“DER ROSENKAVALIER : Strauss
Original Air Date: 12/14/1946
Cast: Busch; Stevens, Jessner, List, Steber, Lechner
Media: MOD Audio SID.18270211 Tags: Archive; 2018, Strauss
This performance has been on before, and this is Steber’s only 40s broadcast to have made it to Sirius (and to MOoD). This is the kind of voice I love as Sophie, a full lyric, not a soubrette. Jessner has a lot of time in support mostly on the rocks (she debuted as a Valkyrie in 1936, and ended as Gutrune (but preceded by more rocks work). Her solo roles were most often Marschallin (cover for Lehmann?) and Eva. She is OK, and this is Stevens still in reasonably fresh voice. glad to have a peek at the 1940s.”
“FALSTAFF : Verdi
Original Air Date: 12/16/1967
Cast: Amaducci; Flagello, Curtin, Guarrera, Barbieri, Raskin, Alva
Media: MOD Audio SID.18270318 Tags: Archive; 2018, Verdi
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.”
“MANON LESCAUT : Puccini
Original Air Date: 03/12/1966
Cast: Adler; Kabaivanska, Tucker, Walker, Esparza
Media: MOD Audio SID.18270321 Tags: Archive; 2018, Puccini
While I still want to hear Tucker and Tebaldi from 7 years earlier, this gives us the advantage of hearing a young Kabaivanska. I saw her do this part with a young Domingo pretty contemporaneous with this broadcast in Fort Worth, and what a pair they were. Esparza is for party tapes, and Walker was promoted as a more cornfed Merrill. Cornfed he may be, but any comparison to Merrill is not critically alert. Merrill on the Albanese Bjorling recording is like sable (the fur not the fish).
Also available on MOoD (Met Opera on Demand)
Manon Lescaut is my favorite Puccini and Kabaivanska is an excellent Manon. Sirius is still omitting the 1959 broadcast with Tebaldi and Tucker when both are at their absolute best. Esparza is an unfunny Thanksgiving joke; he makes Corena sound like Ezio Pinza.”
“PETER GRIMES : Britten
Original Air Date: 12/31/1994
Cast: Conlon; Rolfe Johnson, Fleming, Opie, Walker, Howard
Media: MOD Audio SID.18270425 Tags: Archive; 2018
Fleming in an unusual role and Rolfe Johnson taken from us much too soon. One of Fleming’s most successful outings. I like hearing a young
fresh voice as Ellen Orford. This is Fleming’s only season as Ellen Orford, and I find her youthful singing a most pleasant plus.
Excellent all-around performance. One of Fleming’s most successful outings. I like hearing a young fresh voice as Ellen Orford. Excellent all-around performance.”
“DER ROSENKAVALIER : Strauss
Original Air Date: 12/14/1946
Cast: Busch; Stevens, Jessner, List, Steber, Lechner
Media: MOD Audio SID.18270427 Tags: Archive; 2018, Strauss
This performance has been on before, and this is Steber’s only 40s broadcast to have made it to Sirius (and to MOoD). This is the kind of voice I love as Sophie, a full lyric, not a soubrette. Jessner has a lot of time in support mostly on the rocks (she debuted as a Valkyrie in 1936, and ended as Gutrune (but preceded by more rocks work). Her solo roles were most often Marschallin (cover for Lehmann?) and Eva. She is OK, and this is Stevens still in reasonably fresh voice. glad to have a peek at the 1940s.”
“I PURITANI : Bellini
Original Air Date: 01/06/2007
Cast: Summers; Netrebko, Cutler, Vassallo, Relyea
Media: Live in HDMOD Video SID.18270529 Tags: Archive; 2018, Netrebko
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 visually
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. “
“MANON LESCAUT : Puccini
Original Air Date: 03/12/1966
Cast: Adler; Kabaivanska, Tucker, Walker, Esparza
Media: MOD Audio SID.18270638 Tags: Archive; 2018, Puccini
While I still want to hear Tucker and Tebaldi from 7 years earlier, this gives us the advantage of hearing a young Kabaivanska. I saw her do this part with a young Domingo pretty contemporaneous with this broadcast in Fort Worth, and what a pair they were. Esparza is for party tapes, and Walker was promoted as a more cornfed Merrill. Cornfed he may be, but any comparison to Merrill is not critically alert. Merrill on the Albanese Bjorling recording is like sable (the fur not the fish).
