“DON GIOVANNI : Mozart
Original Air Date: 02/15/2003
Cast: Cambreling; Mattei, Radvanovsky, Furlanetto, Diener, Trost, Netrebko
Media: MOD Audio SID.18310319 Tags: Archive; 2018, Mozart
This Don Giovanni is a solid performance especially in key roles, and proof that not all fine performances are pre-1980. Radvanovsky and Netrebko have gone on to extraordinary careers, but Mattei and Furlanetto make for a fresh and effective pairing as the Don and Leporello (Mattei will reprise his DON later in the 2014-2015 season, but I don’t think Furlanetto does Leporello so much these days. I’ve listened to this performance
thanks to previous Sirius appearances. Recommended.
8/22/11 – This performance is on Met Player and I think it’s a splendid afternoon. I saw an earlier performance with Mattei and found him one of the very best of recent Giovannis. I’m not forgetting Siepi, but Mattei managed to be both dark of drama and sunny of voice. The women are among the very best of recent trios, with Radvanovsky just starting to take off, Diener very solid, and Netrebko one of the lushest Zerlinas ever. Furlanetto is not chopped liver as Leporello, and Trost is OK. Not all fine
performances took place 40 years ago.”
“TRISTAN UND ISOLDE : Wagner
Original Air Date: 03/19/1955
Cast: Kempe; Svanholm, Varnay, Thebom, Hines, Metternich
Media: MOD Audio SID.18310422 Tags: Archive; 2018
For me, this is the highlight of the week, even though it has been on before. Generally I prefer Varnay as Isolde to Brunnhilde, and Kempe is one of my favorite conductors.
His 25 performances of five operas, all of which received matinee broadcasts, are probably capped by the Met premiere of Arabella, but I would hope that Sirius could make some space for both the Meistersinger (with Schoffler, Della Casa, Da Costa, and Tozzi) and Tannhauser (with Vinay, London, Varnay, Thebom). I plead my case for the Arabella regularly. Kempe’s Rosenkavalier which has been on Sirius, is also in MOoD, his only representation there.
***
Though late for Svanholm, it is Varnay’s only Met Isolde broadcast. Kempe is such a rare commodity, that we are grateful to have this documentation.”
“SIEGFRIED : Wagner
Original Air Date: 02/16/1957
Cast: Stiedry; Windgassen, Mödl, Edelmann, Madeira, Kelley, Pechner
Media: SID.18310423 Tags: Archive; 2018
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.18310424 Tags: Archive; 2018
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.”
“DER ROSENKAVALIER : Strauss
Original Air Date: 02/08/1969
Cast: Böhm; Ludwig, Rysanek, Berry, Grist, Knoll
Media: MOD Audio SID.18310425 Tags: Archive; 2018, Strauss
This production had its final performances in 2013-2014 with Martina Serafin, and Alice Coote. I remember the premiere of this Nathaniel Merrill/Robert O’Hearn production. The opening of the second act almost blinded the audience. Bohm, Ludwig, Rysanek, and Berry all rank very high in their portrayals in this opera, and for me only Grist was a little undercast for a house the size of the Met. Glad it’s returning to the Sirius airwaves, and even happier that it’s in MOoD. Gedda is lagniappe indeed as the Italian Singer.”
“ARABELLA : Strauss
Original Air Date: 12/15/2001
Cast: Eschenbach; Fleming; Ketelsen, Bonney, Very, Forst, Halfvarson
Media: MOD Audio SID.18310427 Tags: Archive; 2018, Strauss
This is Fleming’s only Met broadcast outing as Arabella. Eschenbach was the fly in the ointment when I saw the production prior to the broadcast, and so he remains.
Because of the English translation used prior to the new production, Sirius listeners are regularly denied the glories of Steber under Kempe in the premiere season of 1955, and Della Casa from 1957-1965.
Della Casa has studio and stage Arabellas in German from other sources, but Kempe is a special Straussian, and Steber is in particularly stunning voice with London from the premiere year.
09/24/2012 – I thought Eschenbach was the real fly in the ointment when this revival came around. Fleming is in very beautiful voice, but the performance as a whole lacks magic. Arabella takes special handling and this doesn’t really get it.
03/27/2012 – I saw an earlier performance in the run, and while OK, Fleming did not have a great deal of personality. The singing was excellent. I prefer Steber or Della Casa.
