“PARSIFAL : Wagner
Original Air Date: 02/17/2018
Cast: Nezet-Seguin; Herlitzius, Vogt, Mattei, Nikitin, Pape
Media: Live Broadcast SID.18070639 Tags: LIVE; 2018, Wagner
Met Music Director Designate Yannick Nézet-Séguin conducts Wagner’s transcendental score, in François Girard’s remarkable production, a mystical theatrical journey. Tenor Klaus Florian Vogt, renowned across Europe, returns to the Met following his appearances in the 2016–17 season as Florestan in Fidelio. Evelyn Herlitzius is Kundry, and Peter Mattei and René Pape bring back their highly praised interpretations of Amfortas and Gurnemanz, respectively.
Production a gift of the Gramma Fisher Foundation, Marshalltown, Iowa; Major funding from Rolex; Additional funding from Marina Kellen French, and the Edgar Foster Daniels Foundation; Revival a gift of Marina Kellen French”
“RODELINDA : Handel
Original Air Date: 01/01/2005
Cast: Bicket; Fleming, Daniels, van Rensburg, Blythe, Mehta, Relyea
Media: MOD Audio SID.18070744 Tags: Archive; 2018
Fleming is the star in all three seasons of Rodelinda at the Met, and the first two broadcasts from 2005 (this one) and 2006 have a major shift with Bicket handing over to Patrick Summers, and the lead countertenor role from David Daniels to Andreas Scholl. The telecast/moviecast is on Decca DVD and in MOoD comes five years later in 2011 and returns Bicket to the podium, but for my money finds Scholl in considerably diminished form compared to his excellent effort in 2006. I’m not a big fan of Handel, and while several of the individual arias are notable, the absence of ensembles (except for the glorious duet for Blythe with the lead countertenor) and the ABA aria style make for a long afternoon or evening of listening or watching. The comings and goings of Rodelinda at the Met are well documented in MOoD, and this first broadcast is a good place to start.”
“FIDELIO : Beethoven
Original Air Date: 12/07/2002
Cast: Schneider; Meier, Botha, Fink, Salminen, Hong, Clarke
Media: MOD Audio SID.18070745 Tags: Archive; 2018
Botha sings well enough, as does Fink. Maybe I will be more impressed by Meier and Schneider this time around.
Salminen does not appear often outside the Wagner repertory at the Met and this is a particularly congenial role for him.
Schneider is not famous as an inspiring conductor. It’s not a weak cast.
Available in MOoD”
“MADAMA BUTTERFLY : Puccini
Original Air Date: 01/01/1966
Cast: Schick; Scotto, Alexander, Grillo, Dunlap, Schmorr
Media: MOD Audio SID.18070748 Tags: Archive; 2018, Puccini
This is *Scotto*’s first broadcast, after debuting the previous October.
This EVENING broadcast had one of the more infamous Singers Roundtables as I remember (Milanov and Gedda come to mind) remember but alas we never get the interrmission features. I don’t much care for *Dunlap* as Sharpless, but *Scotto* is a major *Butterfly*.”
“GÖTTERDÄMMERUNG : Wagner
Original Air Date: 01/11/1936
Cast: Bodanzky; Lawrence, Melchior, Hofmann, Schorr, Manski, Meisle
Media: MOD Audio SID.18080102 Tags: Archive; 2018, Wagner
This is one of the earliest Met broadcasts to appear on Sirius, and it’s great to have Lawrence and Melchior in respectably decent sound for the period. It’s regrettable that Flagstad never broadcast Gotterdammerung (Prologue only during World’s Fair Year) from the Met, but Melchior is top tier and we simply have not heard a singer like him since. This also appears in the Met Wagner bicentennial CD box.”
“GÖTTERDÄMMERUNG : Wagner
Original Air Date: 01/11/1936
Cast: Bodanzky; Lawrence, Melchior, Hofmann, Schorr, Manski, Meisle
Media: MOD Audio SID.18080103 Tags: Archive; 2018, Wagner
This is one of the earliest Met broadcasts to appear on Sirius, and it’s great to have Lawrence and Melchior in respectably decent sound for the period. It’s regrettable that Flagstad never broadcast Gotterdammerung (Prologue only during World’s Fair Year) from the Met, but Melchior is top tier and we simply have not heard a singer like him since. This also appears in the Met Wagner bicentennial CD box.”