Also available on MOoD (Met Opera on Demand)
Manon Lescaut is my favorite Puccini and Kabaivanska is an excellent Manon. Sirius is still omitting the 1959 broadcast with Tebaldi and Tucker when both are at their absolute best. Esparza is an unfunny Thanksgiving joke; he makes Corena sound like Ezio Pinza.”
“PETER GRIMES : Britten
Original Air Date: 12/31/1994
Cast: Conlon; Rolfe Johnson, Fleming, Opie, Walker, Howard
Media: MOD Audio SID.18270641 Tags: Archive; 2018
Fleming in an unusual role and Rolfe Johnson taken from us much too soon. One of Fleming’s most successful outings. I like hearing a young
fresh voice as Ellen Orford. This is Fleming’s only season as Ellen Orford, and I find her youthful singing a most pleasant plus.
Excellent all-around performance. One of Fleming’s most successful outings. I like hearing a young fresh voice as Ellen Orford. Excellent all-around performance.”
“FALSTAFF : Verdi
Original Air Date: 12/16/1967
Cast: Amaducci; Flagello, Curtin, Guarrera, Barbieri, Raskin, Alva
Media: MOD Audio SID.18270748 Tags: Archive; 2018, Verdi
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.”
“ANDREA CHÃNIER : Giordano
Original Air Date: 12/28/1957
Cast: Cleva; Tucker, Milanov, Warren, Elias, Lipton, Amparan
Media: MOD Audio SID.18280107 Tags: Archive; 2018
As I noted in 2012, I prefer Corelli to Tucker, Tebaldi to Milanov, and Bastianini to Warren in these Chenier roles, but the last four decades have rarely brought one let alone three singers for these roles. So enjoy this 1957 cast with 1966 (which Sirius still hasn’t rebroadcast) with Tebaldi, Corelli, and Colzani probably the last one with such authentic style. I love Chenier, but we definitely don’t have the singers for it. I’m afraid the Met’s 2013-2014 revival confirmed the current state of Chenier singing.”
“ANDREA CHÃNIER : Giordano
Original Air Date: 12/28/1957
Cast: Cleva; Tucker, Milanov, Warren, Elias, Lipton, Amparan
Media: MOD Audio SID.18280317 Tags: Archive; 2018
As I noted in 2012, I prefer Corelli to Tucker, Tebaldi to Milanov, and Bastianini to Warren in these Chenier roles, but the last four decades have rarely brought one let alone three singers for these roles. So enjoy this 1957 cast with 1966 (which Sirius still hasn’t rebroadcast) with Tebaldi, Corelli, and Colzani probably the last one with such authentic style. I love Chenier, but we definitely don’t have the singers for it. I’m afraid the Met’s 2013-2014 revival confirmed the current state of Chenier singing.”
“DIE FLEDERMAUS : Strauss Jr.
Original Air Date: 01/20/1951
Cast: Ormandy; Piazza, Kullman, Munsel, Tucker, Stevens, Brownlee
Media: MOD Audio SID.18280321 Tags: Archive; 2018, Strauss
This is the broadcast of arguably the biggest hit of Bing’s opening season. Welitsch, who had done the premiere gives way to Piazza, for whom this is her sole broadcast and her only role at the Met, though she has a good long run after the broadcast and a Met tour for a total of 14 performances. Piazza would turn up on early 1950s TV show where an attractive (not so much to me) but generic soprano was called for. Tucker is a sonorous Alfred he almost turns the part into a plum. There are some enjoyable moments, and others that leave me cold. Sirius leaves Gilford off the listing, but he has some of the funniest bits.”
“SALOME : Strauss
Original Air Date: 03/27/2004
Cast: Gergiev; Mattila, Jerusalem, Diadkova, Dohmen, Polenzani
Media: MOD Audio SID.18280425 Tags: Archive; 2018, Strauss
This is Mattila’s first season as Salome, and she delivered one of the greatest Salomes ever at the Met. Though she did the part again in 2008 as part of the HD telecasts, she didn’t have the same supremacy she had four years earlier (this HD is available on MOoD). This week’s audio broadcast is the one to hear in case you are in any doubt of what her top form sounds like. I like the supporting cast better in this 2004 performance as well. She filmed it in 2004 at the Met (not HD and pre Gelb) with Terfel, but we are likely to never see this which is a shame. Maybe they could put the audio version on MOoD. (editors note… it is on MOD now)
Although this has been on before, because of the HD 4 years later, that performance is more frequently encountered. The 2004 performance was filmed also, but we think will never see the light of day. I’m happy that the Sirius audio survives (the video included Terfel, not Dohmen) and so warmly welcome this rebroadcast again. I would still love to hear the 1958 with Borkh under Mitropoulos (Schicchi is the curtain-raiser!!!!!)”
