2017-18 Live Broadcasts

“ROMÉO ET JULIETTE : Gounod
Original Air Date: 12/06/1986
Cast: Domingo; Kraus, Gasdia, Plishka, Harris, Schexnayder
Media: MOD Audio SID.18380641 Tags: Archive; 2018, Domingo
This broadcast documents Gasdia’s only season at the Met. The run, Kraus’ only times in Romeo at the Met, also featured 6 performances with Soviero, whom I would have preferred in the broadcast. “

“DON PASQUALE : Donizetti
Original Air Date: 12/05/1970
Cast: Franci; Corena, Grist, Kraus, Krause
Media: MOD Audio SID.18380743 Tags: Archive; 2018
This is a fine performance, but I would love to hear Corena from 1956 with Peters and Valletti in Schippers debut season. I also notice Pinza did a broadcast in 1935 which I think does not survive.

Love to hear Pinza and Donizetti, though for the patter duet Corena is absolutely the last word, closely followed by Baccaloni. Corena’s 1965 broadcast with Peters has been on Sirius and is on MOoD, but that’s with Alva, not Valletti.”

“SIEGFRIED : Wagner
Original Air Date: 01/30/1937
Cast: Bodanzky; Melchior, Flagstad, Schorr, Thorborg, Laufkötter, Habich
Media: MOD Audio SID.18380744 Tags: Archive; 2018
Melchior is simply in a class by himself because no one has a voice like his. The supporting cast are of major stature. This also appears in the Sony Wagner CD box from the Met.

This writer fails to recall an occasion when they sang the final duet of the opera in such fashion, with such wealth of tone and heroic passion … It was the lyrical flight of eagles – New York Times, 1937

Melchior had learned the role under the composer’s son, Siegfried, and widow, Cosima, at Bayreuth in the 1920s. Quite simply, no other tenor has been able to sing Siegfried like this – how the role was meant to be sung.

Two other cast members stand out. Friedrich Schorr was the leading interpreter of Wotan / Wanderer in the inter-war years. Norwegian soprano Kirsten Flagstad as Brunnhilde was the dominant Wagnerian soprano at the Met between 1935 and 1941 and Melchior and Flagstad together were the hottest opera ticket in New York. Her voice is beautifully controlled, delivering golden tone with ease.

This is the only complete recording of Melchior in Siegfried, and it is the only recording of Melchior and Flagstad together in the opera.
by Andrew Rose May 26, 2017”

“SIEGFRIED : Wagner
Original Air Date: 01/30/1937
Cast: Bodanzky; Melchior, Flagstad, Schorr, Thorborg, Laufkötter, Habich
Media: MOD Audio SID.18380745 Tags: Archive; 2018
Melchior is simply in a class by himself because no one has a voice like his. The supporting cast are of major stature. This also appears in the Sony Wagner CD box from the Met.

This writer fails to recall an occasion when they sang the final duet of the opera in such fashion, with such wealth of tone and heroic passion … It was the lyrical flight of eagles – New York Times, 1937

Melchior had learned the role under the composer’s son, Siegfried, and widow, Cosima, at Bayreuth in the 1920s. Quite simply, no other tenor has been able to sing Siegfried like this – how the role was meant to be sung.

Two other cast members stand out. Friedrich Schorr was the leading interpreter of Wotan / Wanderer in the inter-war years. Norwegian soprano Kirsten Flagstad as Brunnhilde was the dominant Wagnerian soprano at the Met between 1935 and 1941 and Melchior and Flagstad together were the hottest opera ticket in New York. Her voice is beautifully controlled, delivering golden tone with ease.

This is the only complete recording of Melchior in Siegfried, and it is the only recording of Melchior and Flagstad together in the opera.
by Andrew Rose May 26, 2017”

“LA CENERENTOLA : Rossini
Original Air Date: 03/11/2000
Cast: Campanella; Larmore, Giménez, Alaimo, Corbelli
Media: MOD Audio SID.18380747 Tags: Archive; 2018
This is Larmore’s second Angelina broadcast (the first was 1998 with Levine conducting). Corbelli is the Dandini, and Alaimo the Magnifico. 8 years later Corbelli moves down to Magnifico. A little of this opera goes a long way with me.This is Larmore’s second Angelina broadcast (the first was 1998 with Levine conducting). Corbelli is the Dandini, and Alaimo the Magnifico. 8 years later Corbelli moves down to Magnifico. A little of this opera goes a long way with me,”

