I LOMBARDI:Verdi
Original Air Date: 01/15/1994
Levine; Flanigan, Pavarotti, Beccaria, Plishka
MOD Audio SID.18410320
This is the Met’s only broadcast of Lombardi. Pavarotti is in both the December telecast and January broadcast and Ramey was in the premiere and telecast, Plishka in the audio broadcast. Neither Flanigan nor Beccaria are really up to this major assignment. Flanigan except for 2 Musettas the following fall, disappears from the Met roster. Her contributions to contemporary opera are signficant, and she has some excellent work at NYCO, including a fine Lady Macbeth.
Both this broadcast and the telecast a month earlier in December are on Met Opera on Demand (MOoD). The telecast was originally to have been Millo, but she left the production shortly after opening night. Ramey did the Met premiere (and telecast), but Plishka is on this broadcast. This broadcast is Beccaria’s Met farewell. Levine, the chorus, Pavarotti, and the bass deliver rather well some of Verdi’s lustiest music, but it’s far from the level of Ernani in terms of finish. In a week’s rotation, Lombardi is an interesting diversion.
I Lombardi alla Prima Crociata to use its full name only got to the Met stage with this series of performances. Millo who originated the production was mostly replaced by Flanigan after 2 performances. Beccaria in a major part really is lacking in the face you want. Pavarotti of course gets La mia letizia, one of the great Verdian tenor arias; there is also the unforgettable trio (with violin obbligato) which Levine did for Gniewek as much as for himself. It’s not as good as either Ernani or Macbeth in my view, but several of the choruses are stirring, and with the newly energized Palumbo leadership, the Met could well revive this. The distinctive Pavarotti aside, the soprano and tenor parts could be very reasonably cast today. This performance at hand is also on MetPlayer.
GIULIO CESARE:Handel
Original Air Date: 04/21/2007
Bicket; Daniels, Swenson, Coote, Bardon, Zazzo
MOD Audio SID.18410316
Bicket knows this turf well, but a countertenor Caesar doesn’t work for me, but the whole of the work is tough going for me. I leave it for others to comment. I’m not good with Caesar in the hands of a countertenor. The cast is solid, but I’m not a Handelian so caveat auditor.
Handel is not my specialty, but Bicket gets consistently good notices for his handling of Baroque operas. Cesare is notable for a number of lovely arias for Cleopatra (and one of Sills’ calling card roles.)
DON GIOVANNI:Mozart
Original Air Date: 02/14/1959
Böhm; London, Steber, Flagello, Della Casa, Valletti, Hurley
MOD Audio SID.18410319
SR: This broadcast is especially notable as it was George London’s only broadcast outing as the Don. His Don was very different from Siepi’s, but just as impressive a portrayal. We also enjoy the two “Donna”s..sung by Steber and Della Casa, Ezio Flagello’s Leporello (often overshadowed by Corena’s more broadly comic portrayal) and the sweet tenor of Cesare Valletti. Dr. Karl Böhm leads a to-the-Viennese-manner-born performance.
RWW: This is a fine performance; my only cavil is I would have preferred a Siepi broadcast which is available (though not yet on Sirius) from 1957 with the original cast which includes Corena as Leporello. Still, this is one of Steber’s best parts in a treasurable performance and Della Casa is a major Elvira. Flagello is an excellent Leporello. And while I am mentioning lacunae. Bohm’s 1967 broadcast with Sutherland and Lorengar also with Siepi is still missing from the Sirius broadcast stable as well.
GIULIO CESARE:Handel
Original Air Date: 04/21/2007
Bicket; Daniels, Swenson, Coote, Bardon, Zazzo
MOD Audio SID.18410316
Bicket knows this turf well, but a countertenor Caesar doesn’t work for me, but the whole of the work is tough going for me. I leave it for others to comment. I’m not good with Caesar in the hands of a countertenor. The cast is solid, but I’m not a Handelian so caveat auditor.
