MADAMA BUTTERFLY:Puccini
Rudel; Crider, Larin, White, Josephson, Fitch
Original Air Date: 02/26/2000
SID.20120747
I saw Crider’s Butterfly, and she didn’t make it for me. Arroyo, who was not a great Butterfly, sang it very well. Crider is several vocal grades below. The Met has had many wonderful Butterflys, but this is not among them, and to leave Stella, Tucci (with Bergonzi, Lorengar and Gorchakova (don’t laugh, when she first came I was overwhelmed by her Butterfly, and Gatti conducted slowly, but thrillingly). Better to re-run the excellent Soviero Butterfly– she has two broadcasts, the 1994 has been on Sirius, but the 1996 has not. Both are with Leech as is the Gorchakova. There are other forgettable Butterflys that follow Crider, but there are fine Butterflys, and I’ve listed five.
RUSALKA:Dvorak
Nézet-Séguin; Fleming, Beczala, Magee, Zajick, Relyea
Original Air Date: 02/08/2014
Live in HD
SID.20120748
Read RWW’s Review of the Live in HD broadcast of this cast.
DER ROSENKAVALIER:Strauss
Böhm; Fassbaender, Lear, Jungwirth, Mathis, Dooley
Original Air Date: 02/23/1974
SID.20120749
Evelyn Lear is a solid Marschallin, even if she is somewhat eclipsed by Fassbaender and Mathis, among the two best performers to ever do these roles. Bohm is in the pit, and Jungwirth is an excellent Ochs (as he is on the Solti Crespin commercial.)
DER ROSENKAVALIER {238}
Octavian…………………Brigitte Fassbaender
Princess von Werdenberg……Evelyn Lear
Baron Ochs……………….Manfred Jungwirth
Sophie…………………..Edith Mathis
Faninal………………….William Dooley
Annina…………………..Mildred Miller
Valzacchi………………..Andrea Velis
Italian Singer……………Leo Goeke
Marianne…………………Carlotta Ordassy
Mahomet………………….Michael McClain
Princess’ Major-domo………Douglas Ahlstedt
Orphan…………………..Linda Mays
Orphan…………………..Joyce Olson
Orphan…………………..Valerie Lundberg
Milliner…………………Maureen Smith
Animal Vendor…………….Charles Kuestner
Hairdresser………………Donald Mahler
Notary…………………..Andrij Dobriansky
Leopold………………….John Trehy
Lackey…………………..Richard Firmin
Lackey…………………..Peter Sliker
Lackey…………………..Lou Marcella
Lackey…………………..Edward Ghazal
Faninal’s Major-domo………Robert Schmorr
Innkeeper………………..Charles Anthony
Police Commissioner……….Richard Best
Conductor………………..Karl Böhm
JENUFA:Janácek
Conlon; Benacková, Rysanek, Heppner, Trussel, Christin
Original Air Date: 12/26/1992
SID.20130101
RWW: One of the great Met performances, and why is this performance not in MOoD– in fact NO performances of Jenufa are there? All the ingredients are there, and I saw the combo of Benackova and Rysanek in both San Francisco and New York. Heppner is an additional bonus.
ARIADNE AUF NAXOS:Strauss
Davis; Norman, Cochran, Rolandi, Ewing, Weller, Duesing
Original Air Date: 01/05/1985
SID.20130102
RWW: This is Ms. Norman’s first season at the Met in her most frequent assumption. Cochran makes his Met farewell in his only sizable part–Vogelsang in Meistersinger does not qualify. He had a distinguished career in Frankfurt that did not translate to New York in terms of timing or repertory. I heard him when he was still at Curtis, and while very musical, lacked a star sound. Ewing is not a Composer to my taste (nor is Stratas), but hearing early Norman or the charming Rolandi is not a poor way to pass the time. Ariadne remains my favorite Strauss opera.
FAUST:Gounod
Cleva; Morell, Moffo, Siepi, Ruzdak, Martin
Original Air Date: 01/04/1964
MOD Audio
SID.20130103
RWW: Siepi is the outstanding contribution here. He has 6 Mephisto broadcasts, but still missing from the Sirius/MOoD roster are the 2 Bjorlings from 1950 and 1959, and 1969 with Lorengar, Gedda, and Merrill. The recently deceased (fall 2013) Janis Martin is featured in this 1964 performance before her move to Europe and starring roles.
