“THE QUEEN OF SPADES : Tchaikovsky
Original Air Date: 04/10/1999
Cast: Gergiev; Domingo, Gorchakova, Söderström, Hvorostovsky, Borodina, Putilin
Media: MOD AudioMOD Video SID.18100641 Tags: Archive; 2018, Domingo
This performance is too late for Soderstrom, too late for Domingo, and too late for Gorchakova. You can see the video of from five days later on MOoD as well. Better to hear the first season of the production with Gregorian who succeeded Heppner, Guleghina who succeeded Mattila with Rysanek. That has been on Sirius, but is not on MOoD. If Sirius had been at work when the production premiered we would have a broadcast of Heppner and Mattila at their very best. MOD is from 4-15-99 performance.”
“PARSIFAL : Wagner
Original Air Date: 04/07/2001
Cast: Levine; Domingo, Urmana, Ketelsen, Tomlinson, Wlaschiha
Media: SID.18100642 Tags: Archive; 2018, Levine, Domingo
Domingo and Urmana are both impressive and appear also on Gergiev’s Parsifal with Pape ). Tomlinson is the fly in the ointment for me in an audio only mode. There is no question of his authoritativeness, but the tone is not for me. The orchestral sound on this broadcast is particularly fine.
***
This performance is also available in MOoD, possibly because of the
Domingo Levine linkage (Domingo and Urmana also are on Gergiev’s Parsifal with Pape ). Tomlinson is the fly in the ointment for me in an audio only mode. There is no question of his authoritativeness, but the tone is not for me. The orchestral sound on this broadcast is particularly fine.
***
This is also on Met Player and is from Urmana’s debut season (when she was still regularly singing mezzo) I am not a big fan of the Tomlinson tone, and Parsifal is a LONG opera.Domingo and Urmana are both impressive and appear also on Gergiev’s Parsifal with Pape ). Tomlinson is the fly in the ointment for me in an audio only mode. There is no question of his authoritativeness, but the tone is not for me. The orchestral sound on this broadcast is particularly fine. “
“PARSIFAL : Wagner
Original Air Date: 04/07/2001
Cast: Levine; Domingo, Urmana, Ketelsen, Tomlinson, Wlaschiha
Media: SID.18100743 Tags: Archive; 2018, Levine, Domingo
Domingo and Urmana are both impressive and appear also on Gergiev’s Parsifal with Pape ). Tomlinson is the fly in the ointment for me in an audio only mode. There is no question of his authoritativeness, but the tone is not for me. The orchestral sound on this broadcast is particularly fine.
***
This performance is also available in MOoD, possibly because of the
Domingo Levine linkage (Domingo and Urmana also are on Gergiev’s Parsifal with Pape ). Tomlinson is the fly in the ointment for me in an audio only mode. There is no question of his authoritativeness, but the tone is not for me. The orchestral sound on this broadcast is particularly fine.
***
This is also on Met Player and is from Urmana’s debut season (when she was still regularly singing mezzo) I am not a big fan of the Tomlinson tone, and Parsifal is a LONG opera.Domingo and Urmana are both impressive and appear also on Gergiev’s Parsifal with Pape ). Tomlinson is the fly in the ointment for me in an audio only mode. There is no question of his authoritativeness, but the tone is not for me. The orchestral sound on this broadcast is particularly fine. “
“FAUST : Gounod
Original Air Date: 04/05/1997
Cast: Rudel; Leech, Fleming, Ramey, Croft, Bunnell
Media: MOD Audio SID.18110103 Tags: Archive; 2018
This is a fine performance with all performers at full throttle. Rudel has conducted his share of Fausts (many more at the NYCO than the Met), and I reacted most positively to the last time it was on. Fleming is in especially fine form. It’s one of her best roles –her best predecessor as Marguerite was Freni, who only did the part with the Met in the fall of 1966 and thus never broadcast it. Mention should be made of two other fine Marguerites Diania Soviero whose 1991 broacast has been picked up by Sirius and Pilar Lorengar’s 1969 broadcast with Gedda, Siepi, and Merrill under Silvio Varviso which has not been on Sirius and certainly deserves coverage.”
“DER FREISCHÜTZ : Weber
Original Air Date: 04/15/1972
Cast: Ludwig; Kónya, Lorengar, Feldhoff, Mathis
Media: MOD Audio SID.18110107 Tags: Archive; 2018
This is the only Met broadcast of Freischutz, and despite some good work from the treble/tenor clef, Ludwig’s conducting does not give it the sparkle it needs. Feldhoff is more adequate than commanding. One cannot blame the Met entirely, this work simply is not as much a part of the standard opera house repertoire as it was 50 years ago.”