Handel is not my specialty, but Bicket gets consistently good notices for his handling of Baroque operas. Cesare is notable for a number of lovely arias for Cleopatra (and one of Sills’ calling card roles.)
I LOMBARDI:Verdi
Original Air Date: 01/15/1994
Levine; Flanigan, Pavarotti, Beccaria, Plishka
MOD Audio SID.18410320
This is the Met’s only broadcast of Lombardi. Pavarotti is in both the December telecast and January broadcast and Ramey was in the premiere and telecast, Plishka in the audio broadcast. Neither Flanigan nor Beccaria are really up to this major assignment. Flanigan except for 2 Musettas the following fall, disappears from the Met roster. Her contributions to contemporary opera are signficant, and she has some excellent work at NYCO, including a fine Lady Macbeth.
Both this broadcast and the telecast a month earlier in December are on Met Opera on Demand (MOoD). The telecast was originally to have been Millo, but she left the production shortly after opening night. Ramey did the Met premiere (and telecast), but Plishka is on this broadcast. This broadcast is Beccaria’s Met farewell. Levine, the chorus, Pavarotti, and the bass deliver rather well some of Verdi’s lustiest music, but it’s far from the level of Ernani in terms of finish. In a week’s rotation, Lombardi is an interesting diversion.
I Lombardi alla Prima Crociata to use its full name only got to the Met stage with this series of performances. Millo who originated the production was mostly replaced by Flanigan after 2 performances. Beccaria in a major part really is lacking in the face you want. Pavarotti of course gets La mia letizia, one of the great Verdian tenor arias; there is also the unforgettable trio (with violin obbligato) which Levine did for Gniewek as much as for himself. It’s not as good as either Ernani or Macbeth in my view, but several of the choruses are stirring, and with the newly energized Palumbo leadership, the Met could well revive this. The distinctive Pavarotti aside, the soprano and tenor parts could be very reasonably cast today. This performance at hand is also on MetPlayer.
MIGNON:Thomas
Original Air Date: 01/27/1945
Pelletier; Stevens, Melton, Benzell, Pinza
MOD Audio SID.18420102
“There are some great tunes in Mignon but I find the opera doesn”t hold up well — I saw it staged in Dallas with Horne (1974), and it was a LONG evening. Pinza is very fine here. Mignon”s last broadcast appearance is 3 years later with Marilyn Cotlow as Philine which is more than 6 decades ago. That Mignon farewell has not been on Sirius.
I VESPRI SICILIANI:Verdi
Original Air Date: 03/09/1974
Levine; Caballé, Gedda, Milnes, Díaz
MOD Audio SID.18420103
This is a performance where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. If Caballe does not have every note in place, she is still very near the top of her considerable form, and the ensemble reflects the new production intensity and first appearance of a major Verdi opera in the Met repertory. Gedda has the most performances of Arrigo, the challenging tenor role. Tucker was scheduled for a run (including broadcast) the year he died, but none of the hearty tenors of the past had the right timing– no Corelli, Bergonzi, and only 5 for Domingo, and he was gone. This performance is available in Met Opera on Demand (MOoD) and is a strong performance.
I PURITANI:Bellini
Original Air Date: 03/30/1991
Bonynge; Gruberova, Merritt, Gavanelli, Plishka
MOD Audio SID.18420104
This is primarily for Gruberova fans. She doesn”t sing in USA much so just as well since she only has two Met broadcasts, this Puritani and Zerbinetta in Ariadne auf Naxos. Of greater interest would be her Queen of the Night (Met debut) and the new production of Traviata with Kleiber and Shicoff (neither broadcast; in today”s world of live Sirius, we would likely be hearing both)
TANNHÄUSER:Wagner
Original Air Date: 01/24/1987
Levine; Cassilly, Norman, Randová, Hagegård, Rootering
MOD Audio SID.18420105
NOTE: Levine has three broadcasts after these in October 2015 (8,19,27) with Westbroek, DeYoung, Botha, Mattei, Groissbock
RWW: Amazingly, this is Levine”s last broadcast Tannhauser. A run of performances 10 years later with Sharon Sweet, Jon Frederic West, and Bryn Terfel was prior to the broadcast season (I saw one of these terrific performances) are his final Met appearances in the opera to date. Tannhauser remains one of Levine”s highest totals at 62, but none since 1997, and none broadcast since this 1987, but I also think it”s one of his best efforts and Norman presents a beautiful, if unconventional Elisabeth, and the orchestra and chorus are on top form. This performance is in MOoD and highly recommended on Sirius this week as well.