LA FORZA DEL DESTINO:Verdi
Stiedry; Milanov, Labò, Sereni, Siepi, Roggero, Corena
Original Air Date: 01/25/1958
SID.20130104
RWW: The fourth and last of Milanov’s Forza Leonoras. Siepi is the big plus here. A fresher Milanov can be heard in 1952 on MOoD with Tucker and Warren. In her best moments, her Leonora is major, but regardless of year, she can be uneven. Unlike most singing the part at 52, she still has the right voice.
DON GIOVANNI:Mozart
Rudolf; London, Harshaw, Corena, Steber, Conley, Conner
Original Air Date: 03/13/1954
SID.20130105
RWW: The unusual casting is for the two leading ladies with Harshaw in her first Anna broadcast (the second comes a year later with Siepi for London, Amara for Steber, Valletti for Conley, and Peters for Conner. Rudolf, Harshaw, and Corena are the constants. Steber finishes her 1944-1954 Met connection with Elvira at 3 tour stops with Valletti back for them. With Bing’s full complement of lyric sopranos, he unveils a new production in 1957 with Steber moving up to Anna [Steber did a 2 performance preview of her Anna in the 1954-1955 season], Della Casa becoming the preferred Elvira, and Peters the preferred Zerlina. I’m happy to have this 1954 in the rotation, but once again call on the Met to offer the 1957 broadcast on Sirius and eventually on MOoD. I have a European pressing of this performance, and it is one of the great broadcasts of the 1950s.
FALSTAFF:Verdi
Amaducci; Flagello, Curtin, Guarrera, Barbieri, Raskin, Alva
Original Air Date: 12/16/1967
MOD Audio
SID.20130106
RWW: Barbieri, Guarrera, and Alva are veterans of many Falstaffs, and Flagello features a lot of voice for a bass Falstaff. Amaducci, by memory, didn’t have much sparkle. High praise for Alva and Barbieri; she is a characterful Quickly, and he a perfect Fenton, but Amaducci is possibly the weakest Falstaff conductor in Met history(certainly on broadcasts). The 1964 Bernstein has never been on Sirius, and though the Met Database records the 1972 as having been on Sirius with Gobbi, Tebaldi, and Paskalis under von Dohnanyi, it has not been on more than once, and should be heard again. Both of these performances belong in MOoD not this performance. Flagello who had one of the great voices in a time when the Met’s bass cabinet was chock full sings the part very well, but for this work, you must have a conductor to work with you, and that he doesn’t have. Alas, Falstaff is about ensemble, not individual efforts.
LUCIA DI LAMMERMOOR:Donizetti
Papi; Pons, Jagel, Brownlee, Pinza
Original Air Date: 02/27/1937
SID.20130108
RWW: Lily Pons seduced a whole generation of New Yorkers with her glamour, her Gallic presence, and staccati in alt., but I saw her last Lucia in Fort Worth, and never much cared for her recordings. Whatever I think, this is one of the oldest Met broadcasts on Sirius, and Pons’ appeal continues. John Brownlee has a voice that can be passable in Fledermaus, but for me not in Lucia. Ezio Pinza is as good as one gets.
FRANCESCA DA RIMINI:Zandonai
Levine; Scotto, Domingo, MacNeil, Lewis
Original Air Date: 04/07/1984
MOD AudioMOD Video
SID.20130209
RWW: A bit late for Scotto, but MacNeil makes quite a meal of his Giovanni. MacNeil’s role is no cameo. Very committed performances from all. Best experienced in the video version available on DVD and Met Player.
TRISTAN UND ISOLDE:Wagner
Barenboim; Lehman, Dalayman, DeYoung, Youn, Grochowski
Original Air Date: 12/06/2008
MOD Audio
SID.20130210
RWW: Celebrated Wagnerian conductor Daniel Barenboim made his Met debut with this production of one of opera’s greatest dramas. Gary Lehman and Katarina Dalayman are the legendary title characters in this searing story of love and destiny. Kwangchul Youn sings King Marke, the betrayed monarch whose understanding and forgiveness comes too late to save the lovers’ life. Michelle DeYoung is Isolde’s servant Brangäne and Gerd Grochowski sings Kurwenal, Tristan’s faithful companion. I’ve enjoyed Dalayman in other Wagner roles, and Barenboim in his Tristans from Bayreuth and La Scala, but my memories just didn’t show this hanging together as well. I’ll be listening again via MOoD as well.. We are finally starting to have Gelb era broadcasts in the rotation and it is good to be able to hear some new views.