“IL BARBIERE DI SIVIGLIA : Rossini
Original Air Date: 03/13/1982
Cast: Davis; Workman, Battle, Blake, Capecchi, Montarsolo
Media: MOD Audio SID.18280427 Tags: Archive; 2018
The Met Database shows this as previously rebroadcast on Sirius, but not recently. The plus is relatively early Battle performance, but she also has a 1988 telecast reissued on commercial DG DVD (still available per Amazon). The difference between William Workman and Leo Nucci on the DVD is considerable. I was surprised that this telecast is not in MOoD. In fact, the two videos there are the excellent DiDonato, Florez, Mattei performance rom the first season of Met LIve in HD, and the second last season’s Barbiere with Isabel Leonard, Brownlee, and Maltman. Surely this 1988 performance needs to be in MOoD.”
“LA TRAVIATA : Verdi
Original Air Date: 01/22/1949
Cast: Antonicelli; Steber, Di Stefano, Merrill
Media: MOD Audio SID.18280531 Tags: Archive; 2018, Verdi
Steber has her only broadcast of Violetta (late replacement for Sayao), and is clearly in top form and vocally and musically this is one of the best. DiStefano is more promising of tone than execution. It’s his first time at the Met in the part, and he only has seven more, the last in 1952. Merrill is in one of his signature parts, and the voice is truly a wall of beautiful sound. Paul Jackson in volume 1 of his 3 volume annotated coverage of Met broadcasts gives a very detailed review of this performance and is particularly enthusiastic on Steber glorious from start to finish and one of the finest in [Met] broadcast historyand Antonicelli.”
“L’ELISIR D’AMORE : Donizetti
Original Air Date: 04/06/1974
Cast: Rudolf; Pavarotti, Blegen, Flagello, Reardon
Media: MOD Audio SID.18290103 Tags: Archive; 2018, Pavarotti
This is Pavarotti’s first Nemorino broadcast from the Met. Blegen and Pavarotti are a good pair, but the later Dulcamaras are not interesting.”
“AIDA : Verdi
Original Air Date: 03/11/1950
Cast: Cooper; Welitsch, Vinay, Harshaw, Merrill, Hines
Media: MOD Audio SID.18290107 Tags: Archive; 2018, Verdi
According to my records this is new to Sirius [ in 2013]. It may have
been broadcast in the first three years of Sirius when I wasn’t doing
the playlists.
I’ve heard this performance, and Welitsch has some powerful moments, and a pleasure to hear early Merrill in this role. He is the Met champion Amonasro with 72 (MacNeil is 71, and Amato 70) “
“DIE ZAUBERFLÃTE : Mozart
Original Air Date: 02/21/1998
Cast: de Waart; Bonney, Lopardo, Finley, Dunleavy, Moll
Media: MOD Audio SID.18290213 Tags: Archive; 2018, Mozart
I want to take a listen to this broadcast, esp. for Bonney and Finley. I wrote a few months ago on some missing gaps in Zauberflote:
If relatively recent sound is the criterion, more rotation of the Lorengar, Deutekom from 1968 is called for and I would love to hear again the 1970 and 1972 broadcasts which have not yet made it to Sirius. The 1970 features the matchless Papageno of Hermann Prey (and live performance is quite a different thing than the recording studio) Popp is out there for one of her last times as the QotN; the 1972 features the strong Queen of Edda Moser and an unusual Pamina, Adriana Maliponte. If sound is not the sole criterion, it would be nice to hear Bruno Walter conducting in the early 40s, with Steber leading the three ladies in three broadcasts succeeded in 1945 by Regina Resnik. Kipnis and Pinza are 2 of the Sarastros. For really splendid Mozart in English, the 1950 with Steber moving up to Pamina, and Tucker as Tamino; Erna Berger sings the Queen in English under Stiedry.”
“DIE WALKÃRE : Wagner
Original Air Date: 12/23/1961
Cast: Leinsdorf; Nilsson, Edelmann, Kuchta, Vickers, Dalis, Wiemann
Media: MOD Audio SID.18290315 Tags: Archive; 2018, Nilsson, Wagner
This performance was on not so long ago, and I caught most of it. Kuchta was much better than I had remembered; alas Edelmann seemed quite a bit worse. The two real vocal standouts were Nilsson and Vickers, who would put down in London a few months later a marvelous studio version with George London , Rita Gorr, and Gre Brouwenstijn under Leinsdorf; the Valkyries are a particularly strong group, among the best ever. A positive word on Ernst Wiemann, who for me is a German Giaiotti : a strong voice with a solid technique and well schooled in the German repertoire. Dalis is an incisive Fricka.”