“DON GIOVANNI : Mozart
Original Air Date: 02/14/1959
Cast: Böhm; London, Steber, Flagello, Della Casa, Valletti, Hurley
Media: MOD Audio SID.18080104 Tags: Archive; 2018, Mozart
This is a fine performance; my only cavil is I would have preferred a Siepi broadcast which is available (though not yet on Sirius) from 1957 with the original cast which includes Corena as Leporello. Still, this is one of Steber’s best parts in a treasurable performance and Della Casa is a major Elvira. Flagello is an excellent Leporello. And while I am mentioning lacunae. Bohm’s 1967 broadcast with Sutherland and Lorengar also with Siepi is still missing from the Sirius broadcast stable as well.”
“ERNANI : Verdi
Original Air Date: 03/09/1985
Cast: Fulton; Mauro, Mitchell, Elvira, Plishka
Media: MOD Audio SID.18080208 Tags: Archive; 2018, Verdi
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.”
“GIULIO CESARE : Handel
Original Air Date: 04/21/2007
Cast: Bicket; Daniels, Swenson, Coote, Bardon, Zazzo
Media: MOD Audio SID.18080209 Tags: Archive; 2018
I’m not good with Caesar in the hands of a countertenor. The cast is solid, but I’m not a Handelian so caveat auditor”
“GÖTTERDÄMMERUNG : Wagner
Original Air Date: 01/11/1936
Cast: Bodanzky; Lawrence, Melchior, Hofmann, Schorr, Manski, Meisle
Media: MOD Audio SID.18080318 Tags: Archive; 2018, Wagner
This is one of the earliest Met broadcasts to appear on Sirius, and it’s great to have Lawrence and Melchior in respectably decent sound for the period. It’s regrettable that Flagstad never broadcast Gotterdammerung (Prologue only during World’s Fair Year) from the Met, but Melchior is top tier and we simply have not heard a singer like him since. This also appears in the Met Wagner bicentennial CD box.”
“GÖTTERDÄMMERUNG : Wagner
Original Air Date: 01/11/1936
Cast: Bodanzky; Lawrence, Melchior, Hofmann, Schorr, Manski, Meisle
Media: MOD Audio SID.18080319 Tags: Archive; 2018, Wagner
This is one of the earliest Met broadcasts to appear on Sirius, and it’s great to have Lawrence and Melchior in respectably decent sound for the period. It’s regrettable that Flagstad never broadcast Gotterdammerung (Prologue only during World’s Fair Year) from the Met, but Melchior is top tier and we simply have not heard a singer like him since. This also appears in the Met Wagner bicentennial CD box.”
“ERNANI : Verdi
Original Air Date: 03/09/1985
Cast: Fulton; Mauro, Mitchell, Elvira, Plishka
Media: MOD Audio SID.18080424 Tags: Archive; 2018, Verdi
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.”
“GIULIO CESARE : Handel
Original Air Date: 04/21/2007
Cast: Bicket; Daniels, Swenson, Coote, Bardon, Zazzo
Media: MOD Audio SID.18080425 Tags: Archive; 2018
I’m not good with Caesar in the hands of a countertenor. The cast is solid, but I’m not a Handelian so caveat auditor”
“DON GIOVANNI : Mozart
Original Air Date: 02/14/1959
Cast: Böhm; London, Steber, Flagello, Della Casa, Valletti, Hurley
Media: MOD Audio SID.18080427 Tags: Archive; 2018, Mozart
This is a fine performance; my only cavil is I would have preferred a Siepi broadcast which is available (though not yet on Sirius) from 1957 with the original cast which includes Corena as Leporello. Still, this is one of Steber’s best parts in a treasurable performance and Della Casa is a major Elvira. Flagello is an excellent Leporello. And while I am mentioning lacunae. Bohm’s 1967 broadcast with Sutherland and Lorengar also with Siepi is still missing from the Sirius broadcast stable as well.”
“GÖTTERDÄMMERUNG : Wagner
Original Air Date: 01/11/1936
Cast: Bodanzky; Lawrence, Melchior, Hofmann, Schorr, Manski, Meisle
Media: MOD Audio SID.18080534 Tags: Archive; 2018, Wagner
This is one of the earliest Met broadcasts to appear on Sirius, and it’s great to have Lawrence and Melchior in respectably decent sound for the period. It’s regrettable that Flagstad never broadcast Gotterdammerung (Prologue only during World’s Fair Year) from the Met, but Melchior is top tier and we simply have not heard a singer like him since. This also appears in the Met Wagner bicentennial CD box.”
