“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.”
“ARIADNE AUF NAXOS : Strauss
Original Air Date: 03/20/1993
Cast: Marin; Norman, Moser, Swenson, Mentzer, Stewart, Oswald
Media: MOD Audio SID.18220743 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
“
“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.”
“SUSANNAH : Floyd
Original Air Date: 04/03/1999
Cast: Conlon; Fleming, Hadley, Ramey
Media: MOD Audio SID.18240102 Tags: Archive; 2018
This is the Met’s only broadcast of Susannah to date, and finds all three principals on especially fine form. I’ve seen the opera 4 times, and each time it is very successful and attention holding. Even without the visual appeal, the opera makes an impact from the music alone.
This was a highly successful Met repertory debut for the Carlisle Floyd opera and both Fleming and Ramey are extremely well cast. Conlon is very committed to the work, and it is a contemporary work that works almost as well in audio only as in the theatre with its sure-fire theatrics. One of the best efforts of the Met for both American and contemporary opera.
Very fine performances from both Fleming and Ramey under Conlon bring great credit to the Met and the artists. One of the most distinctive broadcasts of the week.
This is one of Fleming’s very best outings, and Ramey and Hadley are well cast as well. One of the better 20th century American operas.”
“ERNANI : Verdi
Original Air Date: 12/01/1962
Cast: Schippers; Bergonzi, Price, MacNeil, Tozzi
Media: MOD Audio SID.18240103 Tags: Archive; 2018, Verdi
This is one of the classic Met broadcasts, and on balance the best of the Ernani broadcasts. Corelli was more of an in-house Ernani, but for the broadcast mikes, Bergonzi is close to ideal.
MacNeil, one of the Met mainstay baritones on this occasion delivers an absolutely historic performance with a seemingly unending upper register, but also a command of the style that surpassed any modern baritone at the Met. Price is not ideal as Elvira, but she has many superb moments, especially as captured by the mikes.
Fortunately this performance as well as the 1965 with Corelli, Sereni, and Siepi joining Price are BOTH on MOoD, and both performances serve Verdi very well indeed. Available in a Sony historical CD and on MOoD.
As much as I love Bergonzi, the most remarkable performance of the afternoon is MacNeil in one of his greatest if not greatest broadcast appearance. Do not miss.”
“DIE ZAUBERFLÖTE : Mozart
Original Air Date: 02/07/1981
Cast: Foster; Popp, Kuebler, Duesing, Donat, Macurdy
Media: MOD Audio SID.18240214 Tags: Archive; 2018, Mozart
Lucia Popp made her debut with the Chagall Flute as Queen of the Night, the first season in the new house. She didn’t broadcast the role until 3 years later, and then 11 years later moves down to Pamina in this broadcast She’s a very fine Pamina, but overall I am not impressed by the remainder of the cast.
The main distinction here is Popp’s Pamina, and she is one of the best. The rest of the cast is OK, but there are other broadcasts of more distinction in the other roles.”
“EUGENE ONEGIN : Tchaikovsky
Original Air Date: 12/19/1992
Cast: Ozawa; Leiferkus, Freni, Hadley, Svendén, Ghiaurov
Media: MOD Audio SID.18240315 Tags: Archive; 2018
This is Freni’s second Met broadcast of Tatiana. In 1989 with Levine conducting, Hadley repeats with Hynninen in the title role, and Robert Lloyd as Gremin. The 1989 performance is available in MOoD.
This is one of Ozawa’s two matinee broadcasts, the second one 16 years later in Tchaikovsky’s Queen of Spades. Ozawa is ok, but there’s plenty of fine Onegin conducting at the Met.”
“SUSANNAH : Floyd
Original Air Date: 04/03/1999
Cast: Conlon; Fleming, Hadley, Ramey
Media: MOD Audio SID.18240318 Tags: Archive; 2018
This is the Met’s only broadcast of Susannah to date, and finds all three principals on especially fine form. I’ve seen the opera 4 times, and each time it is very successful and attention holding. Even without the visual appeal, the opera makes an impact from the music alone.
This was a highly successful Met repertory debut for the Carlisle Floyd opera and both Fleming and Ramey are extremely well cast. Conlon is very committed to the work, and it is a contemporary work that works almost as well in audio only as in the theatre with its sure-fire theatrics. One of the best efforts of the Met for both American and contemporary opera.
Very fine performances from both Fleming and Ramey under Conlon bring great credit to the Met and the artists. One of the most distinctive broadcasts of the week.
This is one of Fleming’s very best outings, and Ramey and Hadley are well cast as well. One of the better 20th century American operas.”
“IL BARBIERE DI SIVIGLIA : Rossini
Original Air Date: 03/19/1966
Cast: Varviso; Herlea, Grist, Shirley, Corena, Siepi
Media: MOD Audio SID.18240424 Tags: Archive; 2018
This is Reri Grist’s debut year, and the broadcast comes three weeks later. Herlea had some success debuting in Don Carlo two years earlier. One does not get better than Corena and Siepi in these roles. As Barbieres go, this one is not bad.
Corena and Siepi are absolute masters in these roles, and the rest of the cast is good to very good– Grist has made her debut a few weeks before this broadcast.
Varviso has an excellent studio Barbiere with Berganza, but this is a fine cast, which in the case of Corena and Siepi is not surpassed. Herlea is not as impressive here as in his Rodrigo (Don Carlo) but still a decent Figaro. I prefer a mezzo Rosina, but Grist is a fine singer and under-represented.”