For my money although Tannhauser does not have as much great music as Lohengrin, the Paris/Vienna revisions make Tannhauser a bit more exciting in the theatre. This performance is available on Met Player and is Levine”s most recent in theatre broadcast. Levine does have a wonderful run in 1997 with Jon Frederic West , Terfel and Sweet , but that run was not on the matinee broadcasts (in the current environment we would get to hear this cast.) Levine”s strong conducting, and Jessye Norman”s Elisabeth (not commercially recorded) are the most distinctive features.
L”ELISIR D”AMORE:Donizetti
Original Air Date: 01/25/1992
Panni; Pavarotti, Battle, Plishka, Pons
MOD Audio SID.18420107
I enjoy L”elisir d”amore, but the opera is not of such depth to deserve what seems like a a weekly rotation. There were a number of evening performances broadcast live of the Florez Damrau cast. They don”t exactly overplay the Bergonzi or Kraus performances, CB has 2, and AK has 1. But better to give the opera a rest, because we”ll have plenty of L”elisir come September. This is Battle”s last Elisir broadcast, and the supporting cast is not especially distinguished. Dara was always a rather colorless Dulcamara for me, and I want a bit more Italian sunshine than Olsen. Battle has 30 (!!!) Met Adinas, the champion. She is not the first Adina I think of. Both Freni and Scotto are more to my taste for very different reasons.
This performance is available in MOoD. The previous fall Pavarotti had Levine at the help and Dara as the Dulcamara for the video which is also available in MOoD and commercial DVD.
ADRIANA LECOUVREUR:Cilea
Original Air Date: 02/11/1978
López-Cobos; Caballé, Carreras, Cossotto, Quilico
MOD Audio SID.18420208
“I’m not a special fan of Adriana, and like it best when the title role is a specialist like Olivero whom I saw in Hartford and Newark; the aircheck from Naples is the one to get with Simionato, Corelli, and Bastianini. There are 3 MOoD versions starting with the Caballe above, very solid, but a bit bland, a Scotto/Shicoff/Cortez performance from 1983 is a good late career effort from her (her commercial under Levine with Domingo and Obratzsova is better) but the most recent MOoD features 2009 Domingo in his only Met matinee broadcast with Guleghina,and Borodina.
Much too late for Domingo who debuted at the Met 4 decades earlier. Unlike Adriana, Maurizio is not a mid-range role.” (RWW)
OTELLO:Verdi
Original Air Date: 03/11/1967
Mehta; Caballé, McCracken, Gobbi, Lorenzi
MOD Audio SID.18420210
This is the first Otello broadcast from the new house at Lincoln Center, and I attended an earlier performance in the run. Caballe is very fine in the fourth act, but earlier acts do not find her fully engaged. McCracken and Gobbi are fully engaged from first note, and Mehta is a solid participant. Sirius continues to deprive us of Tebaldi’s 1955 and 1958 Desdemonas which capture her (especially 1955) in remarkable voice. This performance is available in Met Opera on Demand (MOoD) and definitely worth your time.
1/16/12 – I remember this revival well, but in the house and on the airwaves, it was certainly strongly performed by all. This is Caballe’s first broadcast from the Met, and McCracken, Gobbi and Mehta are wonderful partners. Compared to some other Desdemonas, I found her a little short until Act Four, but in the final act she was on all eight cylinders. I love the chemistry of McCracken and Gobbi. This fine performance is available on MetPlayer also.
