“GÖTTERDÄMMERUNG : Wagner
Original Air Date: 03/02/1957
Cast: Stiedry; Harshaw, Windgassen, Böhme, Uhde, Schech, Madeira
Media: MOD Audio SID.18210321 Tags: Archive; 2018, Wagner
This is a very solid performance and Windgassen in one of only two broadcasts from his single season at the Met. While Frick was the pre-eminent Wagner bass of the 50s, for Hagen there was a strong competition between Bohme and Greindl for next slot. I always preferred Bohme’s voice. Harshaw is up to the score in every way if without the star presence of Nilsson or Varnay. This performance is also available in MOoD. This used to be a very rare performance.
11/21/11 – The Siegfried from this cycle was on a few weeks ago, and while Harshaw is a far different Brunnhilde than Modl, I look forward to hearing this. These are major Wagnerians (mostly native Europeans) from the late 1950s, and well worth hearing. “
“TANNHÄUSER : Wagner
Original Air Date: 01/09/1954
Cast: Szell; Vinay, Harshaw, Varnay, London, Hines
Media: MOD Audio SID.18210426 Tags: Archive; 2018, Wagner
You either love Vinay or you hate him (even as a tenor). As a tenor I like him very much. Wolfram is a particularly congenial part for London, and this was the third performance of a four performance run (at least with Szell who did the next performance after this one and left the Met forever). Szell is one of the prime attractions and this performance is available on Met Player.
This performance is on MOoD and notable as Szell’s last Met broadcast and his penultimate appearance at the Met. Cast are well up to their roles, though Vinay is not to every taste– he is to mine.
This performance is available also in MOoD as well as the Sony Box and has been on Sirius before. I’m sorry that they did not seek out the 1941 Flagstad Melchior broadcast which was at one time available from the Met in their historic LP series so a decent tape does exist. The Dresden version is used.
I take nothing away from the distinction of Szell, but in Tannhauser, the title role is what makes or breaks the performance. Vinay is acceptable, but he is not prime Melchior either.
“
“CAVALLERIA RUSTICANA / PAGLIACCI : Mascagni / Leoncavallo
Original Air Date: 12/07/1985
Cast: Navarro; Behrens, Moldoveanu, Clark / Pilou, Vickers, Milnes
Media: MOD Audio SID.18210428 Tags: Archive; 2018
New wave of Wagner singer (Behrens) meets older wave (Vickers) but it’s Cav/Pag, not Wagner. Behrens’ only run as Santuzza at the Met is a distant memory for me, and she doesn’t rise to one of the great Santuzzas (now Dimitrova, not always a favorite, DOES)
Vickers’ debuted in 1960 as Canio, and this 1985 broadcast performance is his final Canio at the Met. As always Vickers does it his way. He is not quite as demented as his Colon (Buenos Aires) broadcast but if you get his message (and I do), he does great honor to his farewell at the Met to this role in his antepenultimate broadcast.”
“GÖTTERDÄMMERUNG : Wagner
Original Air Date: 03/02/1957
Cast: Stiedry; Harshaw, Windgassen, Böhme, Uhde, Schech, Madeira
Media: MOD Audio SID.18210530 Tags: Archive; 2018, Wagner
This is a very solid performance and Windgassen in one of only two broadcasts from his single season at the Met. While Frick was the pre-eminent Wagner bass of the 50s, for Hagen there was a strong competition between Bohme and Greindl for next slot. I always preferred Bohme’s voice. Harshaw is up to the score in every way if without the star presence of Nilsson or Varnay. This performance is also available in MOoD. This used to be a very rare performance.
11/21/11 – The Siegfried from this cycle was on a few weeks ago, and while Harshaw is a far different Brunnhilde than Modl, I look forward to hearing this. These are major Wagnerians (mostly native Europeans) from the late 1950s, and well worth hearing. “
“GÖTTERDÄMMERUNG : Wagner
Original Air Date: 03/02/1957
Cast: Stiedry; Harshaw, Windgassen, Böhme, Uhde, Schech, Madeira
Media: MOD Audio SID.18210531 Tags: Archive; 2018, Wagner
This is a very solid performance and Windgassen in one of only two broadcasts from his single season at the Met. While Frick was the pre-eminent Wagner bass of the 50s, for Hagen there was a strong competition between Bohme and Greindl for next slot. I always preferred Bohme’s voice. Harshaw is up to the score in every way if without the star presence of Nilsson or Varnay. This performance is also available in MOoD. This used to be a very rare performance.