8/2/2011 – For me, Eschenbach is a bit of the fly in the ointment, but this is still a solid Arabella cast. This does give me a chance to make a plea for the Met premiere broadcast of Arabella (in English — part of the delay I am sure) with Steber, Guden, London, under Rudolf Kempe. What a magnificent performance from all concerned”
“DEATH IN VENICE : Britten
Original Air Date: 02/26/1994
Cast: Atherton; Rolfe Johnson, Allen, Gall
Media: MOD Audio SID.18310428 Tags: Archive; 2018
I’ve given Britten’s final work several tries in the theatre and on record, and it just doesn’t make it for me. I’m always game for Peter Grimes and Billy Budd, and enjoy Albert Herring as well, so it’s not any antipathy to Britten. But I feel the inspiration as barren as Aschenbach’s view of life.
Both Met revivals, the original with Peter Pears from 1974 and this 1994 revival are available in MOoD.I’ve given Britten’s final work several tries in the theatre and on record, and it just doesn’t make it for me. I’m always game for Peter Grimes and Billy Budd, and enjoy Albert Herring as well, so it’s not any antipathy to Britten. But I feel the inspiration as barren as Aschenbach’s view of life. Both Met revivals, the original with Peter Pears from 1974 and this 1994 revival are available in MOoD.”
“LA BOHEME : Puccini
Original Air Date: 03/15/1952
Cast: Erede; Albanese, Di Stefano, Güden, Guarrera, Siepi
Media: MOD Audio SID.18310529 Tags: Archive; 2018, Puccini
This is really quite a strong Italianate cast (Guden excepted) with Albanese, Di Stefano, and Siepi all justly famous.
“
“ESCLARMONDE : Massenet
Original Air Date: 12/11/1976
Cast: Bonynge; Sutherland, Aragall, Tourangeau, Grant
Media: MOD Audio SID.18310636 Tags: Archive; 2018
This is the Met’s only broadcast of Esclarmonde, and the performance in addition to the predictable glitter from Sutherland, captures Aragall in one of his best performances. For many, his material was the best of absolute best, and the new generation of tenors in the 1970s, but it never quite all came together. Here is the exception. Enjoy.”
“ARABELLA : Strauss
Original Air Date: 12/15/2001
Cast: Eschenbach; Fleming; Ketelsen, Bonney, Very, Forst, Halfvarson
Media: MOD Audio SID.18310637 Tags: Archive; 2018, Strauss
This is Fleming’s only Met broadcast outing as Arabella. Eschenbach was the fly in the ointment when I saw the production prior to the broadcast, and so he remains.
Because of the English translation used prior to the new production, Sirius listeners are regularly denied the glories of Steber under Kempe in the premiere season of 1955, and Della Casa from 1957-1965.
Della Casa has studio and stage Arabellas in German from other sources, but Kempe is a special Straussian, and Steber is in particularly stunning voice with London from the premiere year.
09/24/2012 – I thought Eschenbach was the real fly in the ointment when this revival came around. Fleming is in very beautiful voice, but the performance as a whole lacks magic. Arabella takes special handling and this doesn’t really get it.
03/27/2012 – I saw an earlier performance in the run, and while OK, Fleming did not have a great deal of personality. The singing was excellent. I prefer Steber or Della Casa.
8/2/2011 – For me, Eschenbach is a bit of the fly in the ointment, but this is still a solid Arabella cast. This does give me a chance to make a plea for the Met premiere broadcast of Arabella (in English — part of the delay I am sure) with Steber, Guden, London, under Rudolf Kempe. What a magnificent performance from all concerned”
“TRISTAN UND ISOLDE : Wagner
Original Air Date: 03/19/1955
Cast: Kempe; Svanholm, Varnay, Thebom, Hines, Metternich
Media: MOD Audio SID.18310639 Tags: Archive; 2018
For me, this is the highlight of the week, even though it has been on before. Generally I prefer Varnay as Isolde to Brunnhilde, and Kempe is one of my favorite conductors.
His 25 performances of five operas, all of which received matinee broadcasts, are probably capped by the Met premiere of Arabella, but I would hope that Sirius could make some space for both the Meistersinger (with Schoffler, Della Casa, Da Costa, and Tozzi) and Tannhauser (with Vinay, London, Varnay, Thebom). I plead my case for the Arabella regularly. Kempe’s Rosenkavalier which has been on Sirius, is also in MOoD, his only representation there.
***
Though late for Svanholm, it is Varnay’s only Met Isolde broadcast. Kempe is such a rare commodity, that we are grateful to have this documentation.”
“DER ROSENKAVALIER : Strauss
Original Air Date: 02/08/1969
Cast: Böhm; Ludwig, Rysanek, Berry, Grist, Knoll
Media: MOD Audio SID.18310641 Tags: Archive; 2018, Strauss
This production had its final performances in 2013-2014 with Martina Serafin, and Alice Coote. I remember the premiere of this Nathaniel Merrill/Robert O’Hearn production. The opening of the second act almost blinded the audience. Bohm, Ludwig, Rysanek, and Berry all rank very high in their portrayals in this opera, and for me only Grist was a little undercast for a house the size of the Met. Glad it’s returning to the Sirius airwaves, and even happier that it’s in MOoD. Gedda is lagniappe indeed as the Italian Singer.”