There never was a tenor quite like James McCracken—a veritable force of nature vocally, he fought his way to an international career that would come to be dominated by his seething portrayal of the title role of Verdi’s Otello. In this March 11, 1967, broadcast conducted by Zubin Mehta, McCracken’s finely sung Otello rages with a raw-nerve fury but also brings heroic tenderness to the love duet and his final moments. Montserrat Caballé’s singing, regal in its beauty throughout, gives way to towering passion in Desdemona’s clash with Otello in Act III. Tito Gobbi is utter, impeccable evil as Iago, heard in the savage glee he finally takes in hurling Cassio’s name, like a knife, at Otello at the end of Act II.
LUISA MILLER:Verdi
Original Air Date: 02/17/1968
Schippers; Caballé, Tucker, Milnes, Tozzi, Flagello, Pearl
MOD Audio SID.18420212
This production brought Luisa Miller into the mainstream repertory. Caballe is caught at close to her very best, Tucker in tremendous Indian summer form, and Milnes a big breakthrough for him into the core Verdi parts. This is also available on Sony Historical CD as well and its regular appearance is well deserved.
TANNHÄUSER:Wagner
Original Air Date: 01/24/1987
Levine; Cassilly, Norman, Randová, Hagegård, Rootering
MOD Audio SID.18420317
NOTE: Levine has three broadcasts after these in October 2015 (8,19,27) with Westbroek, DeYoung, Botha, Mattei, Groissbock
RWW: Amazingly, this is Levine’s last broadcast Tannhauser. A run of performances 10 years later with Sharon Sweet, Jon Frederic West, and Bryn Terfel was prior to the broadcast season (I saw one of these terrific performances) are his final Met appearances in the opera to date. Tannhauser remains one of Levine’s highest totalsat 62, but none since 1997, and none broadcast since this 1987, but I also think it’s one of his best efforts and Norman presents a beautiful, if unconventional Elisabeth, and the orchestra and chorus are on top form. This performance is in MOoD and highly recommended on Sirius this week as well.
For my money although Tannhauser does not have as much great music as Lohengrin, the Paris/Vienna revisions make Tannhauser a bit more exciting in the theatre. This performance is available on Met Player and is Levine’s most recent in theatre broadcast. Levine does have a wonderful run in 1997 with Jon Frederic West , Terfel and Sweet , but that run was not on the matinee broadcasts (in the current environment we would get to hear this cast.) Levine’s strong conducting, and Jessye Norman’s Elisabeth (not commercially recorded) are the most distinctive features.
L’ELISIR D’AMORE:Donizetti
Original Air Date: 01/25/1992
Panni; Pavarotti, Battle, Plishka, Pons
MOD Audio SID.18420319
I enjoy L’elisir d’amore, but the opera is not of such depth to deserve what seems like a a weekly rotation. There were a number of evening performances broadcast live of the Florez Damrau cast. They don’t exactly overplay the Bergonzi or Kraus performances, CB has 2, and AK has 1. But better to give the opera a rest, because we’ll have plenty of L’elisir come September. This is Battle’s last Elisir broadcast, and the supporting cast is not especially distinguished. Dara was always a rather colorless Dulcamara for me, and I want a bit more Italian sunshine than Olsen. Battle has 30 (!!!) Met Adinas, the champion. She is not the first Adina I think of. Both Freni and Scotto are more to my taste for very different reasons.
This performance is available in MOoD. The previous fall Pavarotti had Levine at the help and Dara as the Dulcamara for the video which is also available in MOoD and commercial DVD.
NORMA:Bellini
Original Air Date: 02/17/1973
Cillario; Caballé, Cossotto, Cossutta, Tozzi
MOD Audio SID.18420320
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.
LE NOZZE DI FIGARO:Mozart
Original Air Date: 02/12/1994
Rudel; Morris, McLaughlin, Fleming, Croft, Bunnell
MOD Audio SID.18420321
This is is Fleming’s first featured broadcast (she has a small part in Ghosts of Versailles) and it’s one of her best roles. The late — he died just a few weeks ago (2016) –Julius Rudel is too often underestimated, but he presided over many a fine Figaro at the NYCO before taking up residence at the Met. Morris and McLaughlin are an interesting servant pair and any performance with Senechal is guaranteed some attention. This performance is featured in MOoD.