TRISTAN UND ISOLDE:Wagner
Barenboim; Lehman, Dalayman, DeYoung, Youn, Grochowski
Original Air Date: 12/06/2008
MOD Audio
SID.20130211
RWW: Celebrated Wagnerian conductor Daniel Barenboim made his Met debut with this production of one of opera’s greatest dramas. Gary Lehman and Katarina Dalayman are the legendary title characters in this searing story of love and destiny. Kwangchul Youn sings King Marke, the betrayed monarch whose understanding and forgiveness comes too late to save the lovers’ life. Michelle DeYoung is Isolde’s servant Brangäne and Gerd Grochowski sings Kurwenal, Tristan’s faithful companion. I’ve enjoyed Dalayman in other Wagner roles, and Barenboim in his Tristans from Bayreuth and La Scala, but my memories just didn’t show this hanging together as well. I’ll be listening again via MOoD as well.. We are finally starting to have Gelb era broadcasts in the rotation and it is good to be able to hear some new views.
Puccini
Erede; Albanese, Di Stefano, Güden, Guarrera, Siepi
Original Air Date: 03/15/1952
MOD Audio
SID.20130212
RWW: This is really quite a strong Italianate cast (Guden excepted) with Albanese, Di Stefano, and Siepi all justly famous.
LA GIOCONDA:Ponchielli
Cleva; Farrell, Corelli, Merrill, Rankin, Tozzi
Original Air Date: 03/31/1962
SID.20130213
RWW: Here is why I love the current Sirius service for Met repertory : The fall performances went unbroadcast. This 19700/71 Hoffmann was divided between a fall group with Grist, Elias, and Lorengar in the three ladies and the spring offering was Boky, Crespin, and Amara. The excellent Gedda and Bacquier were in both parts of the revival. I saw one of the fall performances and Grist and Lorengar were excellent. The broadcast does not come until spring, and much as Ilove Crespin as an artist, her Giulietta while visually dazzling was one rocky ride on the Venetian canal. Amara sang a solid Antonia, but her tone never had the luster of a Lorengar. Boky I found similarly lacking compared to Grist. Baudo is no Julius Rudel (among the best conductors I’ve ever heard for Hoffmann) or Chailly, let alone Monteux who originated the production in 1955. What should be mentioned is the strong supporting cast including von Stade as Nicklausse , Velis in the 4 comic tenor parts, and Paul Franke as an inimitable Spalanzani.
Levine; Caballé, Gedda, Milnes, Díaz
Original Air Date: 03/09/1974
MOD Audio
SID.20130214
RWW: This is a performance where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. If Caballe does not have every note in place, she is still very near the top of her considerable form, and the ensemble reflects the new production intensity and first appearance of a major Verdi opera in the Met repertory. Gedda has the most performances of Arrigo, the challenging tenor role. Tucker was scheduled for a run (including broadcast) the year he died, but none of the hearty tenors of the past had the right timing– no Corelli, Bergonzi, and only five for Domingo, and he was gone. This performance is available in Met Opera on Demand (MOoD) and is a strong performance.
DAS RHEINGOLD:Wagner
Levine; Terfel, Croft, Owens, Blythe
Original Air Date: 10/09/2010
Live in HD
SID.20130215
IDOMENEO:Mozart
Levine; Lewis, Valente, Behrens, von Stade, Alexander
Original Air Date: 01/15/1983
SID.20130216
RWW: This is the first of two Valente Ilia broadcasts, and she is excellent. Behrens’ Elettra is not to my taste. Both Vaness and Studer are much more to my liking. Levine does very fine work here and deserves credit for solidly putting this work in the Met repertory. Valente is under-represented on MOoD (only Nanetta in Falstaff) and still catches the ensemble in its first year of the new production.RWW: This is the first of two Valente Ilia broadcasts, and she is excellent. Behrens’ Elettra is not to my taste. Both Vaness and Studer are much more to my liking. Levine does very fine work here and deserves credit for solidly putting this work in the Met repertory. Valente is under-represented on MOoD (only Nanetta in Falstaff) and still catches the ensemble in its first year of the new production.
