“THE QUEEN OF SPADES : Tchaikovsky
Original Air Date: 04/10/1999
Cast: Gergiev; Domingo, Gorchakova, Söderström, Hvorostovsky, Borodina, Putilin
Media: MOD AudioMOD Video SID.18100424 Tags: Archive; 2018, Domingo
This performance is too late for Soderstrom, too late for Domingo, and too late for Gorchakova. You can see the video of from five days later on MOoD as well. Better to hear the first season of the production with Gregorian who succeeded Heppner, Guleghina who succeeded Mattila with Rysanek. That has been on Sirius, but is not on MOoD. If Sirius had been at work when the production premiered we would have a broadcast of Heppner and Mattila at their very best. MOD is from 4-15-99 performance.”
“SEMIRAMIDE : Rossini
Original Air Date: 03/10/2018
Cast: Benini; Meade, DeShong, Abdrazakov, Camarena
Media: Live Broadcast SID.18100640 Tags: LIVE; 2018
This masterpiece of dazzling vocal fireworks makes a rare Met appearance—its first in nearly 25 years—with Maurizio Benini on the podium. The all-star bel canto cast features Angela Meade in the title role of the murderous Queen of Babylon, who squares off in breathtaking duets with Arsace, a trouser role sung by Elizabeth DeShong. Javier Camarena, Ildar Abdrazakov, and Ryan Speedo Green complete the stellar cast.
Production a gift of the Lila Acheson and DeWitt Wallace Fund for Lincoln Center, established by the founders of The Reader’s Digest Association, Inc.
Revival a gift of Ekkehart Hassels-Weiler”
“THE QUEEN OF SPADES : Tchaikovsky
Original Air Date: 04/10/1999
Cast: Gergiev; Domingo, Gorchakova, Söderström, Hvorostovsky, Borodina, Putilin
Media: MOD AudioMOD Video SID.18100641 Tags: Archive; 2018, Domingo
This performance is too late for Soderstrom, too late for Domingo, and too late for Gorchakova. You can see the video of from five days later on MOoD as well. Better to hear the first season of the production with Gregorian who succeeded Heppner, Guleghina who succeeded Mattila with Rysanek. That has been on Sirius, but is not on MOoD. If Sirius had been at work when the production premiered we would have a broadcast of Heppner and Mattila at their very best. MOD is from 4-15-99 performance.”
“DER ROSENKAVALIER : Strauss
Original Air Date: 01/29/2000
Cast: Levine; Graham, Fleming, Hawlata, Grant Murphy, Ketelsen
Media: MOD Audio SID.18110210 Tags: Archive; 2018, Levine, Strauss
This is Fleming and Graham’s first Met broadcast outing in Rosenkavalier, and both are in excellent voice. 10 years later they did it in HD with Levine replaced by Edo de Waart due to one his earlier illnesses. That video is in MOoD. This 2000 performance is well worth a listen, though I think Fleming and Graham rather defy the years in the HD.This is Cheryl Studer’s penultimate Met performance in her 39 performance Met career. The Met has cast Rosenkavalier more strongly, but Studer still has major Strauss credentials.”
“DER ROSENKAVALIER : Strauss
Original Air Date: 01/29/2000
Cast: Levine; Graham, Fleming, Hawlata, Grant Murphy, Ketelsen
Media: MOD Audio SID.18110422 Tags: Archive; 2018, Levine, Strauss
This is Fleming and Graham’s first Met broadcast outing in Rosenkavalier, and both are in excellent voice. 10 years later they did it in HD with Levine replaced by Edo de Waart due to one his earlier illnesses. That video is in MOoD. This 2000 performance is well worth a listen, though I think Fleming and Graham rather defy the years in the HD.This is Cheryl Studer’s penultimate Met performance in her 39 performance Met career. The Met has cast Rosenkavalier more strongly, but Studer still has major Strauss credentials.”
“ELEKTRA : Strauss
Original Air Date: 03/18/2018
Cast: Nezet-Seguin; Goerke, van den heever, Schuster, Morris, Petrenlo
Media: Live Broadcast SID.18110640 Tags: LIVE; 2018, Strauss
“
“DON GIOVANNI : Mozart
Original Air Date: 03/25/1978
Cast: Bonynge; Morris, Sutherland, Bacquier, Varady, Brecknock, Tourangeau
Media: MOD Audio SID.18120208 Tags: Archive; 2018, Mozart
This is Julia Varady’s only season and broadcast from the Met, and earns a well-deserved place in MOoD. The missing piece is that 9 days earlier the Met telecast this, and it operatic stage. Traubel has never appeared in any form. There is so little Sutherland video from the Met. Of particular interest is Bacquier in his only season as Leporello and Morris makes a youthful but powerful Don. It also captures the last of the Berman production. The video please! Also Sutherland’s only other Donna Anna from the Met is from opening season of the new house at Lincoln Center under Karl Bohm with Siepi, Flagello, and Giaiotti with Lorengar as the Elvira. This has not been recently discussed on SIrius in 5 years and should be in MOoD.”