11/21/11 – The Siegfried from this cycle was on a few weeks ago, and while Harshaw is a far different Brunnhilde than Modl, I look forward to hearing this. These are major Wagnerians (mostly native Europeans) from the late 1950s, and well worth hearing. “
“TANNHÄUSER : Wagner
Original Air Date: 01/09/1954
Cast: Szell; Vinay, Harshaw, Varnay, London, Hines
Media: MOD Audio SID.18210642 Tags: Archive; 2018, Wagner
You either love Vinay or you hate him (even as a tenor). As a tenor I like him very much. Wolfram is a particularly congenial part for London, and this was the third performance of a four performance run (at least with Szell who did the next performance after this one and left the Met forever). Szell is one of the prime attractions and this performance is available on Met Player.
This performance is on MOoD and notable as Szell’s last Met broadcast and his penultimate appearance at the Met. Cast are well up to their roles, though Vinay is not to every taste– he is to mine.
This performance is available also in MOoD as well as the Sony Box and has been on Sirius before. I’m sorry that they did not seek out the 1941 Flagstad Melchior broadcast which was at one time available from the Met in their historic LP series so a decent tape does exist. The Dresden version is used.
I take nothing away from the distinction of Szell, but in Tannhauser, the title role is what makes or breaks the performance. Vinay is acceptable, but he is not prime Melchior either.
“
“I PURITANI : Bellini
Original Air Date: 03/13/1976
Cast: Bonynge; Sutherland, Pavarotti, Milnes, Morris
Media: MOD Audio SID.18210743 Tags: Archive; 2018, Pavarotti
I was at this broadcast as well as the premiere, and while I did not see the historic concert Puritanis that Sutherland did 12 years earlier at Carnegie Hall (and Philadelphia and DC as well) with Gedda, Bing delivered a lovely production, and the 4 principals all were well suited to their roles. This was a big break-out part for Morris and the Suoni la tromba duet with Milnes almost stole the show from Pavarotti and Sutherland.
Sutherland is 50 for this performance, and amazingly is back ten years later for another Puritani broadcast. This 1976 is the preferred broadcast and deservingly is on Met Player. It’s just a shame it wasn’t videod as well (the first video of the modern series comes a year later).
This performance is also on MOoD and is a fitting document to one of the strongest Puritani quartets ever. While I didn’t
have the good luck to be in NYC or Philadelphia for the legendary 1963 concert performances Sutherland with Gedda (American Opera Society, not othe Met in both places) Sutherland was still in pretty triumpant voice 13 years later and I was in the Met audence for both the premiere of the production and this broadcast a few weeks later. I’m not the world’s biggest Milnes fan, but there is no arguing that Met casting was top tier, and this certainly lifted Morris up from being promising to being major.
This is one of the truly historic Met broadcasts. Sutherland may not be as overwhelming as she had been in the New York, Philadelphia, and Washington concert Puritanis with Gedda (American Opera Society) a dozen years before, but she still had plenty of star power to match the three robust voiced males. I was in the theatre for this broadcast and the excitement was tremendous.”
“CAVALLERIA RUSTICANA / PAGLIACCI : Mascagni / Leoncavallo
Original Air Date: 12/07/1985
Cast: Navarro; Behrens, Moldoveanu, Clark / Pilou, Vickers, Milnes
Media: MOD Audio SID.18210744 Tags: Archive; 2018
New wave of Wagner singer (Behrens) meets older wave (Vickers) but it’s Cav/Pag, not Wagner. Behrens’ only run as Santuzza at the Met is a distant memory for me, and she doesn’t rise to one of the great Santuzzas (now Dimitrova, not always a favorite, DOES)
Vickers’ debuted in 1960 as Canio, and this 1985 broadcast performance is his final Canio at the Met. As always Vickers does it his way. He is not quite as demented as his Colon (Buenos Aires) broadcast but if you get his message (and I do), he does great honor to his farewell at the Met to this role in his antepenultimate broadcast.”