DON PASQUALE:Donizetti
Varviso; Corena, Peters, Alva, Guarrera
Original Air Date: 01/09/1965
MOD Audio
SID.20130317
RWW: For me the stars of this broadcast are the matchless Corena and Peruvian tenor Luigi Alva. Alva is still with us and remains much beloved in his home country as well. In terms of style and stage presence, Alva yielded nothing to his more famous successors as Ernesto Alfredo Kraus and fellow Peruvian Juan Diego Florez. Corena shows up again five years later with Reri Grist and Kraus under Carlo Franci. Luckily both performances are in MOoD.
, 
MIGNON:Thomas
Pelletier; Stevens, Melton, Benzell, Pinza
Original Air Date: 01/27/1945
MOD Audio
SID.20130318
RWW: There are some great tunes in Mignon but I find the opera doesn’t hold up well — I saw it staged in Dallas with Horne (1974), and it was a LONG evening. Pinza is very fine here. Mignon’s last broadcast appearance is three years later with Marilyn Cotlow as Philine which is more than 6 decades ago. That Mignon farewell has not been on Sirius.
LUCIA DI LAMMERMOOR:Donizetti
Papi; Pons, Jagel, Brownlee, Pinza
Original Air Date: 02/27/1937
SID.20130319
RWW: Lily Pons seduced a whole generation of New Yorkers with her glamour, her Gallic presence, and staccati in alt., but I saw her last Lucia in Fort Worth, and never much cared for her recordings. Whatever I think, this is one of the oldest Met broadcasts on Sirius, and Pons’ appeal continues. John Brownlee has a voice that can be passable in Fledermaus, but for me not in Lucia. Ezio Pinza is as good as one gets.
ARIADNE AUF NAXOS:Strauss
Davis; Norman, Cochran, Rolandi, Ewing, Weller, Duesing
Original Air Date: 01/05/1985
SID.20130320
RWW: This is Ms. Norman’s first season at the Met in her most frequent assumption. Cochran makes his Met farewell in his only sizable part–Vogelsang in Meistersinger does not qualify. He had a distinguished career in Frankfurt that did not translate to New York in terms of timing or repertory. I heard him when he was still at Curtis, and while very musical, lacked a star sound. Ewing is not a Composer to my taste (nor is Stratas), but hearing early Norman or the charming Rolandi is not a poor way to pass the time. Ariadne remains my favorite Strauss opera.
FAUST:Gounod
Cleva; Morell, Moffo, Siepi, Ruzdak, Martin
Original Air Date: 01/04/1964
MOD Audio
SID.20130321
RWW: Siepi is the outstanding contribution here. He has 6 Mephisto broadcasts, but still missing from the Sirius/MOoD roster are the 2 Bjorlings from 1950 and 1959, and 1969 with Lorengar, Gedda, and Merrill. The recently deceased (fall 2013) Janis Martin is featured in this 1964 performance before her move to Europe and starring roles.
LA FORZA DEL DESTINO:Verdi
Stiedry; Milanov, Labò, Sereni, Siepi, Roggero, Corena
Original Air Date: 01/25/1958
SID.20130322
RWW: The fourth and last of Milanov’s Forza Leonoras. Siepi is the big plus here. A fresher Milanov can be heard in 1952 on MOoD with Tucker and Warren. In her best moments, her Leonora is major, but regardless of year, she can be uneven. Unlike most singing the part at 52, she still has the right voice.
DIE WALKÜRE:Wagner
Levine; Voigt, Westbroek, Blythe, Kaufmann, Terfel, Konig
Original Air Date: 05/14/2011 Live in HD
SID.20130323
Brünnhilde…………..Deborah Voigt
Siegmund…………….Jonas Kaufmann
Sieglinde……………Eva-Maria Westbroek
Wotan……………….Bryn Terfel
Fricka………………Stephanie Blythe
Hunding……………..Hans-Peter König
Gerhilde…………….Kelly Cae Hogan
Grimgerde……………Mary Ann McCormick
Helmwige…………….Molly Fillmore
Ortlinde…………….Wendy Bryn Harmer
Rossweisse…………..Lindsay Ammann
Schwertleite…………Mary Phillips
Siegrune…………….Eve Gigliotti
Waltraute……………Marjorie Elinor Dix
Conductor……………James Levine
Production…………..Robert Lepage
Associate Director……Neilson Vignola
Set Designer…………Carl Fillion
Costume Designer……..François St-Aubin
Lighting Designer…….Etienne Boucher
Video Image Artist……Boris Firquet
TV Director………….Gary Halvorson
DON GIOVANNI:Mozart
Rudolf; London, Harshaw, Corena, Steber, Conley, Conner
Original Air Date: 03/13/1954
SID.20130324
RWW: The unusual casting is for the two leading ladies with Harshaw in her first Anna broadcast (the second comes a year later with Siepi for London, Amara for Steber, Valletti for Conley, and Peters for Conner. Rudolf, Harshaw, and Corena are the constants. Steber finishes her 1944-1954 Met connection with Elvira at 3 tour stops with Valletti back for them. With Bing’s full complement of lyric sopranos, he unveils a new production in 1957 with Steber moving up to Anna [Steber did a 2 performance preview of her Anna in the 1954-1955 season], Della Casa becoming the preferred Elvira, and Peters the preferred Zerlina. I’m happy to have this 1954 in the rotation, but once again call on the Met to offer the 1957 broadcast on Sirius and eventually on MOoD. I have a European pressing of this performance, and it is one of the great broadcasts of the 1950s.