“DON GIOVANNI : Mozart
Original Air Date: 03/25/1978
Cast: Bonynge; Morris, Sutherland, Bacquier, Varady, Brecknock, Tourangeau
Media: MOD Audio SID.18120425 Tags: Archive; 2018, Mozart
This is Julia Varady’s only season and broadcast from the Met, and earns a well-deserved place in MOoD. The missing piece is that 9 days earlier the Met telecast this, and it operatic stage. Traubel has never appeared in any form. There is so little Sutherland video from the Met. Of particular interest is Bacquier in his only season as Leporello and Morris makes a youthful but powerful Don. It also captures the last of the Berman production. The video please! Also Sutherland’s only other Donna Anna from the Met is from opening season of the new house at Lincoln Center under Karl Bohm with Siepi, Flagello, and Giaiotti with Lorengar as the Elvira. This has not been recently discussed on SIrius in 5 years and should be in MOoD.”
“TURANDOT : Puccini
Original Air Date: 03/24/2018
Cast: Armiliato; Serafin, Álvarez, Yu, Tsymbalyuk
Media: Live Broadcast SID.18120640 Tags: LIVE; 2018, Puccini
Puccini’s grand spectacle of legendary China stars Oksana Dyka and Martina Serafin in the role of the ice princess and Aleksandrs Antonenko as the unknown prince who must thaw her heart or die. Maria Agresta, Hei-Kyung Hong, and James Morris are among the other remarkable artists featured in this cherished Franco Zeffirelli production, led by Carlo Rizzi and Marco Armiliato.
Although the Met presented the American premiere of Turandot in 1926, Puccini’s last work didn’t become an audience favorite until the opening of Cecil Beaton’s 1961 production, which featured Birgit Nilsson and Franco Corelli. Their dynamic (and highly competitive) appearances together helped secure the opera’s box office appeal.
The current Franco Zeffirelli production was first seen in 1987 with Eva Marton, Plácido Domingo, and Leona Mitchell.(from metopera.org)”
“DON GIOVANNI : Mozart
Original Air Date: 03/25/1978
Cast: Bonynge; Morris, Sutherland, Bacquier, Varady, Brecknock, Tourangeau
Media: MOD Audio SID.18120641 Tags: Archive; 2018, Mozart
This is Julia Varady’s only season and broadcast from the Met, and earns a well-deserved place in MOoD. The missing piece is that 9 days earlier the Met telecast this, and it operatic stage. Traubel has never appeared in any form. There is so little Sutherland video from the Met. Of particular interest is Bacquier in his only season as Leporello and Morris makes a youthful but powerful Don. It also captures the last of the Berman production. The video please! Also Sutherland’s only other Donna Anna from the Met is from opening season of the new house at Lincoln Center under Karl Bohm with Siepi, Flagello, and Giaiotti with Lorengar as the Elvira. This has not been recently discussed on SIrius in 5 years and should be in MOoD.”
“COSÌ FAN TUTTE : Mozart
Original Air Date: 03/31/2018
Cast: Robertson; Majeski, Bliss, Malfi, Plachetka, O’Hara, Maltman
Media: Live Broadcast SID.18130639 Tags: LIVE; 2018, Mozart
“
“I PURITANI : Bellini
Original Air Date: 02/01/1997
Cast: Müller; Swenson, Neill, Hampson, Miles
Media: MOD Audio SID.18140102 Tags: Archive; 2018
The Netrebko video and the Gruberova and Sutherland Elviras are all available in MOoD as well as this one. Swenson has an attractive voice, but I don’t find her especially compelling, and the supporting cast is much better on the other performances. Cavalleria/ Pagliacci from 1988 and Idomeneo from 1991 are added into the schedule beginning Wednesday.”
“I PURITANI : Bellini
Original Air Date: 02/01/1997
Cast: Müller; Swenson, Neill, Hampson, Miles
Media: MOD Audio SID.18140318 Tags: Archive; 2018
The Netrebko video and the Gruberova and Sutherland Elviras are all available in MOoD as well as this one. Swenson has an attractive voice, but I don’t find her especially compelling, and the supporting cast is much better on the other performances. Cavalleria/ Pagliacci from 1988 and Idomeneo from 1991 are added into the schedule beginning Wednesday.”