“DER ROSENKAVALIER : Strauss
Original Air Date: 01/29/2000
Cast: Levine; Graham, Fleming, Hawlata, Grant Murphy, Ketelsen
Media: MOD Audio SID.18110210 Tags: Archive; 2018, Levine, Strauss
This is Fleming and Graham’s first Met broadcast outing in Rosenkavalier, and both are in excellent voice. 10 years later they did it in HD with Levine replaced by Edo de Waart due to one his earlier illnesses. That video is in MOoD. This 2000 performance is well worth a listen, though I think Fleming and Graham rather defy the years in the HD.This is Cheryl Studer’s penultimate Met performance in her 39 performance Met career. The Met has cast Rosenkavalier more strongly, but Studer still has major Strauss credentials.”
“LUISA MILLER : Verdi
Original Air Date: 02/17/1968
Cast: Schippers; Caballé, Tucker, Milnes, Tozzi, Flagello, Pearl
Media: MOD Audio SID.18110211 Tags: Archive; 2018, Verdi
This production brought Luisa Miller into the mainstream repertory. Caballe is caught at close to her very best, Tucker in tremendous Indian summer form, and Milnes a big breakthrough for him into the core Verdi parts. This is also available on Sony Historical CD as well and its regular appearance is well deserved.”
“DER FREISCHÜTZ : Weber
Original Air Date: 04/15/1972
Cast: Ludwig; Kónya, Lorengar, Feldhoff, Mathis
Media: MOD Audio SID.18110316 Tags: Archive; 2018
This is the only Met broadcast of Freischutz, and despite some good work from the treble/tenor clef, Ludwig’s conducting does not give it the sparkle it needs. Feldhoff is more adequate than commanding. One cannot blame the Met entirely, this work simply is not as much a part of the standard opera house repertoire as it was 50 years ago.”
“IL BARBIERE DI SIVIGLIA : Rossini
Original Air Date: 12/16/1950
Cast: Erede; Valdengo, Pons, Di Stefano, Baccaloni, Hines
Media: MOD Audio SID.18110319 Tags: Archive; 2018
This performance is also available on Sony Historic CD. I always enjoy Valdengo, and Di Stefano is interesting, but Pons is almost NEVER to my taste. She has a long Met career and was a big star. It is not a faceless Barber, but I prefer Corena and gang from later years.”
“FAUST : Gounod
Original Air Date: 04/05/1997
Cast: Rudel; Leech, Fleming, Ramey, Croft, Bunnell
Media: MOD Audio SID.18110321 Tags: Archive; 2018
This is a fine performance with all performers at full throttle. Rudel has conducted his share of Fausts (many more at the NYCO than the Met), and I reacted most positively to the last time it was on. Fleming is in especially fine form. It’s one of her best roles –her best predecessor as Marguerite was Freni, who only did the part with the Met in the fall of 1966 and thus never broadcast it. Mention should be made of two other fine Marguerites Diania Soviero whose 1991 broacast has been picked up by Sirius and Pilar Lorengar’s 1969 broadcast with Gedda, Siepi, and Merrill under Silvio Varviso which has not been on Sirius and certainly deserves coverage.”
“DER ROSENKAVALIER : Strauss
Original Air Date: 01/29/2000
Cast: Levine; Graham, Fleming, Hawlata, Grant Murphy, Ketelsen
Media: MOD Audio SID.18110422 Tags: Archive; 2018, Levine, Strauss
This is Fleming and Graham’s first Met broadcast outing in Rosenkavalier, and both are in excellent voice. 10 years later they did it in HD with Levine replaced by Edo de Waart due to one his earlier illnesses. That video is in MOoD. This 2000 performance is well worth a listen, though I think Fleming and Graham rather defy the years in the HD.This is Cheryl Studer’s penultimate Met performance in her 39 performance Met career. The Met has cast Rosenkavalier more strongly, but Studer still has major Strauss credentials.”
“LUISA MILLER : Verdi
Original Air Date: 02/17/1968
Cast: Schippers; Caballé, Tucker, Milnes, Tozzi, Flagello, Pearl
Media: MOD Audio SID.18110529 Tags: Archive; 2018, Verdi
This production brought Luisa Miller into the mainstream repertory. Caballe is caught at close to her very best, Tucker in tremendous Indian summer form, and Milnes a big breakthrough for him into the core Verdi parts. This is also available on Sony Historical CD as well and its regular appearance is well deserved.”
