“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.”
“DIE ÃGYPTISCHE HELENA : Strauss
Original Air Date: 03/31/2007
Cast: Luisi; Voigt, Kerl, Damrau, Grove, Brendel
Media: MOD Audio SID.18330104 Tags: Archive; 2018, Strauss
This is the Met’s only broadcast of the Strauss work and Kerl and Damrau are very impressive. I don’t love the work, but like most Strauss, it has its moments. It’s repeated too often in rotation which in no way approximates its importance in the Strauss canon.
This was the first Met production in more than eight decades. I love the awakening scene, but for me it’s one of the weaker Strauss works. I shouldn’t complain. No Strauss at all this season or next.
To date this is the only Met matinee broadcast of this uncommon Strauss work. The strongest profile is from Damrau who is an excellent Aithra. The opera has some great moments, and was one of Met
audience’s first chances to encounter Luisi, now the Principal Conductor.”
“NORMA : Bellini
Original Air Date: 02/17/1973
Cast: Cillario; Caballé, Cossotto, Cossutta, Tozzi
Media: MOD Audio SID.18330211 Tags: Archive; 2018
This is from Caballe’s first run at Norma with the reliable Cossotto; they are certainly a team. Cossutta missed the premiere, and this is his debut; he would go on to do 12 more Polliones with Caballe, Galvany, and Verrett and that is his Met career. Tozzi would not be my choice for Oroveso.
This performance presents Caballe and Cossotto’s take on the Norma duo for the first time at the Met, and is preserved on Met Player as well. Norma is one of Caballe’s best roles. In terms of Norma, there was no complete broadcast of Norma with Ponselle (the Acts3-4 from 1931 do not survive as far as I’v ever heard). Ponselle is followed by Cigna and 3 broadcasts with Milanov (2 from 1944 in different seasons, and 1954 with Thebom (Barbieri only did the premiere). One of the 1944 performances at the minimum should be played, and my memory is that the Cigna is also available in decent sound. Sirius has not rebroadcast the 1982 Norma with Negri (making her house debut on the broadcast) where she replaced Scotto. Would like to hear this again.”
“L’ITALIANA IN ALGERI : Rossini
Original Air Date: 02/17/2001
Cast: Campanella; Larmore, Polenzani, Ramey, Corbelli
Media: MOD Audio SID.18330214 Tags: Archive; 2018
This is Ramey’s only Mustafa broadcast, and early appearances by Polenzani and Kwiecien who are Met regulars in star parts these days. My own favorite Isabella is Borodina whose performance with Florez and Furlanetto is also on MOoD.”
“BILLY BUDD : Britten
Original Air Date: 03/31/1979
Cast: Leppard; Stilwell, Pears, Morris, Glossop, Ward
Media: MOD Audio SID.18330315 Tags: Archive; 2018
Pears created the role of Captain Vere three decades earlier, and James Morris’ Claggart is one of the great post-war assumptions. Luckily the Met has recently added the video of the 1997 telecast with the late Phillip Langridge as Vere, Dwayne Croft, and Morris once again being the evil anchor as Claggart. This 1979 performance is the first broadcast of the Met’s Budd production, and is Pears’ final Met appearance Much of this attention is surely coming because of the Britten centenary. One of the Met’s most distinguished productions.”
“ELEKTRA : Strauss
Original Air Date: 02/23/1952
Cast: Reiner; Varnay, Wegner, Höngen, Schöffler, Svanholm
Media: MOD Audio SID.18330316 Tags: Archive; 2018, Strauss
The Met premiere of Elektra was broadcast in 1932 with Gertude Kappel making a memorable appearance in the title role. I have only heard parts of this, but the whole broadcast does survive. The remaining four performances that season had Rossini’s Il Signor Bruschino as a curtain raiser.
The 1938 revival with Rose Pauly was not broadcast and was paired with Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi (from Trittico) for the first four, and the fifth was with Menotti’s Amelia goes to the ball.
The 1952 broadcast featured this week is the first broadcast in 20 years and features Varnay at the ripe age of 34 in the title role. She went on to sing the role all over the world for two decades before moving on to Klytemnestra.
Reiner had conducted a groundbreaking Salome in 1949 with Welitsch, and conducted Varnay in the last two Salomes of the 1952 season after this run of 5 Elektras. I can’t think of a singer (all of 34) who did both title roles in the same season.
