MACBETH:Verdi
Original Air Date: 01/28/1984
Levine; Milnes, Scotto, Plishka, Ciannella
SID.19090422
This is the second season of the infamous Peter Hall Macbeth. The first season broadcast also with Levine, Scotto, Milnes and Plishka is available on (MOoD). Generally with Scotto, earlier is better. This part, despite many insightful line readings, is simply not for her.
SALOME:Strauss
Original Air Date: 01/19/1952
Reiner; Welitsch, Svanholm, Hoengen, Hotter, Sullivan
SID.19090423
The performance was issued on LP as an upper tier Guild fundraiser. Reiner and Welitsch had caused a sensation in 1949, but the magic was not the same 3 years later, primarily because Welitsch’s voice was well into a steep decline that she never recovered from. The sound is ostensibly better here than 1949, but that is the performance which should be heard on Sirius. This afternoon in 1952 also featured Gianni Schicci with Baccaloni (with Erede conducting, NOT Reiner) which is not being rebroadcast. From 1961-62 season on Salome has been performed without a companion work.
THE RAKE’S PROGRESS:Stravinsky
Original Air Date: 01/17/1998
Levine; Hadley, Upshaw, Ramey, Blythe
SID.19090424
This is a solid cast, but I find the Stravinsky work rather cold. We are not finished with the first quarter of 2016 and already we are on our second Rake’s Progress rotation for the year (different cast and performance) Is there a Stravinsky anniversary I’ve missed?
L’ASSEDIO DI CORINTO:Rossini
Original Air Date: 04/19/1975
Schippers; Sills, Verrett, Theyard, Díaz
MOD Audio SID.19090425
The following season also with Sills and Verrett under Woitach) are the Met broadcast history of this problematic Rossini work, and both are on MOoD. Verrett is in top form, but I find Sills too late for these assumptions. I find the work as edited for these performances a jumble and they don’t make this reluctant Rossinian any less so. Barbiere remains a miracle and though done to death, still sparkles.
MADAMA BUTTERFLY:Puccini
Original Air Date: 01/01/1966
Schick; Scotto, Alexander, Grillo, Dunlap, Schmorr
MOD Audio SID.19090426
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*.
CARMEN:Bizet
Original Air Date: 12/13/1975
Lewis; Crespin, Lewis, Ricciarelli, Van Dam
MOD Audio SID.19090427
No, William Lewis did not conduct and sing Jose simultaneously. Conductor is Henry Lewis, and W. Lewis is deputizing for Domingo. I like Crespin even better on her 1978 broadcast which was on Sirius a few weeks ago. This 1975 performance is on MOoD, but I like the 1978 cast with Chauvet, Mitchell, a good deal more. Van Dam is the best Escamillo around, but Devlin (STILL at the Met in small, mostly single line roles) in the 1978 is very capable. A Crespin Carmen is almost always a listen for me, no matter the performance.
I PURITANI:Bellini
Original Air Date: 01/06/2007
Summers; Netrebko, Cutler, Vassallo, Relyea
Live in HDMOD Video SID.19090428
This Puritani run launched Netrebko into superstardom, but also engendered some controversy from some bel cantists and Callas widows. Netrebko is a controversial singer in bel canto, but she had a huge success following her premiere of the new Don Pasquale the previous season. Netrebko is very fresh of voice, and will impress many. Her supporting cast is no more than OK, and for Callas fanatics she is totally inadequate. Watch and hear for yourself. I did see Sutherland in 1976, which was well up to her standard even though she had just turned 50. Netrebko in the second Live in HD performance (the English Flute had kicked the series off) was uisually electrifying, and that performance is available on DG Blu-Ray. This audio broadcast is also available in MOoD. This performance duplicates the HD transmission and the DVD cast. This performance is best experience in its simultaneous HD video which is on Met Opera on Demand (MOoD) or on DVD or BLu-Ray.
LA JUIVE:Halévy
Original Air Date: 12/13/2003
Viotti; Isokoski, Shicoff, Futral, Cutler, Furlanetto
MOD Audio SID.19090529
“Viotti died only a year or so after premiering the Juive. He was a real talent, and Shicoff, Isokoski and Furlanetto all bring their considerable talents in a production transferred from Vienna. This is the Met’s first season since the mid 1930s and its only broadcast to date. Some early 1930s operas were broadcast but don’t exist. La Juive was never broadcast until 2003.”