“SUSANNAH : Floyd
Original Air Date: 04/03/1999
Cast: Conlon; Fleming, Hadley, Ramey
Media: MOD Audio SID.18240636 Tags: Archive; 2018
This is the Met’s only broadcast of Susannah to date, and finds all three principals on especially fine form. I’ve seen the opera 4 times, and each time it is very successful and attention holding. Even without the visual appeal, the opera makes an impact from the music alone.
This was a highly successful Met repertory debut for the Carlisle Floyd opera and both Fleming and Ramey are extremely well cast. Conlon is very committed to the work, and it is a contemporary work that works almost as well in audio only as in the theatre with its sure-fire theatrics. One of the best efforts of the Met for both American and contemporary opera.
Very fine performances from both Fleming and Ramey under Conlon bring great credit to the Met and the artists. One of the most distinctive broadcasts of the week.
This is one of Fleming’s very best outings, and Ramey and Hadley are well cast as well. One of the better 20th century American operas.”
“EUGENE ONEGIN : Tchaikovsky
Original Air Date: 12/19/1992
Cast: Ozawa; Leiferkus, Freni, Hadley, Svendén, Ghiaurov
Media: MOD Audio SID.18240638 Tags: Archive; 2018
This is Freni’s second Met broadcast of Tatiana. In 1989 with Levine conducting, Hadley repeats with Hynninen in the title role, and Robert Lloyd as Gremin. The 1989 performance is available in MOoD.
This is one of Ozawa’s two matinee broadcasts, the second one 16 years later in Tchaikovsky’s Queen of Spades. Ozawa is ok, but there’s plenty of fine Onegin conducting at the Met.”
“IL BARBIERE DI SIVIGLIA : Rossini
Original Air Date: 03/19/1966
Cast: Varviso; Herlea, Grist, Shirley, Corena, Siepi
Media: MOD Audio SID.18240640 Tags: Archive; 2018
This is Reri Grist’s debut year, and the broadcast comes three weeks later. Herlea had some success debuting in Don Carlo two years earlier. One does not get better than Corena and Siepi in these roles. As Barbieres go, this one is not bad.
Corena and Siepi are absolute masters in these roles, and the rest of the cast is good to very good– Grist has made her debut a few weeks before this broadcast.
Varviso has an excellent studio Barbiere with Berganza, but this is a fine cast, which in the case of Corena and Siepi is not surpassed. Herlea is not as impressive here as in his Rodrigo (Don Carlo) but still a decent Figaro. I prefer a mezzo Rosina, but Grist is a fine singer and under-represented.”
“ERNANI : Verdi
Original Air Date: 12/01/1962
Cast: Schippers; Bergonzi, Price, MacNeil, Tozzi
Media: MOD Audio SID.18240743 Tags: Archive; 2018, Verdi
This is one of the classic Met broadcasts, and on balance the best of the Ernani broadcasts. Corelli was more of an in-house Ernani, but for the broadcast mikes, Bergonzi is close to ideal.
MacNeil, one of the Met mainstay baritones on this occasion delivers an absolutely historic performance with a seemingly unending upper register, but also a command of the style that surpassed any modern baritone at the Met. Price is not ideal as Elvira, but she has many superb moments, especially as captured by the mikes.
Fortunately this performance as well as the 1965 with Corelli, Sereni, and Siepi joining Price are BOTH on MOoD, and both performances serve Verdi very well indeed. Available in a Sony historical CD and on MOoD.
As much as I love Bergonzi, the most remarkable performance of the afternoon is MacNeil in one of his greatest if not greatest broadcast appearance. Do not miss.”
“EUGENE ONEGIN : Tchaikovsky
Original Air Date: 12/19/1992
Cast: Ozawa; Leiferkus, Freni, Hadley, Svendén, Ghiaurov
Media: MOD Audio SID.18240747 Tags: Archive; 2018
This is Freni’s second Met broadcast of Tatiana. In 1989 with Levine conducting, Hadley repeats with Hynninen in the title role, and Robert Lloyd as Gremin. The 1989 performance is available in MOoD.
This is one of Ozawa’s two matinee broadcasts, the second one 16 years later in Tchaikovsky’s Queen of Spades. Ozawa is ok, but there’s plenty of fine Onegin conducting at the Met.”
“SUSANNAH : Floyd
Original Air Date: 04/03/1999
Cast: Conlon; Fleming, Hadley, Ramey
Media: MOD Audio SID.18240748 Tags: Archive; 2018
This is the Met’s only broadcast of Susannah to date, and finds all three principals on especially fine form. I’ve seen the opera 4 times, and each time it is very successful and attention holding. Even without the visual appeal, the opera makes an impact from the music alone.
This was a highly successful Met repertory debut for the Carlisle Floyd opera and both Fleming and Ramey are extremely well cast. Conlon is very committed to the work, and it is a contemporary work that works almost as well in audio only as in the theatre with its sure-fire theatrics. One of the best efforts of the Met for both American and contemporary opera.
Very fine performances from both Fleming and Ramey under Conlon bring great credit to the Met and the artists. One of the most distinctive broadcasts of the week.
This is one of Fleming’s very best outings, and Ramey and Hadley are well cast as well. One of the better 20th century American operas.”
“MANON : Massenet
Original Air Date: 12/15/1951
Cast: Cleva; Albanese, Di Stefano, Singher
Media: MOD Audio SID.18250106 Tags: Archive; 2018
If Singher is the only one to really be a master of the French style, Albanese and Di Stefano are not without interest.”