“LA FILLE DU RÉGIMENT : Donizetti
Original Air Date: 01/06/1973
Cast: Bonynge; Sutherland, Pavarotti, Resnik, Corena
Media: MOD Audio SID.18390102 Tags: Archive; 2018, Pavarotti
Pavarotti may be a bit tight on the high Cs, but his voice is still remarkable, and this is the only broadcast with the Met premiere roster. Resnik and Corena are preferable to their competition. Sutherland is particularly treasurable. This performance is also available
on MOoD
***
From 1954 until 1976 Fernando Corena was the only Dr. Bartolo to appear on the Met airwaves. Of all Corena’s distinctive characterizations, none rank higher than Bartolo. It would be worthwhile for the Met to unearth its experimental taping (with NHK of Japan)from November 1968 so people could get a taste of his visuals as well. The byplay of Corena with Horne, as well as familiar bass clef tandem, Tozzi are a special delight. Cesare Siepi made his only Met appearances with Levine the following week ending his Met career succeeding Tozzi.
***
Pavarotti appears in a broadcast after his initial success with Sutherland. The Cs are already a bit chancy, but this is still a lot of thoroughbreds having a great time. It is also available in MOoD.
***
The Met got a little late to Pavarotti (several years after Covent Garden) in Fille and the C’s are more than a little nervous. Still, this is a fun outing if not as well turned out as the studio recording.
***
This is from the second season of FIlle, and Pavarotti’s only broadcast of Tonio. Lots of high spirits.”

“FAUST : Gounod
Original Air Date: 02/26/1972
Cast: Rich; Domingo, Zylis-Gara, Tozzi, Sereni, von Stade
Media: MOD Audio SID.18390103 Tags: Archive; 2018, Domingo
This over-programmed Faust is on again, but there are so many better Fausts on the shelf. Domingo is better than expected in one of his early broadcasts, but Tozzi, a Met stalwart, is in poor form. Mercifully, the rotation has slowed down on this performance.

There are a number of excellent Fausts, 2 with Bjorling (and Siepi) which Sirius has never played, and there are several much better Fausts in the Sirius rotation. This one does not deserve such airplay.

Nicolai Gedda is third in all-time performances (42) as Faust surpassed only by Jean de Reszke at 71 and Giovanni Martinelli at 56, and yet is represented by only one Faust broadcast in MOoD and Sirius reports replay of the 1972, but neither his 1966 or 1969 with interesting casts have been heard on either. Nicolai Gedda is still with us, A little more attention on him please. He was a Met star tenor for two decades, and we mostly hear him in Vanessa (where he is remarkable), but he was the leading Faust in the world with the passing of Bjorling his Swedish countryman.”

“LE SACRE DU PRINTEMPS / LE ROSSIGNOL / OEDIPUS REX : Stravinsky
Original Air Date: 02/21/2004
Cast: Gergiev; Trifonova, Banks, Zifchak / Forbis, Blythe, Nikitin
Media: SID.18390104 Tags: Archive; 2018
The Stravinsky evening as originally done by Levine with Hockney designs and Dexter direction was not as big a hit as the French evening, Parade, from Dexter and Hockney, but I prefer this to Rake’s Progress. Gergiev has a distinctive take on Stravinsky and always worth a listen in the Russian repertoire.”

“KÁT’A KABANOVÁ : Janácek
Original Air Date: 01/09/1999
Cast: Mackerras; Malfitano, Randová, Straka, Koptchak, Clarke, Karnéus
Media: SID.18390105 Tags: Archive; 2018
Mackerras is a notable Janacek conductor, and the whole is well
performed, but I don’t feel the warmth I do from Jenufa or even
Makropoulos . Still, a nice contrast to other repertory.

9/7/11 – Mackerras is a master of the Czech repertoire, but I really need the visual to work for me with Kat’a.Mackerras is a notable Janacek conductor, and the whole is well performed, but I don’t feel the warmth I do from Jenufa or even Makropoulos . Still, a nice contrast to other repertory.”