“FAUST : Gounod
Original Air Date: 04/05/1997
Cast: Rudel; Leech, Fleming, Ramey, Croft, Bunnell
Media: MOD Audio SID.18110532 Tags: Archive; 2018
This is a fine performance with all performers at full throttle. Rudel has conducted his share of Fausts (many more at the NYCO than the Met), and I reacted most positively to the last time it was on. Fleming is in especially fine form. It’s one of her best roles –her best predecessor as Marguerite was Freni, who only did the part with the Met in the fall of 1966 and thus never broadcast it. Mention should be made of two other fine Marguerites Diania Soviero whose 1991 broacast has been picked up by Sirius and Pilar Lorengar’s 1969 broadcast with Gedda, Siepi, and Merrill under Silvio Varviso which has not been on Sirius and certainly deserves coverage.”
“IL BARBIERE DI SIVIGLIA : Rossini
Original Air Date: 12/16/1950
Cast: Erede; Valdengo, Pons, Di Stefano, Baccaloni, Hines
Media: MOD Audio SID.18110535 Tags: Archive; 2018
This performance is also available on Sony Historic CD. I always enjoy Valdengo, and Di Stefano is interesting, but Pons is almost NEVER to my taste. She has a long Met career and was a big star. It is not a faceless Barber, but I prefer Corena and gang from later years.”
“LUISA MILLER : Verdi
Original Air Date: 02/17/1968
Cast: Schippers; Caballé, Tucker, Milnes, Tozzi, Flagello, Pearl
Media: MOD Audio SID.18110638 Tags: Archive; 2018, Verdi
This production brought Luisa Miller into the mainstream repertory. Caballe is caught at close to her very best, Tucker in tremendous Indian summer form, and Milnes a big breakthrough for him into the core Verdi parts. This is also available on Sony Historical CD as well and its regular appearance is well deserved.”
“FAUST : Gounod
Original Air Date: 04/05/1997
Cast: Rudel; Leech, Fleming, Ramey, Croft, Bunnell
Media: MOD Audio SID.18110744 Tags: Archive; 2018
This is a fine performance with all performers at full throttle. Rudel has conducted his share of Fausts (many more at the NYCO than the Met), and I reacted most positively to the last time it was on. Fleming is in especially fine form. It’s one of her best roles –her best predecessor as Marguerite was Freni, who only did the part with the Met in the fall of 1966 and thus never broadcast it. Mention should be made of two other fine Marguerites Diania Soviero whose 1991 broacast has been picked up by Sirius and Pilar Lorengar’s 1969 broadcast with Gedda, Siepi, and Merrill under Silvio Varviso which has not been on Sirius and certainly deserves coverage.”
“IL BARBIERE DI SIVIGLIA : Rossini
Original Air Date: 12/16/1950
Cast: Erede; Valdengo, Pons, Di Stefano, Baccaloni, Hines
Media: MOD Audio SID.18110745 Tags: Archive; 2018
This performance is also available on Sony Historic CD. I always enjoy Valdengo, and Di Stefano is interesting, but Pons is almost NEVER to my taste. She has a long Met career and was a big star. It is not a faceless Barber, but I prefer Corena and gang from later years.”
“DER FREISCHÜTZ : Weber
Original Air Date: 04/15/1972
Cast: Ludwig; Kónya, Lorengar, Feldhoff, Mathis
Media: MOD Audio SID.18110748 Tags: Archive; 2018
This is the only Met broadcast of Freischutz, and despite some good work from the treble/tenor clef, Ludwig’s conducting does not give it the sparkle it needs. Feldhoff is more adequate than commanding. One cannot blame the Met entirely, this work simply is not as much a part of the standard opera house repertoire as it was 50 years ago.”
“FIDELIO : Beethoven
Original Air Date: 12/18/1993
Cast: Michael; Evans, Heppner, Hale, Rootering, Donath, Schade
Media: MOD Audio SID.18120102 Tags: Archive; 2018
This is not my favorite Fidelio, but more notable as Anne Evans’ Met farewell. Helen Donath has a small Met career (21 performances). She has a fine voice as first heard on the Solti Rosenkavalier as Sophie. I saw her several decades later in DC as she had moved up to the Marschallin. She has been active in selected parts well after her Met Susannas which came at the end of the Fidelio season (but not broadcast). Robert Hale was second choice for Wotan during a number of the Morris years and married at least two sopranos– Inge Nielsen and Marina Poplavskaya.”