FALSTAFF:Verdi
Amaducci; Flagello, Curtin, Guarrera, Barbieri, Raskin, Alva
Original Air Date: 12/16/1967
MOD Audio
SID.20130425
RWW: Barbieri, Guarrera, and Alva are veterans of many Falstaffs, and Flagello features a lot of voice for a bass Falstaff. Amaducci, by memory, didn’t have much sparkle. High praise for Alva and Barbieri; she is a characterful Quickly, and he a perfect Fenton, but Amaducci is possibly the weakest Falstaff conductor in Met history(certainly on broadcasts). The 1964 Bernstein has never been on Sirius, and though the Met Database records the 1972 as having been on Sirius with Gobbi, Tebaldi, and Paskalis under von Dohnanyi, it has not been on more than once, and should be heard again. Both of these performances belong in MOoD not this performance. Flagello who had one of the great voices in a time when the Met’s bass cabinet was chock full sings the part very well, but for this work, you must have a conductor to work with you, and that he doesn’t have. Alas, Falstaff is about ensemble, not individual efforts.
IDOMENEO:Mozart
Levine; Lewis, Valente, Behrens, von Stade, Alexander
Original Air Date: 01/15/1983
SID.20130426
RWW: This is the first of two Valente Ilia broadcasts, and she is excellent. Behrens’ Elettra is not to my taste. Both Vaness and Studer are much more to my liking. Levine does very fine work here and deserves credit for solidly putting this work in the Met repertory. Valente is under-represented on MOoD (only Nanetta in Falstaff) and still catches the ensemble in its first year of the new production.RWW: This is the first of two Valente Ilia broadcasts, and she is excellent. Behrens’ Elettra is not to my taste. Both Vaness and Studer are much more to my liking. Levine does very fine work here and deserves credit for solidly putting this work in the Met repertory. Valente is under-represented on MOoD (only Nanetta in Falstaff) and still catches the ensemble in its first year of the new production.
FRANCESCA DA RIMINI:Zandonai
Levine; Scotto, Domingo, MacNeil, Lewis
Original Air Date: 04/07/1984
MOD AudioMOD Video
SID.20130427
RWW: A bit late for Scotto, but MacNeil makes quite a meal of his Giovanni. MacNeil’s role is no cameo. Very committed performances from all. Best experienced in the video version available on DVD and Met Player.
TRISTAN UND ISOLDE:Wagner
Barenboim; Lehman, Dalayman, DeYoung, Youn, Grochowski
Original Air Date: 12/06/2008
MOD Audio
SID.20130428
RWW: Celebrated Wagnerian conductor Daniel Barenboim made his Met debut with this production of one of opera’s greatest dramas. Gary Lehman and Katarina Dalayman are the legendary title characters in this searing story of love and destiny. Kwangchul Youn sings King Marke, the betrayed monarch whose understanding and forgiveness comes too late to save the lovers’ life. Michelle DeYoung is Isolde’s servant Brangäne and Gerd Grochowski sings Kurwenal, Tristan’s faithful companion. I’ve enjoyed Dalayman in other Wagner roles, and Barenboim in his Tristans from Bayreuth and La Scala, but my memories just didn’t show this hanging together as well. I’ll be listening again via MOoD as well.. We are finally starting to have Gelb era broadcasts in the rotation and it is good to be able to hear some new views.