7/8/13 – Fleming’s previous broadcast appearance was in the small role of Rosina (Countess) in Ghosts of Versailles, so her Nozze Countess is really her first broadcast feature. Rudel is a fine Mozartean with plenty of fine Figaros over at NYCO before moving over to the Met. Fleming and the whole cast are well matched. Recommended. Also in MOoD.
3/29/11 – Fleming’s Countess is rarer than you might think. She only has nine performances since her Met debut (in this role) in 1991. This broadcast is only her third and is available also on Met Player. She premieres the new production with Terfel and Bartoli, but only does the telecast (which is available on Met PLayer).
As for missing historic broadcasts, the original Texaco broadcast with Albanese and Pinza from 1940 should certainly be rebroadcast, and the Countesses of Eleanor Steber (five from 1943-50) and Victoria de los Angeles (1952) with the superb Count of Giuseppe Valdengo. Jarmila Novotna is a superb Cherubino on many of those Steber Countesses.
I VESPRI SICILIANI:Verdi
Original Air Date: 03/09/1974
Levine; Caballé, Gedda, Milnes, Díaz
MOD Audio SID.18420422
This is a performance where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. If Caballe does not have every note in place, she is still very near the top of her considerable form, and the ensemble reflects the new production intensity and first appearance of a major Verdi opera in the Met repertory. Gedda has the most performances of Arrigo, the challenging tenor role. Tucker was scheduled for a run (including broadcast) the year he died, but none of the hearty tenors of the past had the right timing– no Corelli, Bergonzi, and only 5 for Domingo, and he was gone. This performance is available in Met Opera on Demand (MOoD) and is a strong performance.
I PURITANI:Bellini
Original Air Date: 03/30/1991
Bonynge; Gruberova, Merritt, Gavanelli, Plishka
MOD Audio SID.18420423
This is primarily for Gruberova fans. She doesn’t sing in USA much so just as well since she only has two Met broadcasts, this Puritani and Zerbinetta in Ariadne auf Naxos. Of greater interest would be her Queen of the Night (Met debut) and the new production of Traviata with Kleiber and Shicoff (neither broadcast; in today’s world of live Sirius, we would likely be hearing both)
ADRIANA LECOUVREUR:Cilea
Original Air Date: 02/11/1978
López-Cobos; Caballé, Carreras, Cossotto, Quilico
MOD Audio SID.18420424
“I’m not a special fan of Adriana, and like it best when the title role is a specialist like Olivero whom I saw in Hartford and Newark; the aircheck from Naples is the one to get with Simionato, Corelli, and Bastianini. There are 3 MOoD versions starting with the Caballe above, very solid, but a bit bland, a Scotto/Shicoff/Cortez performance from 1983 is a good late career effort from her (her commercial under Levine with Domingo and Obratzsova is better) but the most recent MOoD features 2009 Domingo in his only Met matinee broadcast with Guleghina,and Borodina. Much too late for Domingo who debuted at the Met 4 decades earlier. Unlike Adriana, Maurizio is not a mid-range role.” (RWW)
MIGNON:Thomas
Original Air Date: 01/27/1945
Pelletier; Stevens, Melton, Benzell, Pinza
MOD Audio SID.18420425
There are some great tunes in Mignon but I find the opera doesn’t hold up well — I saw it staged in Dallas with Horne (1974), and it was a LONG evening. Pinza is very fine here. Mignon’s last broadcast appearance is three years later with Marilyn Cotlow as Philine which is more than six decades ago. That Mignon ‘farewell’ has not been on Sirius.