“DON GIOVANNI : Mozart
Original Air Date: 02/15/2003
Cast: Cambreling; Mattei, Radvanovsky, Furlanetto, Diener, Trost, Netrebko
Media: MOD Audio SID.18310743 Tags: Archive; 2018, Mozart
This Don Giovanni is a solid performance especially in key roles, and proof that not all fine performances are pre-1980. Radvanovsky and Netrebko have gone on to extraordinary careers, but Mattei and Furlanetto make for a fresh and effective pairing as the Don and Leporello (Mattei will reprise his DON later in the 2014-2015 season, but I don’t think Furlanetto does Leporello so much these days. I’ve listened to this performance
thanks to previous Sirius appearances. Recommended.
8/22/11 – This performance is on Met Player and I think it’s a splendid afternoon. I saw an earlier performance with Mattei and found him one of the very best of recent Giovannis. I’m not forgetting Siepi, but Mattei managed to be both dark of drama and sunny of voice. The women are among the very best of recent trios, with Radvanovsky just starting to take off, Diener very solid, and Netrebko one of the lushest Zerlinas ever. Furlanetto is not chopped liver as Leporello, and Trost is OK. Not all fine
performances took place 40 years ago.”
“DEATH IN VENICE : Britten
Original Air Date: 02/26/1994
Cast: Atherton; Rolfe Johnson, Allen, Gall
Media: MOD Audio SID.18310744 Tags: Archive; 2018
I’ve given Britten’s final work several tries in the theatre and on record, and it just doesn’t make it for me. I’m always game for Peter Grimes and Billy Budd, and enjoy Albert Herring as well, so it’s not any antipathy to Britten. But I feel the inspiration as barren as Aschenbach’s view of life.
Both Met revivals, the original with Peter Pears from 1974 and this 1994 revival are available in MOoD.I’ve given Britten’s final work several tries in the theatre and on record, and it just doesn’t make it for me. I’m always game for Peter Grimes and Billy Budd, and enjoy Albert Herring as well, so it’s not any antipathy to Britten. But I feel the inspiration as barren as Aschenbach’s view of life. Both Met revivals, the original with Peter Pears from 1974 and this 1994 revival are available in MOoD.”
“LA BOHEME : Puccini
Original Air Date: 03/15/1952
Cast: Erede; Albanese, Di Stefano, Güden, Guarrera, Siepi
Media: MOD Audio SID.18310745 Tags: Archive; 2018, Puccini
This is really quite a strong Italianate cast (Guden excepted) with Albanese, Di Stefano, and Siepi all justly famous.
“
“SIEGFRIED : Wagner
Original Air Date: 02/16/1957
Cast: Stiedry; Windgassen, Mödl, Edelmann, Madeira, Kelley, Pechner
Media: SID.18310746 Tags: Archive; 2018
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.18310747 Tags: Archive; 2018
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.”
“ESCLARMONDE : Massenet
Original Air Date: 12/11/1976
Cast: Bonynge; Sutherland, Aragall, Tourangeau, Grant
Media: MOD Audio SID.18310748 Tags: Archive; 2018
This is the Met’s only broadcast of Esclarmonde, and the performance in addition to the predictable glitter from Sutherland, captures Aragall in one of his best performances. For many, his material was the best of absolute best, and the new generation of tenors in the 1970s, but it never quite all came together. Here is the exception. Enjoy.”
“GÃTTERDÃMMERUNG : Wagner
Original Air Date: 01/11/1936
Cast: Bodanzky; Lawrence, Melchior, Hofmann, Schorr, Manski, Meisle
Media: MOD Audio SID.18320105 Tags: Archive; 2018
This is one of the earliest Met broadcasts to appear on Sirius, and it’s great to have Lawrence and Melchior in respectably decent sound for the period. It’s regrettable that Flagstad never broadcast Gotterdammerung (Prologue only during World’s Fair Year) from the Met, but Melchior is top tier and we simply have not heard a singer like him since. This also appears in the Met Wagner bicentennial CD box.”
“GÃTTERDÃMMERUNG : Wagner
Original Air Date: 01/11/1936
Cast: Bodanzky; Lawrence, Melchior, Hofmann, Schorr, Manski, Meisle
Media: MOD Audio SID.18320106 Tags: Archive; 2018
This is one of the earliest Met broadcasts to appear on Sirius, and it’s great to have Lawrence and Melchior in respectably decent sound for the period. It’s regrettable that Flagstad never broadcast Gotterdammerung (Prologue only during World’s Fair Year) from the Met, but Melchior is top tier and we simply have not heard a singer like him since. This also appears in the Met Wagner bicentennial CD box.”
