Casa, a famous Marschallin in her own right, does her first Octavian with the Met in this series of performances. It’s not quite an ideal fit even if very starry. Schwarzkopf was certainly the most famous postwar Marschallin and is here in one of her only two Met broadcast appearances– the latter an unintentional Met farewell in a most unsatisfactory Donna Elvira two years later.
Verdi
Levine; Shicoff, Price, Weikl, Troyanos, Raimondi, Rootering
Original Air Date: 02/11/1989
SID.20030103
The Price here is Margaret Price and her only other Met broadcast is Otello with Domingo and Milnes from her debut year in 1985 which has so far eluded the airwaves. Shicoff is also under-represented so this performance is especially welcomed — this is only the third rotation since its first Sirius rebroadcast in 2014. The rest of the male cast are not my favorites in this very favorite opera of mine.
DIE ZAUBERFLÖTE:Mozart
Maag; Moffo, Alva, Gramm, Shane, Hines
Original Air Date: 12/15/1973
SID.20030104
This Zauberflote turns up as among the most commonly broadcast Flutes. I’m not sure why except that it is in generally good sound. Shane and Hines are the only two performers with 29 and 55 performances respectively who are major exponents of their roles. One thing that lowers the availability is that from 1941 until 1967, it was performed exclusively in English, and generally Sirius plays no performances performed in translation.
MANON:Massenet
Luisi; Netrebko, Beczala, Szot
Original Air Date: 04/07/2012
MOD Video
SID.20030105
This audio was the first time the Met has rebroadcast the audio track of a Live in HD. This was a bit of a breakout part for Beczala who had slimmed down and certainly made an effective foil for the Netrebko Manon. I enjoyed her in the theatre even if she were no Patricia Brooks , or Faith Esham (both at City Opera, Wagner broadcast, and for me both better than the very good and much more famous Manon it finds him far from his two decade mastery of Sills.) When I want to listen to Manon, I need go no further than the early 19250s recording on EMI with Victoria de los Angeles and Henri LeGay under Pierre Monteux. Sirius does play the 1954 Met performance with VDLA and Cesare Valletti also under Monteux (and is available on MOoD). Still unbroadcast is the 1959 with VDLA and Gedda under Jean Morel. Wagner.