“COSÃ FAN TUTTE : Mozart
Original Air Date: 01/22/1972
Cast: Pritchard; Zylis- Gara, Bottazzo, Elias, Uppman, Stratas, Berry
Media: MOD Audio SID.18290316 Tags: Archive; 2018, Mozart
This is the first season Cosi returns to the original Italian at the Met, but still retains the Lunt/Gerard production. Pritchard is an experienced Mozartean, if rarely to my taste. Stratas is sharp casting for Despina, and nice to see Berry in a congenial part.This is Vickers’ first of four Otello broadcasts and in the Zeffirelli production new the previous year. This is Levine’s first season out in Otello, and Quilico is a familiar figure with a voice well suited to Verdi baritone roles– in an era of Merrill, MacNeil, and Milnes, Quilico doesn’t seem so top tier. Among today’s baritones he sings the pants off of any of them”
“AIDA : Verdi
Original Air Date: 03/11/1950
Cast: Cooper; Welitsch, Vinay, Harshaw, Merrill, Hines
Media: MOD Audio SID.18290317 Tags: Archive; 2018, Verdi
According to my records this is new to Sirius [ in 2013]. It may have
been broadcast in the first three years of Sirius when I wasn’t doing
the playlists.
I’ve heard this performance, and Welitsch has some powerful moments, and a pleasure to hear early Merrill in this role. He is the Met champion Amonasro with 72 (MacNeil is 71, and Amato 70) “
“DER FLIEGENDE HOLLÃNDER : Wagner
Original Air Date: 01/27/1968
Cast: Klobucar; MacNeil, Rysanek, Parly, Tozzi
Media: MOD Audio SID.18290318 Tags: Archive; 2018
I saw one of the performances in this run and MacNeil is quite a fine Dutchman, and Rysanek continues to be the standard in this role. No one does the end of the opera like her.
I very much enjoyed this run. People may forget that MacNeil studied under the premiere Dutchman of the 20th century–Friedrich Schorr. This is one of Tozzi’s most congenial parts, and I’ve certainly never seen a Senta to compare with Rysanek. She broadcasts the opera 5 times between 1960 and 1970, and both the 1963 with Bohm, London, and Konya and this 1968 are available in MOoD. Both are wonderful.
Three of Rysanek’s peerless Senta are available in MOoD, including
this one. If Klobucar and MacNeil are not Bohm or London, this performance still has much to commend it. Ticho Parly is far from being up to Konya’s high quality Erik however.”
“L’ELISIR D’AMORE : Donizetti
Original Air Date: 04/06/1974
Cast: Rudolf; Pavarotti, Blegen, Flagello, Reardon
Media: MOD Audio SID.18290319 Tags: Archive; 2018, Pavarotti
This is Pavarotti’s first Nemorino broadcast from the Met. Blegen and Pavarotti are a good pair, but the later Dulcamaras are not interesting.”
“DIE WALKÃRE : Wagner
Original Air Date: 12/23/1961
Cast: Leinsdorf; Nilsson, Edelmann, Kuchta, Vickers, Dalis, Wiemann
Media: MOD Audio SID.18290423 Tags: Archive; 2018, Nilsson, Wagner
This performance was on not so long ago, and I caught most of it. Kuchta was much better than I had remembered; alas Edelmann seemed quite a bit worse. The two real vocal standouts were Nilsson and Vickers, who would put down in London a few months later a marvelous studio version with George London , Rita Gorr, and Gre Brouwenstijn under Leinsdorf; the Valkyries are a particularly strong group, among the best ever. A positive word on Ernst Wiemann, who for me is a German Giaiotti : a strong voice with a solid technique and well schooled in the German repertoire. Dalis is an incisive Fricka.”
“DIE WALKÃRE : Wagner
Original Air Date: 12/23/1961
Cast: Leinsdorf; Nilsson, Edelmann, Kuchta, Vickers, Dalis, Wiemann
Media: MOD Audio SID.18290424 Tags: Archive; 2018, Nilsson, Wagner
This performance was on not so long ago, and I caught most of it. Kuchta was much better than I had remembered; alas Edelmann seemed quite a bit worse. The two real vocal standouts were Nilsson and Vickers, who would put down in London a few months later a marvelous studio version with George London , Rita Gorr, and Gre Brouwenstijn under Leinsdorf; the Valkyries are a particularly strong group, among the best ever. A positive word on Ernst Wiemann, who for me is a German Giaiotti : a strong voice with a solid technique and well schooled in the German repertoire. Dalis is an incisive Fricka.”