“GÖTTERDÄMMERUNG : Wagner
Original Air Date: 01/11/1936
Cast: Bodanzky; Lawrence, Melchior, Hofmann, Schorr, Manski, Meisle
Media: MOD Audio SID.18080535 Tags: Archive; 2018, Wagner
This is one of the earliest Met broadcasts to appear on Sirius, and it’s great to have Lawrence and Melchior in respectably decent sound for the period. It’s regrettable that Flagstad never broadcast Gotterdammerung (Prologue only during World’s Fair Year) from the Met, but Melchior is top tier and we simply have not heard a singer like him since. This also appears in the Met Wagner bicentennial CD box.”
“LA BOHÈME : Puccini
Original Air Date: 02/24/2018
Cast: Armiliato; Yoncheva, Phillips, Fabiano, Meachem, Lavrov, Rose, Plishka
Media: Live Broadcast SID.18080640 Tags: LIVE; 2018, Puccini
“
“AIDA : Verdi
Original Air Date: 02/25/1967
Cast: Schippers; Price, Bergonzi, Bumbry, Merrill, Hines
Media: SID.18090102 Tags: Archive; 2018, Verdi
On paper this performance looks like the dream cast. It is not. Price who sang possibly her very best performance ever in the opening night Antony and Cleopatra six months earlier, sings much too much on
principal with a particularly vulgar opening of Ritorna vincitor. What is most sad is that her first two Aida broadcasts, the first with Gorr, Bergonzi, Sereni, Siepi, and Macurdy under Solti from 1963, the second from 1965 with Dalis, Tucker, Merrill, Ghiuselev, Michalski under Mehta have not been on Sirius. The first I remember vividly , and has been on private European pressings; it is one of the very best Met Aidas. Bergonzi is substantially stronger in 1963; The 1965 performance simply has Mehta as a better Aida conductor than Schippers.
Richard Tucker, whose career is not overlooked by the Sirius folk, has not managed to have his Radames on Sirius despite having broadcast the role with Nilsson, Price, and Arroyo. Bumbry is here in the first of her 3 broadcast Amnerises, and she is better with Arroyo which has been on Sirius.
Merrill is in remarkable voice 21 years after his debut (a few too many woofs, but still the most mellifluous Amonasro ever (though plenty of testosterone if not real anger). So here are 4 relatively recent Aidas (post 1960) which somehow can’t get to the airwaves. This 1967 is on Met Opera on Demand (MOoD) and also appears in the 2013 Verdi at the
Met bicentennial box, but it still does not rank as one of Price’s
best efforts, or one of the best modern Met Aidas.
***
Available in MOoD. This is also in the new Verdi box , but the missing
AIda should be the 1963 with Solti conducting Price, Gorr, Bergonzi, Siepi,
Macurdy. Bergonzi cracks in the Celeste AIda and neither Price nor Bumbry are at their best.
***
On paper this looks like dream casting, but starting with Sgarro (one really wants a major voice in the King, Sgarro is not) Price is not in the outstanding form she showed six months earlier in the Antony and Cleopatra world premiere. Bergonzi (despite a crazk in his Celeste Aida dimuendo), Bumbry and Merrill (esp. ) are in very fine form. Schippers is not my favorite Aida conductor, and he doesn’t get much of a tone out of the Met orchestra, though the chorus is on good form. This is on Met Player (along with the video of her farewell in 1985 and an audio with HOrne and McCracken. What is not on MetPlayer and has not been on either Sirius is Solti’s Met farewell staged opera (he also has a Verdi Requiem which has not been on Sirius) with Price, Gorr, Bergonzi, Sereni, Siepi. That is the performance that should be available.”
“LA FILLE DU RÉGIMENT : Donizetti
Original Air Date: 01/06/1973
Cast: Bonynge; Sutherland, Pavarotti, Resnik, Corena
Media: MOD Audio SID.18090103 Tags: Archive; 2018, Pavarotti
Pavarotti may be a bit tight on the high Cs, but his voice is still remarkable, and this is the only broadcast with the Met premiere roster. Resnik and Corena are preferable to their competition. Sutherland is particularly treasurable. This performance is also available
on MOoD
***
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 familiar bass clef tandem, Tozzi are a special delight. Cesare Siepi made his only Met appearances with Levine the following week ending his Met career succeeding Tozzi.
***
Pavarotti appears in a broadcast after his initial success with Sutherland. The Cs are already a bit chancy, but this is still a lot of thoroughbreds having a great time. It is also available in MOoD.