“ARIADNE AUF NAXOS : Strauss
Original Air Date: 03/20/1993
Cast: Marin; Norman, Moser, Swenson, Mentzer, Stewart, Oswald
Media: MOD Audio SID.18220103 Tags: Archive; 2018, Strauss
For my money Jessye Norman is much better in her two earlier broadcasts (the first with Andrew Davis conducting, the second with Levine and subsequently telecast). Moser is not my preferred Bacchus, but Swenson featuring more of a lyric Zerbinetta (a la Guden) is very fine. 11/21/16
***
This is Norman’s last Ariadne broadcast and in the new production for her. I prefer the 1988 video (which is on DVD from DG) with Troyanos and Battle under Levine. Swenson has her moments as well. 4/23/12
***
I’m not sure about the interest in this performance. Norman five years earlier under Levine has a sterling broadcast and telecast with King, Troyanos, and Battle. What has NOT been broadcast on Sirius is either Bohm Ariadne : the Met premiere season in 1963 with Rysanek (supposed to have been Della Casa, but with the opera switch from Dutchman, it went to LR). Seven years later features Bohm and Rysanek with King and a delectable performance from Reri Grist. 11 July 2011
“
“DON CARLO : Verdi
Original Air Date: 03/07/1964
Cast: Adler; Corelli, Rysanek, Herlea, Dalis, Tozzi, Uhde
Media: MOD Audio SID.18220209 Tags: Archive; 2018, Verdi
This performance is in the Sony Historical CD series. Corelli is the centerpiece, but he despite being in thrilling voice, is a bit of a mess. Rysanek has her moments, some very good, some not so good. Herlea is a successful debutant as Rodrigo, and Dalis a distinctive Eboli. The great Met Ebolis are shortly to arrive with Bumbry, Cossotto, Verrett and Zajick. This performance is heavily cut and Tozzi shows signs that his voice is no longer in prime condition, but one of the most beautiful voices ever in that prime.”
“DER FLIEGENDE HOLLÄNDER : Wagner
Original Air Date: 12/16/2000
Cast: Gergiev; Morris, Stemme, Wagenführer, Rootering
Media: MOD Audio SID.18220210 Tags: Archive; 2018, Wagner
The Met for almost two decades led a charmed life with most Dutchman revivals centered on Leonie Rysanek as Senta, and for the first decade George London as the Dutchman. This performance was an early appearance by Nina Stemme at the Met, long before her acclaimed Brunnhildes around the world in the last 5 years. People were not thinking of her as a future Brunnhilde in 2000, and an important appearance in 2016 as Elektra in a new production.”
“MESSA DA REQUIEM : Verdi
Original Air Date: 03/28/1964
Cast: Solti; Price, Elias, Bergonzi, Siepi
Media: MOD Audio SID.18220211 Tags: Archive; 2018, Verdi
This broadcast was In Memory of John F. Kennedy
Although the sound is definitely AM (not what one wants for the Manzoni Requiem), this performance documents three of the most notable Verdi singers of the 20th century: Price, Bergonzi, Siepi. Elias is remarkable for her blend with Price (on many commercial recordings as well) and this is Solti’s final Met appearance (his final full Met staged performance is Aida from December 1963 still awaits rebroadcast on Sirius).
The two performances including the day before the broadcast also included Act 3, Scene 1 of Parsifal with Jerome Hines, Jess Thomas, and Marcia Baldwin.
I’m sorry that is not included but grateful that the Verdi is in MOoD.
PARSIFAL: Act III, Scene 1
Parsifal…………….Jess Thomas
Gurnemanz……………Jerome Hines
Kundry………………Marcia Baldwin
Conductor……………Georg Solti
IN MEMORY OF JOHN F. KENNEDY
Verdi: REQUIEM MASS {35}
Soloist……………..Leontyne Price
Soloist……………..Rosalind Elias
Soloist……………..Carlo Bergonzi
Soloist……………..Cesare Siepi
Conductor……………Georg Solti [Last appearance]”
“WERTHER : Massenet
Original Air Date: 01/23/1999
Cast: Runnicles; Hampson, Graham, Evans, Robertson
Media: MOD Audio SID.18220212 Tags: Archive; 2018
I’m sorry I didn’t attend this revival with the title role moving to baritone hands (in Massenet’s own transposition) (still too high for Domingo????), but this broadcast catches Susan Graham in one of her very best afternoons.
This is the baritone version Massenet wrote for Battistini. I didn’t see it in the theatre and just over the airwaves, it didn’t work for me. It however catches Susan Graham in particularly splendid voice.
This is a novelty for if there were ever a tenor opera it is Werther, but the
composer did arrange for baritone for Battistini. Hampson is very earnest, but I want the tenor colorations. This is one of Graham’s best Met outings.”
“WERTHER : Massenet
Original Air Date: 01/23/1999
Cast: Runnicles; Hampson, Graham, Evans, Robertson
Media: MOD Audio SID.18220428 Tags: Archive; 2018
I’m sorry I didn’t attend this revival with the title role moving to baritone hands (in Massenet’s own transposition) (still too high for Domingo????), but this broadcast catches Susan Graham in one of her very best afternoons.