OTELLO:Verdi
Original Air Date: 03/11/1967
Mehta; Caballé, McCracken, Gobbi, Lorenzi
MOD Audio SID.18420426
This is the first Otello broadcast from the new house at Lincoln Center, and I attended an earlier performance in the run. Caballe is very fine in the fourth act, but earlier acts do not find her fully engaged. McCracken and Gobbi are fully engaged from first note, and Mehta is a solid participant. Sirius continues to deprive us of Tebaldi’s 1955 and 1958 Desdemonas which capture her (especially 1955) in remarkable voice. This performance is available in Met Opera on Demand (MOoD) and definitely worth your time.
1/16/12 – I remember this revival well, but in the house and on the airwaves, it was certainly strongly performed by all. This is Caballe’s first broadcast from the Met, and McCracken, Gobbi and Mehta are wonderful partners. Compared to some other Desdemonas, I found her a little short until Act Four, but in the final act she was on all eight cylinders. I love the chemistry of McCracken and Gobbi. This fine performance is available on MetPlayer also.
There never was a tenor quite like James McCracken—a veritable force of nature vocally, he fought his way to an international career that would come to be dominated by his seething portrayal of the title role of Verdi’s Otello. In this March 11, 1967, broadcast conducted by Zubin Mehta, McCracken’s finely sung Otello rages with a raw-nerve fury but also brings heroic tenderness to the love duet and his final moments. Montserrat Caballé’s singing, regal in its beauty throughout, gives way to towering passion in Desdemona’s clash with Otello in Act III. Tito Gobbi is utter, impeccable evil as Iago, heard in the savage glee he finally takes in hurling Cassio’s name, like a knife, at Otello at the end of Act II.
LUISA MILLER:Verdi
Original Air Date: 02/17/1968
Schippers; Caballé, Tucker, Milnes, Tozzi, Flagello, Pearl
MOD Audio SID.18420428
This production brought Luisa Miller into the mainstream repertory. Caballe is caught at close to her very best, Tucker in tremendous Indian summer form, and Milnes a big breakthrough for him into the core Verdi parts. This is also available on Sony Historical CD as well and its regular appearance is well deserved.
LUISA MILLER:Verdi
Original Air Date: 02/17/1968
Schippers; Caballé, Tucker, Milnes, Tozzi, Flagello, Pearl
MOD Audio SID.18420531
This production brought Luisa Miller into the mainstream repertory. Caballe is caught at close to her very best, Tucker in tremendous Indian summer form, and Milnes a big breakthrough for him into the core Verdi parts. This is also available on Sony Historical CD as well and its regular appearance is well deserved.
NORMA:Bellini
Original Air Date: 02/17/1973
Cillario; Caballé, Cossotto, Cossutta, Tozzi
MOD Audio SID.18420532
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.
LE NOZZE DI FIGARO:Mozart
Original Air Date: 02/12/1994
Rudel; Morris, McLaughlin, Fleming, Croft, Bunnell
MOD Audio SID.18420533
This is is Fleming’s first featured broadcast (she has a small part in Ghosts of Versailles) and it’s one of her best roles. The late — he died just a few weeks ago (2016) –Julius Rudel is too often underestimated, but he presided over many a fine Figaro at the NYCO before taking up residence at the Met. Morris and McLaughlin are an interesting servant pair and any performance with Senechal is guaranteed some attention. This performance is featured in MOoD.
7/8/13 – Fleming’s previous broadcast appearance was in the small role of Rosina (Countess) in Ghosts of Versailles, so her Nozze Countess is really her first broadcast feature. Rudel is a fine Mozartean with plenty of fine Figaros over at NYCO before moving over to the Met. Fleming and the whole cast are well matched. Recommended. Also in MOoD.
3/29/11 – Fleming’s Countess is rarer than you might think. She only has nine performances since her Met debut (in this role) in 1991. This broadcast is only her third and is available also on Met Player. She premieres the new production with Terfel and Bartoli, but only does the telecast (which is available on Met PLayer).
As for missing historic broadcasts, the original Texaco broadcast with Albanese and Pinza from 1940 should certainly be rebroadcast, and the Countesses of Eleanor Steber (five from 1943-50) and Victoria de los Angeles (1952) with the superb Count of Giuseppe Valdengo. Jarmila Novotna is a superb Cherubino on many of those Steber Countesses.
