“ELEKTRA : Strauss
Original Air Date: 03/18/2018
Cast: Nezet-Seguin; Goerke, van den heever, Schuster, Morris, Petrenlo
Media: Live Broadcast SID.18110640 Tags: LIVE; 2018, Strauss
“
“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.”
“FIDELIO : Beethoven
Original Air Date: 12/18/1993
Cast: Michael; Evans, Heppner, Hale, Rootering, Donath, Schade
Media: MOD Audio SID.18120636 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.18120638 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.”
“TURANDOT : Puccini
Original Air Date: 03/24/2018
Cast: Armiliato; Serafin, Álvarez, Yu, Tsymbalyuk
Media: Live Broadcast SID.18120640 Tags: LIVE; 2018, Puccini
Puccini’s grand spectacle of legendary China stars Oksana Dyka and Martina Serafin in the role of the ice princess and Aleksandrs Antonenko as the unknown prince who must thaw her heart or die. Maria Agresta, Hei-Kyung Hong, and James Morris are among the other remarkable artists featured in this cherished Franco Zeffirelli production, led by Carlo Rizzi and Marco Armiliato.
Although the Met presented the American premiere of Turandot in 1926, Puccini’s last work didn’t become an audience favorite until the opening of Cecil Beaton’s 1961 production, which featured Birgit Nilsson and Franco Corelli. Their dynamic (and highly competitive) appearances together helped secure the opera’s box office appeal.
The current Franco Zeffirelli production was first seen in 1987 with Eva Marton, Plácido Domingo, and Leona Mitchell.(from metopera.org)”
“DON GIOVANNI : Mozart
Original Air Date: 03/25/1978
Cast: Bonynge; Morris, Sutherland, Bacquier, Varady, Brecknock, Tourangeau
Media: MOD Audio SID.18120641 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.18120642 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.”
“SIEGFRIED : Wagner
Original Air Date: 02/16/1957
Cast: Stiedry; Windgassen, Mödl, Edelmann, Madeira, Kelley, Pechner
Media: SID.18120746 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.18120747 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.”
“ARABELLA : Strauss
Original Air Date: 03/05/1983
Cast: Leinsdorf; Te Kanawa, Weikl, Battle, Rendall, Dunn, Gramm
Media: MOD Audio SID.18130103 Tags: Archive; 2018, Strauss
This new production was the first time in German at the Met. Te Kanawa sings beautifully but for anyone who has heard the prior broadcasts from Steber and Della Casa, it’s just not in the same league. Battle and Weikl are strong vocal support.”
“AIDA : Verdi
Original Air Date: 03/03/1962
Cast: Schick; Tucci, Corelli, Dalis, MacNeil, Tozzi
Media: MOD Audio SID.18130104 Tags: Archive; 2018, Verdi
I much enjoy the energy and passion of all the singers. Tucci is definitely a lyric Aida, but she knows the idiom well and is very solid. George Schick who was a staff conductor at the Met for some years, knows how to keep the forces under control without stifling any of the artists’ expressive impulses. The men definitely ate their Wheaties before the performance. Enjoy.”
“GÖTTERDÄMMERUNG : Wagner
Original Air Date: 01/27/1962
Cast: Leinsdorf; Nilsson, Hopf, Frick, Mittelmann, Kuchta, Dalis
Media: MOD Audio SID.18130209 Tags: Archive; 2018, Nilsson, Wagner
This is a magnificent performance with Nilsson and Frick among the best ever in two of the most challenging roles in the repertoire. The rest of the cast are seasoned performers who certainly bring something special. This was possibly the first uncut broadcast Gotterdammerung, though that now seems commonplace.”
“GÖTTERDÄMMERUNG : Wagner
Original Air Date: 01/27/1962
Cast: Leinsdorf; Nilsson, Hopf, Frick, Mittelmann, Kuchta, Dalis
Media: MOD Audio SID.18130210 Tags: Archive; 2018, Nilsson, Wagner
This is a magnificent performance with Nilsson and Frick among the best ever in two of the most challenging roles in the repertoire. The rest of the cast are seasoned performers who certainly bring something special. This was possibly the first uncut broadcast Gotterdammerung, though that now seems commonplace.”
“A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM : Britten
Original Air Date: 12/21/1996
Cast: Atherton; McNair, Kowalski, Rose, Streit, Bunnell, Gilfry, Gustafson
Media: MOD Audio SID.18130211 Tags: Archive; 2018
The work was revived under Conlon in 2013 for 3 Sirius streamed live broadcasts, one of which was rebroadcast on Sirius as part of their June Friday night encores, but no national free network. I saw a lovely production at the original Sadler’s Wells Theatre almost 20 years ago under the late Richard Hickox. It’s one of those works I seem to like less as the years go on, but that may be just me.”
“ARABELLA : Strauss
Original Air Date: 03/05/1983
Cast: Leinsdorf; Te Kanawa, Weikl, Battle, Rendall, Dunn, Gramm
Media: MOD Audio SID.18130319 Tags: Archive; 2018, Strauss
This new production was the first time in German at the Met. Te Kanawa sings beautifully but for anyone who has heard the prior broadcasts from Steber and Della Casa, it’s just not in the same league. Battle and Weikl are strong vocal support.”
“AIDA : Verdi
Original Air Date: 03/03/1962
Cast: Schick; Tucci, Corelli, Dalis, MacNeil, Tozzi
Media: MOD Audio SID.18130320 Tags: Archive; 2018, Verdi
I much enjoy the energy and passion of all the singers. Tucci is definitely a lyric Aida, but she knows the idiom well and is very solid. George Schick who was a staff conductor at the Met for some years, knows how to keep the forces under control without stifling any of the artists’ expressive impulses. The men definitely ate their Wheaties before the performance. Enjoy.”