SAMSON ET DALILA : Saint-Saens
Elder; Garanca, Alagna, Naouri, Azizov, Belosselskiy
SID.18390106 
* Opening Night of 2018-2019 Season *
* LIVE Broadcast SirisuXm and Metopera.org *  Program *
When mezzo-soprano Elīna Garanča and tenor Roberto Alagna joined forces for a new production of Carmen at the Met, the results were electrifying. Now this star duo reunites for another sensual French opera when they open the season in the title roles of Saint-Saëns’s biblical epic Samson et Dalila. Darko Tresnjak, who won a Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical in 2014 for A Gentleman’s Guide to Love & Murder, makes his Met debut directing a vivid, seductive staging, featuring a monumental setting for the last-act Temple of Dagon, where the hero crushes his Philistine enemies. Sir Mark Elder conducts the first new Met production of the work in 20 years.

Production a gift of the Gramma Fisher Foundation, Marshalltown, Iowa, and H.M. Agnes Hsu-Tang, PhD. and Oscar Tang

Additional funding from The Walter and Leonore Annenberg Endowment Fund and William R. Miller”

“LES CONTES D’HOFFMANN : Offenbach
Original Air Date: 03/27/1982
Cast: Chailly; Domingo, Morris, Welting, Troyanos, Eda-Pierre, Howells
Media: MOD Audio SID.18390208 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).”

“UN BALLO IN MASCHERA : Verdi
Original Air Date: 01/30/1971
Cast: Cleva; Domingo, Arroyo, Merrill, Peters, Dunn
Media: SID.18390209 Tags: Archive; 2018, Domingo, Verdi
This is a solid Ballo with early Domingo (he only arrived in 1968) and late Merrill (well Merrill had one more broadcast and 5 more seasons actually concluding his Met tenure in Detroit in May 1976. On the broadcast airwaves, Merrill totally dominated with 8 of the 9 broadcasts between 1955 and 1975. Arroyo has several impressive moments in the role, but while the top is very secure, the flow in the lower register is not her natural strength. Still, this is an afternoon with little to wince at from anyone.”

“LUISA MILLER : Verdi
Original Air Date: 03/29/2018
Cast: de Billy; Yoncheva, Beczala, Domingo, Vinogradov, Belosselskiy, Petrova
Media: Live Broadcast SID.18390210 Tags: LIVE; 2018, Domingo, Verdi
Encore broadcast from 2017-2018 Season.

A Harrowing Story of Class Struggle Gets a Tame Retelling in Met’s ‘Luisa Miller’

www.newyorker.com/goings-on-about-town/classical-music/the-met-luisa-miller-review

www.operanews.com/Opera_News_Magazine/2018/6/Reviews/NEW_YORK_CITY__Luisa_Miller.html“

“THAÏS : Massenet
Original Air Date: 12/20/2008
Cast: López-Cobos; Fleming, Hampson, Schade
Media: Live in HDMOD Video SID.18390211 Tags: Archive; 2018
Although the video has been available almost continuously on MOoD, I find this performance preferable to the Sills Milnes, which was massively overplayed in the first years of Sirius Radio. I rather like Thais as a break from other titles in the repertory.”

“OTELLO : Verdi
Original Air Date: 10/13/1995
Cast: Levine; Domingo, Fleming, Morris, Croft
Media: MOD Video SID.18390212 Tags: Archive; 2018, Levine, Domingo, Verdi
This performance is also available as a DVD from Deutsche Grammophon. This was Fleming’s first big success at the Met, and she is a splendid Desdemona.This performance is also available as a DVD from Deutsche Grammophon. This was Fleming’s first big success at the Met, and she is a splendid Desdemona.”

LA BOHEME : Puccini
Original Air Date: 09/25/2018
Cast: Gaffigan; Car, Blue, Grigolo, Dupuis, Luciano, Rose, Maxwell
 SID.18390213 
* Live Broadcast on Siriusxm  * Program *
Puccini’s timeless masterpiece of love and loss features two casts of young stars. Sopranos Nicole Car (in her highly anticipated Met debut) and Ailyn Pérez share the role of the ill-fated Mimì, opposite tenors Vittorio Grigolo and Michael Fabiano as the ardent poet Rodolfo. After a celebrated Met debut as Mimì in 2017, Angel Blue returns as the spitfire Musetta, and Etienne Dupuis (in his Met debut) and Lucas Meachem share the role of Marcello. James Gaffigan conducts.  Production a gift of Mrs. Donald D. Harrington