***
The Met got a little late to Pavarotti (several years after Covent Garden) in Fille and the C’s are more than a little nervous. Still, this is a fun outing if not as well turned out as the studio recording.
***
This is from the second season of FIlle, and Pavarotti’s only broadcast of Tonio. Lots of high spirits.”
“IL TROVATORE : Verdi
Original Air Date: 03/17/1973
Cast: Cillario; Domingo, Caballé, Cossotto, Merrill, Vinco
Media: MOD Audio SID.18090208 Tags: Archive; 2018, 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.”
“EUGENE ONEGIN : Tchaikovsky
Original Air Date: 02/24/2007
Cast: Gergiev; Hvorostovsky, Fleming, Vargas, Zaremba, Aleksashkin
Media: Live in HDMOD AudioMOD Video SID.18090210 Tags: Archive; 2018
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.”
“DIE ZAUBERFLÖTE : Mozart
Original Air Date: 03/04/1967
Cast: Krips; Raskin, Shirley, Uppman, Peters, Macurdy
Media: MOD Audio SID.18090212 Tags: Archive; 2018, Mozart
First year in the new house, the Chagall production premiered with the Europeans (Lorengar, Popp, Gedda, Prey) plus Hines, but the Americans in the cast above got the broadcast. I liked Krips conducting very much. Popp did broadcast her Queen 3 years later, but this performance has not been on Sirius.
Skrowacewski is the conductor, Zylis-Gara is the Pamina, but Popp, Gedda, Prey are all picked up from the premiere cast, and it’s the only German broadcasts of their roles. Sirius should definitely fill in this gap. In 1967 Macurdy was actually fresher of voice than Hines, but mostly this cast was definitely second class.
***First year in the new house, the Chagall production premiered with the Europeans (Lorengar, Popp, Gedda, Prey) plus Hines, but the Americans in the cast above got the broadcast. I liked Krips conducting very much. Popp did broadcast her Queen 3 years later, but this performance has not been on Sirius. Skrowacewski is the conductor, Zylis-Gara is the Pamina, but Popp, Gedda, Prey are all picked up from the premiere cast, and it’s the only German broadcasts of their roles. Sirius should definitely fill in this gap. In 1967 Macurdy was actually fresher of voice than Hines, but mostly this cast was definitely second class.”
“AIDA : Verdi
Original Air Date: 02/25/1967
Cast: Schippers; Price, Bergonzi, Bumbry, Merrill, Hines
Media: SID.18090318 Tags: Archive; 2018, Verdi
On paper this performance looks like the dream cast. It is not. Price who sang possibly her very best performance ever in the opening night Antony and Cleopatra six months earlier, sings much too much on
principal with a particularly vulgar opening of Ritorna vincitor. What is most sad is that her first two Aida broadcasts, the first with Gorr, Bergonzi, Sereni, Siepi, and Macurdy under Solti from 1963, the second from 1965 with Dalis, Tucker, Merrill, Ghiuselev, Michalski under Mehta have not been on Sirius. The first I remember vividly , and has been on private European pressings; it is one of the very best Met Aidas. Bergonzi is substantially stronger in 1963; The 1965 performance simply has Mehta as a better Aida conductor than Schippers.
Richard Tucker, whose career is not overlooked by the Sirius folk, has not managed to have his Radames on Sirius despite having broadcast the role with Nilsson, Price, and Arroyo. Bumbry is here in the first of her 3 broadcast Amnerises, and she is better with Arroyo which has been on Sirius.
Merrill is in remarkable voice 21 years after his debut (a few too many woofs, but still the most mellifluous Amonasro ever (though plenty of testosterone if not real anger). So here are 4 relatively recent Aidas (post 1960) which somehow can’t get to the airwaves. This 1967 is on Met Opera on Demand (MOoD) and also appears in the 2013 Verdi at the
Met bicentennial box, but it still does not rank as one of Price’s
best efforts, or one of the best modern Met Aidas.
***
Available in MOoD. This is also in the new Verdi box , but the missing
AIda should be the 1963 with Solti conducting Price, Gorr, Bergonzi, Siepi,
Macurdy. Bergonzi cracks in the Celeste AIda and neither Price nor Bumbry are at their best.