LA GIOCONDA:Ponchielli
Original Air Date: 02/12/1983
Patanè; Marton, Domingo, MacNeil, Dunn, Furlanetto
SID.19090530
This performance marks Patane’s final Met performance. You can’t accuse the Met of undercasting Gioconda, and Marton puts out all of her considerable resources. Though he only has 6 more seasons (she left in a tiff over the Brunnhilde casting), her broadcasts of both Elsa and esp. Ortrud, Turandot, Fidelio Leonora with Vickers and Tennstedt, and her powerhouse Salome (the antithesis best roles. The remainder of above) are among the most rewarding broadcasts of the 1980s. Furlanetto who was primarily a Mozartean this early in his Met career cast is still going strong, and arguably the most important bass singing the Italian (and lots of others) repertoire today. If you love Gioconda just as I do, this is always a welcome performance.”
I PURITANI:Bellini
Original Air Date: 01/06/2007
Summers; Netrebko, Cutler, Vassallo, Relyea
Live in HDMOD Video SID.19090531
This Puritani run launched Netrebko into superstardom, but also engendered some controversy from some bel cantists and Callas widows. Netrebko is a controversial singer in bel canto, but she had a huge success following her premiere of the new Don Pasquale the previous season. Netrebko is very fresh of voice, and will impress many. Her supporting cast is no more than OK, and for Callas fanatics she is totally inadequate. Watch and hear for yourself. I did see Sutherland in 1976, which was well up to her standard even though she had just turned 50. Netrebko in the second Live in HD performance (the English Flute had kicked the series off) was uisually electrifying, and that performance is available on DG Blu-Ray. This audio broadcast is also available in MOoD. This performance duplicates the HD transmission and the DVD cast. This performance is best experience in its simultaneous HD video which is on Met Opera on Demand (MOoD) or on DVD or BLu-Ray.
DON GIOVANNI:Mozart
Original Air Date: 03/13/2004
Levine; Hampson, Harteros, Pape, Goerke, Turay, Hong
SID.19090532
This is a relatively recent broadcast from the previous new production (the Met has had mostly bad luck with all productions after Berman in 1957. ) The casting here is very strong with Harteros a fine Anna (she hardly appears in North America anymore), Pape singing Leporello to a fare thee well and one of the early appearances of Abdrazakov. This is also good exposure for Christine Goerke, who returned to the Met last season as the Dyer’s Wife in Frau ohne Schatten.
LUCIA DI LAMMERMOOR:Donizetti
Original Air Date: 02/27/1937
Papi; Pons, Jagel, Brownlee, Pinza
SID.19090533
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.
MACBETH:Verdi
Original Air Date: 01/28/1984
Levine; Milnes, Scotto, Plishka, Ciannella
SID.19090534
This is the second season of the infamous Peter Hall Macbeth. The first season broadcast also with Levine, Scotto, Milnes and Plishka is available on (MOoD). Generally with Scotto, earlier is better. This part, despite many insightful line readings, is simply not for her.
NORMA:Bellini
Original Air Date: 04/04/1970
Bonynge; Sutherland, Horne, Bergonzi, Siepi
MOD Audio SID.19090535
This is Sutherland/Horne’s first of two Met broadcasts of Norma (both in 1970 but different seasons). One will not find stronger support than Bergonzi and Siepi, and the ladies stand up very well to the competition. This performance is available in MOoD, and if the fall performances are even half this level we will be very lucky indeed. The only appearances I know for Bergonzi as Pollione. Siepi goes back to Milanov and Callas. This is available also on MOoD (Met Opera on Demand) so you can listen to it anytime you want. The ladies’ duet singing is remarkable.
IL TROVATORE:Verdi
Original Air Date: 01/16/1954
Cleva; Baum, Milanov, Nikolaidi, Warren, Moscona
SID.19090636
This is a little late for Milanov in one of her trademark roles. Her 49 Leonoras are a Met record (Martina Arroyo is number 2 at 29). Still, she definitely has her moments. I find her commercial RCA the most consistent of her Leonoras. Baum is Baum, and his 60 Manricos are second only to Martinelli’s 69. Tenors generally do not stay long with this role with most of the major singers including Caruso hover only around a dozen. This is Nikolaidi’s only Met broadcast (her only other role is Amneris in which she debuted on opening night two seasons earlier). Leonard Warren really owned Luna, so I was somewhat suprised to realize that his 45 Counts ties him for second; Merrill has 73 (!!!!!) and Milnes is not far behind Warren at 37. The high tessitura suits Warren best of all and always worthy of a listen.