L’ELISIR D’AMORE:Donizetti
Original Air Date: 01/25/1992
Panni; Pavarotti, Battle, Plishka, Pons
MOD Audio SID.18420638
I enjoy L’elisir d’amore, but the opera is not of such depth to deserve what seems like a a weekly rotation. There were a number of evening performances broadcast live of the Florez Damrau cast. They don’t exactly overplay the Bergonzi or Kraus performances, CB has 2, and AK has 1. But better to give the opera a rest, because we’ll have plenty of L’elisir come September. This is Battle’s last Elisir broadcast, and the supporting cast is not especially distinguished. Dara was always a rather colorless Dulcamara for me, and I want a bit more Italian sunshine than Olsen. Battle has 30 (!!!) Met Adinas, the champion. She is not the first Adina I think of. Both Freni and Scotto are more to my taste for very different reasons.
This performance is available in MOoD. The previous fall Pavarotti had Levine at the help and Dara as the Dulcamara for the video which is also available in MOoD and commercial DVD.
I VESPRI SICILIANI:Verdi
Original Air Date: 03/09/1974
Levine; Caballé, Gedda, Milnes, Díaz
MOD Audio SID.18420639
This is a performance where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. If Caballe does not have every note in place, she is still very near the top of her considerable form, and the ensemble reflects the new production intensity and first appearance of a major Verdi opera in the Met repertory. Gedda has the most performances of Arrigo, the challenging tenor role. Tucker was scheduled for a run (including broadcast) the year he died, but none of the hearty tenors of the past had the right timing– no Corelli, Bergonzi, and only 5 for Domingo, and he was gone. This performance is available in Met Opera on Demand (MOoD) and is a strong performance.
OTELLO:Verdi
Original Air Date: 03/11/1967
Mehta; Caballé, McCracken, Gobbi, Lorenzi
MOD Audio SID.18420642
This is the first Otello broadcast from the new house at Lincoln Center, and I attended an earlier performance in the run. Caballe is very fine in the fourth act, but earlier acts do not find her fully engaged. McCracken and Gobbi are fully engaged from first note, and Mehta is a solid participant. Sirius continues to deprive us of Tebaldi’s 1955 and 1958 Desdemonas which capture her (especially 1955) in remarkable voice. This performance is available in Met Opera on Demand (MOoD) and definitely worth your time.
1/16/12 – I remember this revival well, but in the house and on the airwaves, it was certainly strongly performed by all. This is Caballe’s first broadcast from the Met, and McCracken, Gobbi and Mehta are wonderful partners. Compared to some other Desdemonas, I found her a little short until Act Four, but in the final act she was on all eight cylinders. I love the chemistry of McCracken and Gobbi. This fine performance is available on MetPlayer also.
There never was a tenor quite like James McCracken—a veritable force of nature vocally, he fought his way to an international career that would come to be dominated by his seething portrayal of the title role of Verdi’s Otello. In this March 11, 1967, broadcast conducted by Zubin Mehta, McCracken’s finely sung Otello rages with a raw-nerve fury but also brings heroic tenderness to the love duet and his final moments. Montserrat Caballé’s singing, regal in its beauty throughout, gives way to towering passion in Desdemona’s clash with Otello in Act III. Tito Gobbi is utter, impeccable evil as Iago, heard in the savage glee he finally takes in hurling Cassio’s name, like a knife, at Otello at the end of Act II.
I PURITANI:Bellini
Original Air Date: 03/30/1991
Bonynge; Gruberova, Merritt, Gavanelli, Plishka
MOD Audio SID.18420636
This is primarily for Gruberova fans. She doesn’t sing in USA much so just as well since she only has two Met broadcasts, this Puritani and Zerbinetta in Ariadne auf Naxos. Of greater interest would be her Queen of the Night (Met debut) and the new production of Traviata with Kleiber and Shicoff (neither broadcast; in today’s world of live Sirius, we would likely be hearing both)