***
On paper this looks like dream casting, but starting with Sgarro (one really wants a major voice in the King, Sgarro is not) Price is not in the outstanding form she showed six months earlier in the Antony and Cleopatra world premiere. Bergonzi (despite a crazk in his Celeste Aida dimuendo), Bumbry and Merrill (esp. ) are in very fine form. Schippers is not my favorite Aida conductor, and he doesn’t get much of a tone out of the Met orchestra, though the chorus is on good form. This is on Met Player (along with the video of her farewell in 1985 and an audio with HOrne and McCracken. What is not on MetPlayer and has not been on either Sirius is Solti’s Met farewell staged opera (he also has a Verdi Requiem which has not been on Sirius) with Price, Gorr, Bergonzi, Sereni, Siepi. That is the performance that should be available.”
“LA FILLE DU RÉGIMENT : Donizetti
Original Air Date: 01/06/1973
Cast: Bonynge; Sutherland, Pavarotti, Resnik, Corena
Media: MOD Audio SID.18090319 Tags: Archive; 2018, Pavarotti
Pavarotti may be a bit tight on the high Cs, but his voice is still remarkable, and this is the only broadcast with the Met premiere roster. Resnik and Corena are preferable to their competition. Sutherland is particularly treasurable. This performance is also available
on MOoD
***
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 familiar bass clef tandem, Tozzi are a special delight. Cesare Siepi made his only Met appearances with Levine the following week ending his Met career succeeding Tozzi.
***
Pavarotti appears in a broadcast after his initial success with Sutherland. The Cs are already a bit chancy, but this is still a lot of thoroughbreds having a great time. It is also available in MOoD.
***
The Met got a little late to Pavarotti (several years after Covent Garden) in Fille and the C’s are more than a little nervous. Still, this is a fun outing if not as well turned out as the studio recording.
***
This is from the second season of FIlle, and Pavarotti’s only broadcast of Tonio. Lots of high spirits.”
“IL TROVATORE : Verdi
Original Air Date: 03/17/1973
Cast: Cillario; Domingo, Caballé, Cossotto, Merrill, Vinco
Media: MOD Audio SID.18090424 Tags: Archive; 2018, 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.”
“EUGENE ONEGIN : Tchaikovsky
Original Air Date: 02/24/2007
Cast: Gergiev; Hvorostovsky, Fleming, Vargas, Zaremba, Aleksashkin
Media: Live in HDMOD AudioMOD Video SID.18090426 Tags: Archive; 2018
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.”
“DIE ZAUBERFLÖTE : Mozart
Original Air Date: 03/04/1967
Cast: Krips; Raskin, Shirley, Uppman, Peters, Macurdy
Media: MOD Audio SID.18090529 Tags: Archive; 2018, Mozart
First year in the new house, the Chagall production premiered with the Europeans (Lorengar, Popp, Gedda, Prey) plus Hines, but the Americans in the cast above got the broadcast. I liked Krips conducting very much. Popp did broadcast her Queen 3 years later, but this performance has not been on Sirius.
Skrowacewski is the conductor, Zylis-Gara is the Pamina, but Popp, Gedda, Prey are all picked up from the premiere cast, and it’s the only German broadcasts of their roles. Sirius should definitely fill in this gap. In 1967 Macurdy was actually fresher of voice than Hines, but mostly this cast was definitely second class.
***First year in the new house, the Chagall production premiered with the Europeans (Lorengar, Popp, Gedda, Prey) plus Hines, but the Americans in the cast above got the broadcast. I liked Krips conducting very much. Popp did broadcast her Queen 3 years later, but this performance has not been on Sirius. Skrowacewski is the conductor, Zylis-Gara is the Pamina, but Popp, Gedda, Prey are all picked up from the premiere cast, and it’s the only German broadcasts of their roles. Sirius should definitely fill in this gap. In 1967 Macurdy was actually fresher of voice than Hines, but mostly this cast was definitely second class.”
“AIDA : Verdi
Original Air Date: 02/25/1967
Cast: Schippers; Price, Bergonzi, Bumbry, Merrill, Hines
Media: SID.18090534 Tags: Archive; 2018, Verdi
On paper this performance looks like the dream cast. It is not. Price who sang possibly her very best performance ever in the opening night Antony and Cleopatra six months earlier, sings much too much on
principal with a particularly vulgar opening of Ritorna vincitor. What is most sad is that her first two Aida broadcasts, the first with Gorr, Bergonzi, Sereni, Siepi, and Macurdy under Solti from 1963, the second from 1965 with Dalis, Tucker, Merrill, Ghiuselev, Michalski under Mehta have not been on Sirius. The first I remember vividly , and has been on private European pressings; it is one of the very best Met Aidas. Bergonzi is substantially stronger in 1963; The 1965 performance simply has Mehta as a better Aida conductor than Schippers.