“DON PASQUALE : Donizetti
Original Air Date: 12/21/1940
Cast: Papi; Baccaloni, Sayão, Martini, Valentino
Media: MOD Audio SID.18120105 Tags: Archive; 2018
This is one of the older Met broadcasts to appear in the Sirius
rebroadcast series. It’s also one of the best, with Baccaloni and
Sayao in very top form. This is also available in MOoD.
Sayao and Baccaloni have a lot of charm in our only broadcast from the 40s this week This is also on Met Player, and it’s good to hear why Baccaloni and Sayao were so beloved. What personality even in 1940 AM sound.”
“SIEGFRIED : Wagner
Original Air Date: 02/16/1957
Cast: Stiedry; Windgassen, Mödl, Edelmann, Madeira, Kelley, Pechner
Media: SID.18120106 Tags: Archive; 2018, Wagner
This is one of Windgassen’s two Met broadcasts (Gotterdammerung two weeks later is the other). This is a brisk performance. Modl does the best she can, but New York wanted Flagstad, Traubel, or Nilsson. I’ve listened to large chunks of this performance several times on Sirius, and I enjoy it. It’s not one for the pantheon.
***
This is on regularly, but not excessively. Windgassen has his only other Met broadcast that of Gotterdammerung two weeks later. The winter of 1957 is his only time at the Met (scheduled for Tannhauser in 1966 but did not appear) and did 7 Ring appearances over a two month period. He is arguably the best postwar Siegfried after Melchior. Edelmann is not ideal as the Wanderer, but this is Modl’s only appearance on the Met airwaves. In addition to the three Brunnhildes, she also did Isolde and Kundry in her three Met seasons. Almost everyone whoever saw her never forgot her. Audio only encounters are sometimes more of a mixed bag.”
“SIEGFRIED : Wagner
Original Air Date: 02/16/1957
Cast: Stiedry; Windgassen, Mödl, Edelmann, Madeira, Kelley, Pechner
Media: SID.18120107 Tags: Archive; 2018, Wagner
This is one of Windgassen’s two Met broadcasts (Gotterdammerung two weeks later is the other). This is a brisk performance. Modl does the best she can, but New York wanted Flagstad, Traubel, or Nilsson. I’ve listened to large chunks of this performance several times on Sirius, and I enjoy it. It’s not one for the pantheon.
***
This is on regularly, but not excessively. Windgassen has his only other Met broadcast that of Gotterdammerung two weeks later. The winter of 1957 is his only time at the Met (scheduled for Tannhauser in 1966 but did not appear) and did 7 Ring appearances over a two month period. He is arguably the best postwar Siegfried after Melchior. Edelmann is not ideal as the Wanderer, but this is Modl’s only appearance on the Met airwaves. In addition to the three Brunnhildes, she also did Isolde and Kundry in her three Met seasons. Almost everyone whoever saw her never forgot her. Audio only encounters are sometimes more of a mixed bag.”
“DON GIOVANNI : Mozart
Original Air Date: 03/25/1978
Cast: Bonynge; Morris, Sutherland, Bacquier, Varady, Brecknock, Tourangeau
Media: MOD Audio SID.18120208 Tags: Archive; 2018, Mozart
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.”
“DAS RHEINGOLD : Wagner
Original Air Date: 02/22/1969
Cast: Karajan; Adam, Reynolds, Stolze, Kelemen, Talvela, Ridderbusch
Media: MOD Audio SID.18120209 Tags: Archive; 2018, Wagner
One of Karajan’s only 2 broadcasts. This performance is available in MOoD, and if Adam is far from my favorite Wotan, Reynolds, Kelemen and Stolze are wonderful as Fricka, Alberich, and Loge respectively. Reynolds replaced Veasey who was will, and also sing Flosshilde (her originally scheduled role) with Shirley Love picking up the Rhinemaiden in the final scene. Milnes is an excellent Donner. I was in the theatre for this very special performance and still have wonderful memories of it. Karajan’s Met farewell is the following Saturday with the Walkure broadcast.”