“DIE WALKÜRE : Wagner
Original Air Date: 04/01/2000
Cast: Levine; Eaglen, Morris, Voigt, Domingo, Schwarz, Halfvarson
Media: MOD Audio SID.18390316 Tags: LIVE; 2018, Levine, Domingo
RWW: This is also on MOoD and catches some erratic artists at their best. Schwarz who shines in the Chereau Ring is still a potent force 12 years later in this broadcast. Vocally, this is one of the better Levine Walkures even though Morris and Domingo are the only ones I am particularly interested in.
*****
SR: A solid Walkuere expertly paced by Levine. In the house, Eaglen struck me as a particularly ungenerous Bruennhilde, saving her resources for some eventuality. (She only really opened up in the Siegfried awakening scene). On broadcast, however, this isn’t as noticeable except in contrast to Voigt, who pours it on when called for. Domingo still has the goods as her brother. Morris shows why he was the Met’s Wotan of choice for so many years. Schwarz is dependable while not erasing memories of Ludwig, while Halfvarson was a delightful surprise as Hunding.”

“DIE WALKÜRE : Wagner
Original Air Date: 04/01/2000
Cast: Levine; Eaglen, Morris, Voigt, Domingo, Schwarz, Halfvarson
Media: MOD Audio SID.18390317 Tags: LIVE; 2018, Levine, Domingo
RWW: This is also on MOoD and catches some erratic artists at their best. Schwarz who shines in the Chereau Ring is still a potent force 12 years later in this broadcast. Vocally, this is one of the better Levine Walkures even though Morris and Domingo are the only ones I am particularly interested in.
*****
SR: A solid Walkuere expertly paced by Levine. In the house, Eaglen struck me as a particularly ungenerous Bruennhilde, saving her resources for some eventuality. (She only really opened up in the Siegfried awakening scene). On broadcast, however, this isn’t as noticeable except in contrast to Voigt, who pours it on when called for. Domingo still has the goods as her brother. Morris shows why he was the Met’s Wotan of choice for so many years. Schwarz is dependable while not erasing memories of Ludwig, while Halfvarson was a delightful surprise as Hunding.”

“DIE ZAUBERFLÖTE : Mozart
Original Air Date: 01/22/1977
Cast: Conlon; Valente, Burrows, Uppman, Shane, Plishka
Media: Live Broadcast SID.18390318 Tags: Archive; 2018, Mozart
This is a solid cast, with Valente bearing strong Mozartian credentials, as does Burrows with a studio complete under Solti. Maybe most notable for a future Broadway composer Adam Guettel (RRodgers’ grandson) as one of the Genie.
*****
SR: This Zauberfloete features old and new performers in a well-balanced performance. The conductor, James Conlon, was in his debut engagement; and the Sarastro, Paul Plishka, was doing his only series in the role (one of his first major roles). The talented Benita Valente was especially noted for her Mozart roles.

On the lesser known and underappreciated front, we have a sparkling Rita Shane as the Queen of the Night. Finally, on the veteran front, we have Theodore Uppman, doing the last of his 60 Papagenos at the Met.

All in all, an enjoyable Mozart outing.”

AIDA : Verdi
Original Air Date: 09/26/2018
Cast: Luisotti; Netrebko, Rachvelishvili, Antonenko, Kelsey, Belosselskiy, Green
SID.18390321
* Live Broadcast  *  Program   *  Synopsis  *
In what should be a highlight of the new season, soprano Anna Netrebko sings her first Met Aida, going toe-to-toe with mezzo-soprano Anita Rachvelishvili as Amneris. Later in the season, a second star-studded cast takes over, with Sondra Radvanovsky and Dolora Zajick as the leading ladies.Tenors Aleksandrs Antonenko and Yonghoon Lee alternate as Radamès, and Nicola Luisotti and Plácido Domingo take the podium for the Met’s monumental production.

Production a gift of Mrs. Donald D. Harrington
Revival a gift of Viking Cruises

“LES CONTES D’HOFFMANN : Offenbach
Original Air Date: 03/27/1982
Cast: Chailly; Domingo, Morris, Welting, Troyanos, Eda-Pierre, Howells
Media: MOD Audio SID.18390423 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).”