Richard Tucker, whose career is not overlooked by the Sirius folk, has not managed to have his Radames on Sirius despite having broadcast the role with Nilsson, Price, and Arroyo. Bumbry is here in the first of her 3 broadcast Amnerises, and she is better with Arroyo which has been on Sirius.
Merrill is in remarkable voice 21 years after his debut (a few too many woofs, but still the most mellifluous Amonasro ever (though plenty of testosterone if not real anger). So here are 4 relatively recent Aidas (post 1960) which somehow can’t get to the airwaves. This 1967 is on Met Opera on Demand (MOoD) and also appears in the 2013 Verdi at the
Met bicentennial box, but it still does not rank as one of Price’s
best efforts, or one of the best modern Met Aidas.
***
Available in MOoD. This is also in the new Verdi box , but the missing
AIda should be the 1963 with Solti conducting Price, Gorr, Bergonzi, Siepi,
Macurdy. Bergonzi cracks in the Celeste AIda and neither Price nor Bumbry are at their best.
***
On paper this looks like dream casting, but starting with Sgarro (one really wants a major voice in the King, Sgarro is not) Price is not in the outstanding form she showed six months earlier in the Antony and Cleopatra world premiere. Bergonzi (despite a crazk in his Celeste Aida dimuendo), Bumbry and Merrill (esp. ) are in very fine form. Schippers is not my favorite Aida conductor, and he doesn’t get much of a tone out of the Met orchestra, though the chorus is on good form. This is on Met Player (along with the video of her farewell in 1985 and an audio with HOrne and McCracken. What is not on MetPlayer and has not been on either Sirius is Solti’s Met farewell staged opera (he also has a Verdi Requiem which has not been on Sirius) with Price, Gorr, Bergonzi, Sereni, Siepi. That is the performance that should be available.”
“LA FILLE DU RÉGIMENT : Donizetti
Original Air Date: 01/06/1973
Cast: Bonynge; Sutherland, Pavarotti, Resnik, Corena
Media: MOD Audio SID.18090535 Tags: Archive; 2018, Pavarotti
Pavarotti may be a bit tight on the high Cs, but his voice is still remarkable, and this is the only broadcast with the Met premiere roster. Resnik and Corena are preferable to their competition. Sutherland is particularly treasurable. This performance is also available
on MOoD
***
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 familiar bass clef tandem, Tozzi are a special delight. Cesare Siepi made his only Met appearances with Levine the following week ending his Met career succeeding Tozzi.
***
Pavarotti appears in a broadcast after his initial success with Sutherland. The Cs are already a bit chancy, but this is still a lot of thoroughbreds having a great time. It is also available in MOoD.
***
The Met got a little late to Pavarotti (several years after Covent Garden) in Fille and the C’s are more than a little nervous. Still, this is a fun outing if not as well turned out as the studio recording.
***
This is from the second season of FIlle, and Pavarotti’s only broadcast of Tonio. Lots of high spirits.”
“DIE ZAUBERFLÖTE : Mozart
Original Air Date: 03/04/1967
Cast: Krips; Raskin, Shirley, Uppman, Peters, Macurdy
Media: MOD Audio SID.18090638 Tags: Archive; 2018, Mozart
First year in the new house, the Chagall production premiered with the Europeans (Lorengar, Popp, Gedda, Prey) plus Hines, but the Americans in the cast above got the broadcast. I liked Krips conducting very much. Popp did broadcast her Queen 3 years later, but this performance has not been on Sirius.
Skrowacewski is the conductor, Zylis-Gara is the Pamina, but Popp, Gedda, Prey are all picked up from the premiere cast, and it’s the only German broadcasts of their roles. Sirius should definitely fill in this gap. In 1967 Macurdy was actually fresher of voice than Hines, but mostly this cast was definitely second class.
***First year in the new house, the Chagall production premiered with the Europeans (Lorengar, Popp, Gedda, Prey) plus Hines, but the Americans in the cast above got the broadcast. I liked Krips conducting very much. Popp did broadcast her Queen 3 years later, but this performance has not been on Sirius. Skrowacewski is the conductor, Zylis-Gara is the Pamina, but Popp, Gedda, Prey are all picked up from the premiere cast, and it’s the only German broadcasts of their roles. Sirius should definitely fill in this gap. In 1967 Macurdy was actually fresher of voice than Hines, but mostly this cast was definitely second class.”