“FIDELIO : Beethoven
Original Air Date: 12/18/1993
Cast: Michael; Evans, Heppner, Hale, Rootering, Donath, Schade
Media: MOD Audio SID.18120319 Tags: Archive; 2018
This is not my favorite Fidelio, but more notable as Anne Evans’ Met farewell. Helen Donath has a small Met career (21 performances). She has a fine voice as first heard on the Solti Rosenkavalier as Sophie. I saw her several decades later in DC as she had moved up to the Marschallin. She has been active in selected parts well after her Met Susannas which came at the end of the Fidelio season (but not broadcast). Robert Hale was second choice for Wotan during a number of the Morris years and married at least two sopranos– Inge Nielsen and Marina Poplavskaya.”
“DON PASQUALE : Donizetti
Original Air Date: 12/21/1940
Cast: Papi; Baccaloni, Sayão, Martini, Valentino
Media: MOD Audio SID.18120422 Tags: Archive; 2018
This is one of the older Met broadcasts to appear in the Sirius
rebroadcast series. It’s also one of the best, with Baccaloni and
Sayao in very top form. This is also available in MOoD.
Sayao and Baccaloni have a lot of charm in our only broadcast from the 40s this week This is also on Met Player, and it’s good to hear why Baccaloni and Sayao were so beloved. What personality even in 1940 AM sound.”
“SIEGFRIED : Wagner
Original Air Date: 02/16/1957
Cast: Stiedry; Windgassen, Mödl, Edelmann, Madeira, Kelley, Pechner
Media: SID.18120423 Tags: Archive; 2018, Wagner
This is one of Windgassen’s two Met broadcasts (Gotterdammerung two weeks later is the other). This is a brisk performance. Modl does the best she can, but New York wanted Flagstad, Traubel, or Nilsson. I’ve listened to large chunks of this performance several times on Sirius, and I enjoy it. It’s not one for the pantheon.
***
This is on regularly, but not excessively. Windgassen has his only other Met broadcast that of Gotterdammerung two weeks later. The winter of 1957 is his only time at the Met (scheduled for Tannhauser in 1966 but did not appear) and did 7 Ring appearances over a two month period. He is arguably the best postwar Siegfried after Melchior. Edelmann is not ideal as the Wanderer, but this is Modl’s only appearance on the Met airwaves. In addition to the three Brunnhildes, she also did Isolde and Kundry in her three Met seasons. Almost everyone whoever saw her never forgot her. Audio only encounters are sometimes more of a mixed bag.”
“SIEGFRIED : Wagner
Original Air Date: 02/16/1957
Cast: Stiedry; Windgassen, Mödl, Edelmann, Madeira, Kelley, Pechner
Media: SID.18120424 Tags: Archive; 2018, Wagner
This is one of Windgassen’s two Met broadcasts (Gotterdammerung two weeks later is the other). This is a brisk performance. Modl does the best she can, but New York wanted Flagstad, Traubel, or Nilsson. I’ve listened to large chunks of this performance several times on Sirius, and I enjoy it. It’s not one for the pantheon.
***
This is on regularly, but not excessively. Windgassen has his only other Met broadcast that of Gotterdammerung two weeks later. The winter of 1957 is his only time at the Met (scheduled for Tannhauser in 1966 but did not appear) and did 7 Ring appearances over a two month period. He is arguably the best postwar Siegfried after Melchior. Edelmann is not ideal as the Wanderer, but this is Modl’s only appearance on the Met airwaves. In addition to the three Brunnhildes, she also did Isolde and Kundry in her three Met seasons. Almost everyone whoever saw her never forgot her. Audio only encounters are sometimes more of a mixed bag.”
“DON GIOVANNI : Mozart
Original Air Date: 03/25/1978
Cast: Bonynge; Morris, Sutherland, Bacquier, Varady, Brecknock, Tourangeau
Media: MOD Audio SID.18120425 Tags: Archive; 2018, Mozart
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.”
“DAS RHEINGOLD : Wagner
Original Air Date: 02/22/1969
Cast: Karajan; Adam, Reynolds, Stolze, Kelemen, Talvela, Ridderbusch
Media: MOD Audio SID.18120426 Tags: Archive; 2018, Wagner
One of Karajan’s only 2 broadcasts. This performance is available in MOoD, and if Adam is far from my favorite Wotan, Reynolds, Kelemen and Stolze are wonderful as Fricka, Alberich, and Loge respectively. Reynolds replaced Veasey who was will, and also sing Flosshilde (her originally scheduled role) with Shirley Love picking up the Rhinemaiden in the final scene. Milnes is an excellent Donner. I was in the theatre for this very special performance and still have wonderful memories of it. Karajan’s Met farewell is the following Saturday with the Walkure broadcast.”