“LA FILLE DU RÉGIMENT : Donizetti
Original Air Date: 01/06/1973
Cast: Bonynge; Sutherland, Pavarotti, Resnik, Corena
Media: MOD Audio SID.18390425 Tags: Archive; 2018, Pavarotti
Pavarotti may be a bit tight on the high Cs, but his voice is still remarkable, and this is the only broadcast with the Met premiere roster. Resnik and Corena are preferable to their competition. Sutherland is particularly treasurable. This performance is also available
on MOoD
***
From 1954 until 1976 Fernando Corena was the only Dr. Bartolo to appear on the Met airwaves. Of all Corena’s distinctive characterizations, none rank higher than Bartolo. It would be worthwhile for the Met to unearth its experimental taping (with NHK of Japan)from November 1968 so people could get a taste of his visuals as well. The byplay of Corena with Horne, as well as familiar bass clef tandem, Tozzi are a special delight. Cesare Siepi made his only Met appearances with Levine the following week ending his Met career succeeding Tozzi.
***
Pavarotti appears in a broadcast after his initial success with Sutherland. The Cs are already a bit chancy, but this is still a lot of thoroughbreds having a great time. It is also available in MOoD.
***
The Met got a little late to Pavarotti (several years after Covent Garden) in Fille and the C’s are more than a little nervous. Still, this is a fun outing if not as well turned out as the studio recording.
***
This is from the second season of FIlle, and Pavarotti’s only broadcast of Tonio. Lots of high spirits.”

“FAUST : Gounod
Original Air Date: 02/26/1972
Cast: Rich; Domingo, Zylis-Gara, Tozzi, Sereni, von Stade
Media: MOD Audio SID.18390426 Tags: Archive; 2018, Domingo
This over-programmed Faust is on again, but there are so many better Fausts on the shelf. Domingo is better than expected in one of his early broadcasts, but Tozzi, a Met stalwart, is in poor form. Mercifully, the rotation has slowed down on this performance.

There are a number of excellent Fausts, 2 with Bjorling (and Siepi) which Sirius has never played, and there are several much better Fausts in the Sirius rotation. This one does not deserve such airplay.

Nicolai Gedda is third in all-time performances (42) as Faust surpassed only by Jean de Reszke at 71 and Giovanni Martinelli at 56, and yet is represented by only one Faust broadcast in MOoD and Sirius reports replay of the 1972, but neither his 1966 or 1969 with interesting casts have been heard on either. Nicolai Gedda is still with us, A little more attention on him please. He was a Met star tenor for two decades, and we mostly hear him in Vanessa (where he is remarkable), but he was the leading Faust in the world with the passing of Bjorling his Swedish countryman.”

“DIE WALKÜRE : Wagner
Original Air Date: 04/01/2000
Cast: Levine; Eaglen, Morris, Voigt, Domingo, Schwarz, Halfvarson
Media: MOD Audio SID.18390532 Tags: LIVE; 2018, Levine, Domingo
RWW: This is also on MOoD and catches some erratic artists at their best. Schwarz who shines in the Chereau Ring is still a potent force 12 years later in this broadcast. Vocally, this is one of the better Levine Walkures even though Morris and Domingo are the only ones I am particularly interested in.
*****
SR: A solid Walkuere expertly paced by Levine. In the house, Eaglen struck me as a particularly ungenerous Bruennhilde, saving her resources for some eventuality. (She only really opened up in the Siegfried awakening scene). On broadcast, however, this isn’t as noticeable except in contrast to Voigt, who pours it on when called for. Domingo still has the goods as her brother. Morris shows why he was the Met’s Wotan of choice for so many years. Schwarz is dependable while not erasing memories of Ludwig, while Halfvarson was a delightful surprise as Hunding.”

“DIE WALKÜRE : Wagner
Original Air Date: 04/01/2000
Cast: Levine; Eaglen, Morris, Voigt, Domingo, Schwarz, Halfvarson
Media: MOD Audio SID.18390533 Tags: LIVE; 2018, Levine, Domingo
RWW: This is also on MOoD and catches some erratic artists at their best. Schwarz who shines in the Chereau Ring is still a potent force 12 years later in this broadcast. Vocally, this is one of the better Levine Walkures even though Morris and Domingo are the only ones I am particularly interested in.
*****
SR: A solid Walkuere expertly paced by Levine. In the house, Eaglen struck me as a particularly ungenerous Bruennhilde, saving her resources for some eventuality. (She only really opened up in the Siegfried awakening scene). On broadcast, however, this isn’t as noticeable except in contrast to Voigt, who pours it on when called for. Domingo still has the goods as her brother. Morris shows why he was the Met’s Wotan of choice for so many years. Schwarz is dependable while not erasing memories of Ludwig, while Halfvarson was a delightful surprise as Hunding.”

“LES CONTES D’HOFFMANN : Offenbach
Original Air Date: 03/27/1982
Cast: Chailly; Domingo, Morris, Welting, Troyanos, Eda-Pierre, Howells
Media: MOD Audio SID.18390639 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).”