“DIE ZAUBERFLÃTE : Mozart
Original Air Date: 02/21/1998
Cast: de Waart; Bonney, Lopardo, Finley, Dunleavy, Moll
Media: MOD Audio SID.18290529 Tags: Archive; 2018, Mozart
I want to take a listen to this broadcast, esp. for Bonney and Finley. I wrote a few months ago on some missing gaps in Zauberflote:
If relatively recent sound is the criterion, more rotation of the Lorengar, Deutekom from 1968 is called for and I would love to hear again the 1970 and 1972 broadcasts which have not yet made it to Sirius. The 1970 features the matchless Papageno of Hermann Prey (and live performance is quite a different thing than the recording studio) Popp is out there for one of her last times as the QotN; the 1972 features the strong Queen of Edda Moser and an unusual Pamina, Adriana Maliponte. If sound is not the sole criterion, it would be nice to hear Bruno Walter conducting in the early 40s, with Steber leading the three ladies in three broadcasts succeeded in 1945 by Regina Resnik. Kipnis and Pinza are 2 of the Sarastros. For really splendid Mozart in English, the 1950 with Steber moving up to Pamina, and Tucker as Tamino; Erna Berger sings the Queen in English under Stiedry.”
“COSÃ FAN TUTTE : Mozart
Original Air Date: 01/22/1972
Cast: Pritchard; Zylis- Gara, Bottazzo, Elias, Uppman, Stratas, Berry
Media: MOD Audio SID.18290532 Tags: Archive; 2018, Mozart
This is the first season Cosi returns to the original Italian at the Met, but still retains the Lunt/Gerard production. Pritchard is an experienced Mozartean, if rarely to my taste. Stratas is sharp casting for Despina, and nice to see Berry in a congenial part.This is Vickers’ first of four Otello broadcasts and in the Zeffirelli production new the previous year. This is Levine’s first season out in Otello, and Quilico is a familiar figure with a voice well suited to Verdi baritone roles– in an era of Merrill, MacNeil, and Milnes, Quilico doesn’t seem so top tier. Among today’s baritones he sings the pants off of any of them”
“AIDA : Verdi
Original Air Date: 03/11/1950
Cast: Cooper; Welitsch, Vinay, Harshaw, Merrill, Hines
Media: MOD Audio SID.18290533 Tags: Archive; 2018, Verdi
According to my records this is new to Sirius [ in 2013]. It may have
been broadcast in the first three years of Sirius when I wasn’t doing
the playlists.
I’ve heard this performance, and Welitsch has some powerful moments, and a pleasure to hear early Merrill in this role. He is the Met champion Amonasro with 72 (MacNeil is 71, and Amato 70) “
“DER FLIEGENDE HOLLÃNDER : Wagner
Original Air Date: 01/27/1968
Cast: Klobucar; MacNeil, Rysanek, Parly, Tozzi
Media: MOD Audio SID.18290636 Tags: Archive; 2018
I saw one of the performances in this run and MacNeil is quite a fine Dutchman, and Rysanek continues to be the standard in this role. No one does the end of the opera like her.
I very much enjoyed this run. People may forget that MacNeil studied under the premiere Dutchman of the 20th century–Friedrich Schorr. This is one of Tozzi’s most congenial parts, and I’ve certainly never seen a Senta to compare with Rysanek. She broadcasts the opera 5 times between 1960 and 1970, and both the 1963 with Bohm, London, and Konya and this 1968 are available in MOoD. Both are wonderful.
Three of Rysanek’s peerless Senta are available in MOoD, including
this one. If Klobucar and MacNeil are not Bohm or London, this performance still has much to commend it. Ticho Parly is far from being up to Konya’s high quality Erik however.”
“L’ELISIR D’AMORE : Donizetti
Original Air Date: 04/06/1974
Cast: Rudolf; Pavarotti, Blegen, Flagello, Reardon
Media: MOD Audio SID.18290743 Tags: Archive; 2018, Pavarotti
This is Pavarotti’s first Nemorino broadcast from the Met. Blegen and Pavarotti are a good pair, but the later Dulcamaras are not interesting.”