This is the baritone version Massenet wrote for Battistini. I didn’t see it in the theatre and just over the airwaves, it didn’t work for me. It however catches Susan Graham in particularly splendid voice.
This is a novelty for if there were ever a tenor opera it is Werther, but the
composer did arrange for baritone for Battistini. Hampson is very earnest, but I want the tenor colorations. This is one of Graham’s best Met outings.”
“DER FLIEGENDE HOLLÄNDER : Wagner
Original Air Date: 12/16/2000
Cast: Gergiev; Morris, Stemme, Wagenführer, Rootering
Media: MOD Audio SID.18220642 Tags: Archive; 2018, Wagner
The Met for almost two decades led a charmed life with most Dutchman revivals centered on Leonie Rysanek as Senta, and for the first decade George London as the Dutchman. This performance was an early appearance by Nina Stemme at the Met, long before her acclaimed Brunnhildes around the world in the last 5 years. People were not thinking of her as a future Brunnhilde in 2000, and an important appearance in 2016 as Elektra in a new production.”
“WERTHER : Massenet
Original Air Date: 01/23/1999
Cast: Runnicles; Hampson, Graham, Evans, Robertson
Media: MOD Audio SID.18220744 Tags: Archive; 2018
I’m sorry I didn’t attend this revival with the title role moving to baritone hands (in Massenet’s own transposition) (still too high for Domingo????), but this broadcast catches Susan Graham in one of her very best afternoons.
This is the baritone version Massenet wrote for Battistini. I didn’t see it in the theatre and just over the airwaves, it didn’t work for me. It however catches Susan Graham in particularly splendid voice.
This is a novelty for if there were ever a tenor opera it is Werther, but the
composer did arrange for baritone for Battistini. Hampson is very earnest, but I want the tenor colorations. This is one of Graham’s best Met outings.”
“MIGNON : Thomas
Original Air Date: 01/27/1945
Cast: Pelletier; Stevens, Melton, Benzell, Pinza
Media: MOD Audio SID.18230103 Tags: Archive; 2018
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 3 years later with Marilyn Cotlow as Philine which is more than 6 decades ago. That Mignon farewell has not been on Sirius.”
“DIE MEISTERSINGER VON NÜRNBERG : Wagner
Original Air Date: 01/10/1953
Cast: Reiner; Schöffler, de los Angeles, Hopf, Pechner, Greindl, Holm
Media: MOD Audio SID.18230104 Tags: Archive; 2018, Wagner
This performance has been on Sirius before and is in the Sony Wagner at the Met box. For me, the distinctions are chiefly Reiner, Schoffler, and de los Angeles. Greindl, the Pogner, Holm, the David make their final Met appearances on this broadcast.”
“DIE MEISTERSINGER VON NÜRNBERG : Wagner
Original Air Date: 01/10/1953
Cast: Reiner; Schöffler, de los Angeles, Hopf, Pechner, Greindl, Holm
Media: MOD Audio SID.18230105 Tags: Archive; 2018, Wagner
This performance has been on Sirius before and is in the Sony Wagner at the Met box. For me, the distinctions are chiefly Reiner, Schoffler, and de los Angeles. Greindl, the Pogner, Holm, the David make their final Met appearances on this broadcast.”
“FAUST : Gounod
Original Air Date: 03/17/2007
Cast: Benini; Vargas, Swenson, Abdrazakov, Yun, Deshayes
Media: MOD Audio SID.18230209 Tags: Archive; 2018
The singers are OK, but there are some major Fausts still in the vault– including Bjorling from 1950 one month after his opening night Don Carlo for Bing and 1959, both with Siepi. Why Swenson ends up with 6 broadcasts in MOoD and major artists have half is inexplicable to me. Not one of the glory nights of the Gelb decade.”
“MIGNON : Thomas
Original Air Date: 01/27/1945
Cast: Pelletier; Stevens, Melton, Benzell, Pinza
Media: MOD Audio SID.18230319 Tags: Archive; 2018
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 3 years later with Marilyn Cotlow as Philine which is more than 6 decades ago. That Mignon farewell has not been on Sirius.”
“DIE MEISTERSINGER VON NÜRNBERG : Wagner
Original Air Date: 01/10/1953
Cast: Reiner; Schöffler, de los Angeles, Hopf, Pechner, Greindl, Holm
Media: MOD Audio SID.18230320 Tags: Archive; 2018, Wagner
This performance has been on Sirius before and is in the Sony Wagner at the Met box. For me, the distinctions are chiefly Reiner, Schoffler, and de los Angeles. Greindl, the Pogner, Holm, the David make their final Met appearances on this broadcast.”