GÖTTERDÄMMERUNG:Wagner
Original Air Date: 04/24/2004
Levine; Eaglen, West, Salminen, Held, Wray, Naef
SID.19090637
This is Eaglen’s final Met appearance, although not so marked yet in the database. Her 2000 broadcast is on MOoD with Stig Anderson and Eric Halvarson and Felicity Palmer’s Met debut as Waltraute. West was always a solid singer for me and I will take a listen to see how sounds vis a vis current competition, and Salminen is the standard for Hagen. But don’t expect too much from Eaglen. The tone had become significantly compromised by the final round of her Met performances.
GÖTTERDÄMMERUNG:Wagner
Original Air Date: 04/24/2004
Levine; Eaglen, West, Salminen, Held, Wray, Naef
SID.19090638
This is Eaglen’s final Met appearance, although not so marked yet in the database. Her 2000 broadcast is on MOoD with Stig Anderson and Eric Halvarson and Felicity Palmer’s Met debut as Waltraute. West was always a solid singer for me and I will take a listen to see how sounds vis a vis current competition, and Salminen is the standard for Hagen. But don’t expect too much from Eaglen. The tone had become significantly compromised by the final round of her Met performances.
Various:Various
Original Air Date: 01/01/9999
Various Artists
SID.19090639
Various selections between scheduled operas. Siriusxm Radio and web player will show the Composer and Title.
L’ASSEDIO DI CORINTO:Rossini
Original Air Date: 04/19/1975
Schippers; Sills, Verrett, Theyard, Díaz
MOD Audio SID.19090641
The following season also with Sills and Verrett under Woitach) are the Met broadcast history of this problematic Rossini work, and both are on MOoD. Verrett is in top form, but I find Sills too late for these assumptions. I find the work as edited for these performances a jumble and they don’t make this reluctant Rossinian any less so. Barbiere remains a miracle and though done to death, still sparkles.
MADAMA BUTTERFLY:Puccini
Original Air Date: 01/01/1966
Schick; Scotto, Alexander, Grillo, Dunlap, Schmorr
MOD Audio SID.19090642
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*.
SALOME:Strauss
Original Air Date: 01/19/1952
Reiner; Welitsch, Svanholm, Hoengen, Hotter, Sullivan
SID.19090743
The performance was issued on LP as an upper tier Guild fundraiser. Reiner and Welitsch had caused a sensation in 1949, but the magic was not the same 3 years later, primarily because Welitsch’s voice was well into a steep decline that she never recovered from. The sound is ostensibly better here than 1949, but that is the performance which should be heard on Sirius. This afternoon in 1952 also featured Gianni Schicci with Baccaloni (with Erede conducting, NOT Reiner) which is not being rebroadcast. From 1961-62 season on Salome has been performed without a companion work.
LUCIA DI LAMMERMOOR:Donizetti
Original Air Date: 02/27/1937
Papi; Pons, Jagel, Brownlee, Pinza
SID.19090744
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.
DON GIOVANNI:Mozart
Original Air Date: 03/13/2004
Levine; Hampson, Harteros, Pape, Goerke, Turay, Hong
SID.19090745
This is a relatively recent broadcast from the previous new production (the Met has had mostly bad luck with all productions after Berman in 1957. ) The casting here is very strong with Harteros a fine Anna (she hardly appears in North America anymore), Pape singing Leporello to a fare thee well and one of the early appearances of Abdrazakov. This is also good exposure for Christine Goerke, who returned to the Met last season as the Dyer’s Wife in Frau ohne Schatten.
CARMEN:Bizet
Original Air Date: 12/13/1975
Lewis; Crespin, Lewis, Ricciarelli, Van Dam
MOD Audio SID.19090746
No, William Lewis did not conduct and sing Jose simultaneously. Conductor is Henry Lewis, and W. Lewis is deputizing for Domingo. I like Crespin even better on her 1978 broadcast which was on Sirius a few weeks ago. This 1975 performance is on MOoD, but I like the 1978 cast with Chauvet, Mitchell, a good deal more. Van Dam is the best Escamillo around, but Devlin (STILL at the Met in small, mostly single line roles) in the 1978 is very capable. A Crespin Carmen is almost always a listen for me, no matter the performance.