This is available in Met Opera on Demand (MOoD) as
well.
2/6/2012 – This is not a premiere on Sirius, but it is not played often enough. Reiner and Varnay are in tremendous form–one of her very best roles, and this revival was the first at the Met in more than a decade. Reiner was a supreme Straussian. He broadcast Salome with Welitsch, this Elektra, and 3 Rosenkavaliers, 2 with Steber (1 with Stevens, 1 with Novotna) and one with Varnay as Marie Therese. The only thing more interesting about that broadcast would have been to SEE her as Marie Therese. Let’s hear it for the unearthing of Varnay’s Rosenkavalier. Until then, enjoy the House of Mycenae from this February 1952 matinee.
3/11/2011 – Reiner is a great Straussian, and Varnay a great Elektra. That’s quite enough for me. The only broadcast Elektra to precede this is 1932 with Gertrude Kappel. Alas, I do not believe this 1952 performance survives. Certainly I’ve never heard it. The reviews are ecstatic.
The 1966 performance which features Resnik’s only Met broadcast Klytemnestra I would like to hear again (it hasn’t been on Sirius). Nilsson and Rysanek are well caught 5 years later with Bohm; Madeira is at the very end of her career and not well served. Ute Vinzing (with Christa Ludwig as Klytemnestra) and Penelope Daner (with Rysanek as Klytemnestra), both under Levine have not been on Sirius, and i would especially like to hear the Vinzing performance
again. Daner had replaced Behrens for all performances after the premiere of the new production.
Two years after the disastrous Behrens premiere (the Times gave a glowing review to her for a performance that I thought would be interrupted at any moment) , Behrens returned in much-restored voice, and that broadcast was captured in a video with Fassbander that is in the Levine 40th DVD box set as well as Sirius broadcasting.”
“DIE ÃGYPTISCHE HELENA : Strauss
Original Air Date: 03/31/2007
Cast: Luisi; Voigt, Kerl, Damrau, Grove, Brendel
Media: MOD Audio SID.18330320 Tags: Archive; 2018, Strauss
This is the Met’s only broadcast of the Strauss work and Kerl and Damrau are very impressive. I don’t love the work, but like most Strauss, it has its moments. It’s repeated too often in rotation which in no way approximates its importance in the Strauss canon.
This was the first Met production in more than eight decades. I love the awakening scene, but for me it’s one of the weaker Strauss works. I shouldn’t complain. No Strauss at all this season or next.
To date this is the only Met matinee broadcast of this uncommon Strauss work. The strongest profile is from Damrau who is an excellent Aithra. The opera has some great moments, and was one of Met
audience’s first chances to encounter Luisi, now the Principal Conductor.”
“L’ITALIANA IN ALGERI : Rossini
Original Air Date: 02/17/2001
Cast: Campanella; Larmore, Polenzani, Ramey, Corbelli
Media: MOD Audio SID.18330423 Tags: Archive; 2018
This is Ramey’s only Mustafa broadcast, and early appearances by Polenzani and Kwiecien who are Met regulars in star parts these days. My own favorite Isabella is Borodina whose performance with Florez and Furlanetto is also on MOoD.”
“NORMA : Bellini
Original Air Date: 02/17/1973
Cast: Cillario; Caballé, Cossotto, Cossutta, Tozzi
Media: MOD Audio SID.18330427 Tags: Archive; 2018
This is from Caballe’s first run at Norma with the reliable Cossotto; they are certainly a team. Cossutta missed the premiere, and this is his debut; he would go on to do 12 more Polliones with Caballe, Galvany, and Verrett and that is his Met career. Tozzi would not be my choice for Oroveso.
This performance presents Caballe and Cossotto’s take on the Norma duo for the first time at the Met, and is preserved on Met Player as well. Norma is one of Caballe’s best roles. In terms of Norma, there was no complete broadcast of Norma with Ponselle (the Acts3-4 from 1931 do not survive as far as I’v ever heard). Ponselle is followed by Cigna and 3 broadcasts with Milanov (2 from 1944 in different seasons, and 1954 with Thebom (Barbieri only did the premiere). One of the 1944 performances at the minimum should be played, and my memory is that the Cigna is also available in decent sound. Sirius has not rebroadcast the 1982 Norma with Negri (making her house debut on the broadcast) where she replaced Scotto. Would like to hear this again.”