“DIE MEISTERSINGER VON NÜRNBERG : Wagner
Original Air Date: 01/10/1953
Cast: Reiner; Schöffler, de los Angeles, Hopf, Pechner, Greindl, Holm
Media: MOD Audio SID.18230321 Tags: Archive; 2018, Wagner
This performance has been on Sirius before and is in the Sony Wagner at the Met box. For me, the distinctions are chiefly Reiner, Schoffler, and de los Angeles. Greindl, the Pogner, Holm, the David make their final Met appearances on this broadcast.”
“IDOMENEO : Mozart
Original Air Date: 02/15/1986
Cast: Tate; Rendall, Valente, Behrens, von Stade, Alexander
Media: MOD Audio SID.18230423 Tags: Archive; 2018, Mozart
Idomeneo has some of Mozart’s greatest music. Valente is a doing double duty this week along with Falstaff, and she’s a sublime lyric for either Nanetta or Ilia.
Behrens is tough sledding as Elettra. Carol Vaness has two broadcasts on MOoD which I highly recommend.”
“FAUST : Gounod
Original Air Date: 03/17/2007
Cast: Benini; Vargas, Swenson, Abdrazakov, Yun, Deshayes
Media: MOD Audio SID.18230425 Tags: Archive; 2018
The singers are OK, but there are some major Fausts still in the vault– including Bjorling from 1950 one month after his opening night Don Carlo for Bing and 1959, both with Siepi. Why Swenson ends up with 6 broadcasts in MOoD and major artists have half is inexplicable to me. Not one of the glory nights of the Gelb decade.”
“LES CONTES D’HOFFMANN : Offenbach
Original Air Date: 03/27/1982
Cast: Chailly; Domingo, Morris, Welting, Troyanos, Eda-Pierre, Howells
Media: MOD Audio SID.18230428 Tags: Archive; 2018, Domingo
This is Chailly’s only Met appearance, and is the premiere year of the Schenk, Schneider-Siemssen production. I’m surprised this performance is not the one in MOoD instead of the Levine from 1993. Much as I like Vaness and Held, an 11 year younger Domingo with the above cast (and especially Senechal) would seem more likely. Still, this performance is a welcome choice for the Sirius rotation (it’s not new this week, but not often included).”
“DIE MEISTERSINGER VON NÜRNBERG : Wagner
Original Air Date: 01/10/1953
Cast: Reiner; Schöffler, de los Angeles, Hopf, Pechner, Greindl, Holm
Media: MOD Audio SID.18230530 Tags: Archive; 2018, Wagner
This performance has been on Sirius before and is in the Sony Wagner at the Met box. For me, the distinctions are chiefly Reiner, Schoffler, and de los Angeles. Greindl, the Pogner, Holm, the David make their final Met appearances on this broadcast.”
“LA TRAVIATA : Verdi
Original Air Date: 04/06/1957
Cast: Cleva; Tebaldi, Campora, Warren
Media: MOD Audio SID.18230642 Tags: Archive; 2018, Tebaldi, Verdi
This performance divides some people. To use the old 4 act nomenclature, Tebaldi’s best act is not Act 1, but for me Acts 2-4 make for stiff competition for any Violetta. The Act 2 duet with Germont and the final act are one of the great performances in Met broadcast history. Tebaldi only did this at the Met one season, but Bing took her everywhere for 21 performances, This is about halfway through the run. Warren is a most sympathetic Germont.”
“LES CONTES D’HOFFMANN : Offenbach
Original Air Date: 03/27/1982
Cast: Chailly; Domingo, Morris, Welting, Troyanos, Eda-Pierre, Howells
Media: MOD Audio SID.18230744 Tags: Archive; 2018, Domingo
This is Chailly’s only Met appearance, and is the premiere year of the Schenk, Schneider-Siemssen production. I’m surprised this performance is not the one in MOoD instead of the Levine from 1993. Much as I like Vaness and Held, an 11 year younger Domingo with the above cast (and especially Senechal) would seem more likely. Still, this performance is a welcome choice for the Sirius rotation (it’s not new this week, but not often included).”
“IDOMENEO : Mozart
Original Air Date: 02/15/1986
Cast: Tate; Rendall, Valente, Behrens, von Stade, Alexander
Media: MOD Audio SID.18230746 Tags: Archive; 2018, Mozart
Idomeneo has some of Mozart’s greatest music. Valente is a doing double duty this week along with Falstaff, and she’s a sublime lyric for either Nanetta or Ilia.
Behrens is tough sledding as Elettra. Carol Vaness has two broadcasts on MOoD which I highly recommend.”