THE RAKE’S PROGRESS:Stravinsky
Original Air Date: 01/17/1998
Levine; Hadley, Upshaw, Ramey, Blythe
SID.19090747
This is a solid cast, but I find the Stravinsky work rather cold. We are not finished with the first quarter of 2016 and already we are on our second Rake’s Progress rotation for the year (different cast and performance) Is there a Stravinsky anniversary I’ve missed?
LA JUIVE:Halévy
Original Air Date: 12/13/2003
Viotti; Isokoski, Shicoff, Futral, Cutler, Furlanetto
MOD Audio SID.19090748
“Viotti died only a year or so after premiering the Juive. He was a real talent, and Shicoff, Isokoski and Furlanetto all bring their considerable talents in a production transferred from Vienna. This is the Met’s first season since the mid 1930s and its only broadcast to date. Some early 1930s operas were broadcast but don’t exist. La Juive was never broadcast until 2003.”
IL TROVATORE:Verdi
Original Air Date: 01/16/1954
Cleva; Baum, Milanov, Nikolaidi, Warren, Moscona
SID.19090749
This is a little late for Milanov in one of her trademark roles. Her 49 Leonoras are a Met record (Martina Arroyo is number 2 at 29). Still, she definitely has her moments. I find her commercial RCA the most consistent of her Leonoras. Baum is Baum, and his 60 Manricos are second only to Martinelli’s 69. Tenors generally do not stay long with this role with most of the major singers including Caruso hover only around a dozen. This is Nikolaidi’s only Met broadcast (her only other role is Amneris in which she debuted on opening night two seasons earlier). Leonard Warren really owned Luna, so I was somewhat suprised to realize that his 45 Counts ties him for second; Merrill has 73 (!!!!!) and Milnes is not far behind Warren at 37. The high tessitura suits Warren best of all and always worthy of a listen.
LA GIOCONDA:Ponchielli
Original Air Date: 02/12/1983
Patanè; Marton, Domingo, MacNeil, Dunn, Furlanetto
SID.19100101
This performance marks Patane’s final Met performance. You can’t accuse the Met of undercasting Gioconda, and Marton puts out all of her considerable resources. Though he only has 6 more seasons (she left in a tiff over the Brunnhilde casting), her broadcasts of both Elsa and esp. Ortrud, Turandot, Fidelio Leonora with Vickers and Tennstedt, and her powerhouse Salome (the antithesis best roles. The remainder of above) are among the most rewarding broadcasts of the 1980s. Furlanetto who was primarily a Mozartean this early in his Met career cast is still going strong, and arguably the most important bass singing the Italian (and lots of others) repertoire today. If you love Gioconda just as I do, this is always a welcome performance.
FAUST:Gounod
Original Air Date: 02/19/1955
Monteux; Peerce, de los Angeles, Siepi, Merrill, Miller
MOD Audio SID.19100315
Faust……………….Jan Peerce
Marguerite…………..Victoria de los Angeles
Méphistophélès……….Cesare Siepi
Valentin…………….Robert Merrill
Siebel………………Mildred Miller
Marthe………………Thelma Votipka
Wagner………………Lawrence Davidson
Dance……………….Sallie Wilson
Conductor……………Pierre Monteux
This is the second of Monteux’s three Faust broadcasts, the first one also including DeLosAngeles and Merrill. Paul Jackson, in is second volume reviewing Met broadcasts, Sign-off for the Old Met, is very favorable towards all three of them, a bit less so for Peerce and Siepi. I don’t have his reticence about Siepi and am glad this performance isvavailable on MOoD.
LUISA MILLER:Verdi
Original Air Date: 01/23/1982
Santi; Ricciarelli, Pavarotti, Nucci, Plishka, Cheek, Berini
MOD Audio SID.19100316
Luisa……………….Katia Ricciarelli
Rodolfo……………..Luciano Pavarotti
Miller………………Leo Nucci
Count Walter…………Paul Plishka
Wurm………………..John Cheek
Federica…………….Bianca Berini
Laura……………….Claudia Catania
Peasant……………..Lou Marcella
Conductor……………Nello Santi
Luisa is probably Ricciarelli’s best role, and is well suited to the lyricism as well as technical skill for this part. This performance is also available in MOoD and one I highly recommend, even if Santi is rather lethargic at some critical points. Act 3 of Luisa Miller is among Verdi’s greatest inspirations.