“ERNANI : Verdi
Original Air Date: 04/10/1965
Cast: Schippers; Corelli, Price, Sereni, Siepi
Media: MOD Audio SID.18320210 Tags: Archive; 2018, Verdi
The Met has two outstanding Ernani broadcasts from the mid 1960s, both with Schippers and Leontyne Price.
The first is with Bergonzi and MacNeil, and the second features the special contributions of Corelli and Siepi.
Luckily both are on MOoD, with the first also issued on Sony Historical CD. I love Ernani, and both these performances belong in every Verdi lover’s playlist.
Ernani is back this season with Domingo in the baritone role; his only Met appearance in the title role was in 1971 (not broadcast).”
“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.18320316 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.”
“GÃTTERDÃMMERUNG : Wagner
Original Air Date: 01/11/1936
Cast: Bodanzky; Lawrence, Melchior, Hofmann, Schorr, Manski, Meisle
Media: MOD Audio SID.18320321 Tags: Archive; 2018
This is one of the earliest Met broadcasts to appear on Sirius, and it’s great to have Lawrence and Melchior in respectably decent sound for the period. It’s regrettable that Flagstad never broadcast Gotterdammerung (Prologue only during World’s Fair Year) from the Met, but Melchior is top tier and we simply have not heard a singer like him since. This also appears in the Met Wagner bicentennial CD box.”
“GÃTTERDÃMMERUNG : Wagner
Original Air Date: 01/11/1936
Cast: Bodanzky; Lawrence, Melchior, Hofmann, Schorr, Manski, Meisle
Media: MOD Audio SID.18320422 Tags: Archive; 2018
This is one of the earliest Met broadcasts to appear on Sirius, and it’s great to have Lawrence and Melchior in respectably decent sound for the period. It’s regrettable that Flagstad never broadcast Gotterdammerung (Prologue only during World’s Fair Year) from the Met, but Melchior is top tier and we simply have not heard a singer like him since. This also appears in the Met Wagner bicentennial CD box.”
“ERNANI : Verdi
Original Air Date: 04/10/1965
Cast: Schippers; Corelli, Price, Sereni, Siepi
Media: MOD Audio SID.18320426 Tags: Archive; 2018, Verdi
The Met has two outstanding Ernani broadcasts from the mid 1960s, both with Schippers and Leontyne Price.
The first is with Bergonzi and MacNeil, and the second features the special contributions of Corelli and Siepi.
Luckily both are on MOoD, with the first also issued on Sony Historical CD. I love Ernani, and both these performances belong in every Verdi lover’s playlist.
Ernani is back this season with Domingo in the baritone role; his only Met appearance in the title role was in 1971 (not broadcast).”
“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.18320532 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.”
“GÃTTERDÃMMERUNG : Wagner
Original Air Date: 01/11/1936
Cast: Bodanzky; Lawrence, Melchior, Hofmann, Schorr, Manski, Meisle
Media: MOD Audio SID.18320638 Tags: Archive; 2018
This is one of the earliest Met broadcasts to appear on Sirius, and it’s great to have Lawrence and Melchior in respectably decent sound for the period. It’s regrettable that Flagstad never broadcast Gotterdammerung (Prologue only during World’s Fair Year) from the Met, but Melchior is top tier and we simply have not heard a singer like him since. This also appears in the Met Wagner bicentennial CD box.”
“GÃTTERDÃMMERUNG : Wagner
Original Air Date: 01/11/1936
Cast: Bodanzky; Lawrence, Melchior, Hofmann, Schorr, Manski, Meisle
Media: MOD Audio SID.18320639 Tags: Archive; 2018
This is one of the earliest Met broadcasts to appear on Sirius, and it’s great to have Lawrence and Melchior in respectably decent sound for the period. It’s regrettable that Flagstad never broadcast Gotterdammerung (Prologue only during World’s Fair Year) from the Met, but Melchior is top tier and we simply have not heard a singer like him since. This also appears in the Met Wagner bicentennial CD box.”
“ERNANI : Verdi
Original Air Date: 04/10/1965
Cast: Schippers; Corelli, Price, Sereni, Siepi
Media: MOD Audio SID.18320642 Tags: Archive; 2018, Verdi
The Met has two outstanding Ernani broadcasts from the mid 1960s, both with Schippers and Leontyne Price.
The first is with Bergonzi and MacNeil, and the second features the special contributions of Corelli and Siepi.
Luckily both are on MOoD, with the first also issued on Sony Historical CD. I love Ernani, and both these performances belong in every Verdi lover’s playlist.
Ernani is back this season with Domingo in the baritone role; his only Met appearance in the title role was in 1971 (not broadcast).”
“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.18330101 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.”