“LA FILLE DU RÉGIMENT : Donizetti
Original Air Date: 01/06/1973
Cast: Bonynge; Sutherland, Pavarotti, Resnik, Corena
Media: MOD Audio SID.18390641 Tags: Archive; 2018, Pavarotti
Pavarotti may be a bit tight on the high Cs, but his voice is still remarkable, and this is the only broadcast with the Met premiere roster. Resnik and Corena are preferable to their competition. Sutherland is particularly treasurable. This performance is also available
on MOoD
***
From 1954 until 1976 Fernando Corena was the only Dr. Bartolo to appear on the Met airwaves. Of all Corena’s distinctive characterizations, none rank higher than Bartolo. It would be worthwhile for the Met to unearth its experimental taping (with NHK of Japan)from November 1968 so people could get a taste of his visuals as well. The byplay of Corena with Horne, as well as familiar bass clef tandem, Tozzi are a special delight. Cesare Siepi made his only Met appearances with Levine the following week ending his Met career succeeding Tozzi.
***
Pavarotti appears in a broadcast after his initial success with Sutherland. The Cs are already a bit chancy, but this is still a lot of thoroughbreds having a great time. It is also available in MOoD.
***
The Met got a little late to Pavarotti (several years after Covent Garden) in Fille and the C’s are more than a little nervous. Still, this is a fun outing if not as well turned out as the studio recording.
***
This is from the second season of FIlle, and Pavarotti’s only broadcast of Tonio. Lots of high spirits.”

“DIE WALKÜRE : Wagner
Original Air Date: 04/01/2000
Cast: Levine; Eaglen, Morris, Voigt, Domingo, Schwarz, Halfvarson
Media: MOD Audio SID.18390749 Tags: LIVE; 2018, Levine, Domingo
RWW: This is also on MOoD and catches some erratic artists at their best. Schwarz who shines in the Chereau Ring is still a potent force 12 years later in this broadcast. Vocally, this is one of the better Levine Walkures even though Morris and Domingo are the only ones I am particularly interested in.
*****
SR: A solid Walkuere expertly paced by Levine. In the house, Eaglen struck me as a particularly ungenerous Bruennhilde, saving her resources for some eventuality. (She only really opened up in the Siegfried awakening scene). On broadcast, however, this isn’t as noticeable except in contrast to Voigt, who pours it on when called for. Domingo still has the goods as her brother. Morris shows why he was the Met’s Wotan of choice for so many years. Schwarz is dependable while not erasing memories of Ludwig, while Halfvarson was a delightful surprise as Hunding.”

DIE WALKÜRE : Wagner
Original Air Date: 04/01/2000
Cast: Levine; Eaglen, Morris, Voigt, Domingo, Schwarz, Halfvarson
Media: MOD Audio SID.18400101 Tags: LIVE; 2018, Levine, Domingo
RWW: This is also on MOoD and catches some erratic artists at their best. Schwarz who shines in the Chereau Ring is still a potent force 12 years later in this broadcast. Vocally, this is one of the better Levine Walkures even though Morris and Domingo are the only ones I am particularly interested in.
*****
SR: A solid Walkuere expertly paced by Levine. In the house, Eaglen struck me as a particularly ungenerous Bruennhilde, saving her resources for some eventuality. (She only really opened up in the Siegfried awakening scene). On broadcast, however, this isn’t as noticeable except in contrast to Voigt, who pours it on when called for. Domingo still has the goods as her brother. Morris shows why he was the Met’s Wotan of choice for so many years. Schwarz is dependable while not erasing memories of Ludwig, while Halfvarson was a delightful surprise as Hunding.

CAVALLERIA RUSTICANA / PAGLIACCI : Mascagni / Leoncavallo
Original Air Date: 12/10/1988
Cast: Siciliani; Dimitrova, Mauro, Fondary / Giacomini, Soviero, Pons
Media: SID.18400102 Tags: Archive; 2018

Though Dimitrova was well regarded for her power and skill in the “big” roles, her Santuzza was one of the very best I’ve ever heard, and more importantly, seemed very personal. Her voice is satisfyingly volcanic this afternoon. No less impressive is the Pagliacci with Giacomini’s farewell to the Met. I much enjoyed his Don Carlo, and he is on top form for this Canio. Soviero has a strong Nedda as well. Siciliani gives full veristic sway in his conducting. Recommended.