“I PURITANI : Bellini
Original Air Date: 02/01/1997
Cast: Müller; Swenson, Neill, Hampson, Miles
Media: MOD Audio SID.18140534 Tags: Archive; 2018
The Netrebko video and the Gruberova and Sutherland Elviras are all available in MOoD as well as this one. Swenson has an attractive voice, but I don’t find her especially compelling, and the supporting cast is much better on the other performances. Cavalleria/ Pagliacci from 1988 and Idomeneo from 1991 are added into the schedule beginning Wednesday.”
“LUCIA DI LAMMERMOOR : Donizetti
Original Air Date: 04/07/2018
Cast: Abbado; Peretyatko-Mariotti, Grigolo, Cavalletti, Kowaljow
Media: Live Broadcast SID.18140640 Tags: LIVE; 2018
The role of the fragile title heroine who teeters between love and madness is shared by sopranos Olga Peretyatko-Mariotti and Pretty Yende, who have each impressed audiences with dazzling bel canto portrayals at the Met. Vittorio Grigolo and Michael Fabiano share the role of her lover in this chilling production by Tony Award-winning director Mary Zimmerman. Roberto Abbado conducts.
Production a gift of The Sybil B. Harrington Endowment Fund
Revival a gift of the Metropolitan Opera Club “
“THE FIRST EMPEROR : Dun
Original Air Date: 01/13/2007
Cast: Dun; Domingo, Futral, Groves, Tian, DeYoung
Media: Live in HDMOD Video SID.18150208 Tags: Archive; 2018, Domingo
This is Domingo’s vehicle and the broadcast and HD performance from its premiere season. Sony issued a commercial DVD. Better to watch than listen to.
***
I enjoyed seeing the production, and while it’s not on my weekly rotation, it held my interest more than Glass’ The Voyage. The simultaneous broadcast/HD moviecast is available on commercial DVD and MOoD (Metropolitan Opera on Demand).”
“THAÏS : Massenet
Original Air Date: 12/20/2008
Cast: López-Cobos; Fleming, Hampson, Schade
Media: Live in HDMOD Video SID.18150210 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.”
“THE FIRST EMPEROR : Dun
Original Air Date: 01/13/2007
Cast: Dun; Domingo, Futral, Groves, Tian, DeYoung
Media: Live in HDMOD Video SID.18150423 Tags: Archive; 2018, Domingo
This is Domingo’s vehicle and the broadcast and HD performance from its premiere season. Sony issued a commercial DVD. Better to watch than listen to.
***
I enjoyed seeing the production, and while it’s not on my weekly rotation, it held my interest more than Glass’ The Voyage. The simultaneous broadcast/HD moviecast is available on commercial DVD and MOoD (Metropolitan Opera on Demand).”
“THAÏS : Massenet
Original Air Date: 12/20/2008
Cast: López-Cobos; Fleming, Hampson, Schade
Media: Live in HDMOD Video SID.18150426 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.”
“LUISA MILLER : Verdi
Original Air Date: 04/14/2018
Cast: de Billy; Yoncheva, Beczala, Domingo, Vinogradov, Belosselskiy, Petrova
Media: Live in HD SID.18150640 Tags: LIVE; 2018, Domingo, Verdi
Plácido Domingo adds yet another role to his legendary Met career in this rarely performed Verdi gem, a heart-wrenching tragedy of fatherly love. Sonya Yoncheva sings the title role opposite Piotr Beczała in the first Met performances of the opera in more than ten years. Bertrand de Billy conducts.
Production a gift of Catherine and Ephraim Gildor
Revival a gift of Rolex and Mrs. Jayne Wrightsman
“
“THE FIRST EMPEROR : Dun
Original Air Date: 01/13/2007
Cast: Dun; Domingo, Futral, Groves, Tian, DeYoung
Media: Live in HDMOD Video SID.18150641 Tags: Archive; 2018, Domingo
This is Domingo’s vehicle and the broadcast and HD performance from its premiere season. Sony issued a commercial DVD. Better to watch than listen to.
***
I enjoyed seeing the production, and while it’s not on my weekly rotation, it held my interest more than Glass’ The Voyage. The simultaneous broadcast/HD moviecast is available on commercial DVD and MOoD (Metropolitan Opera on Demand).”
“THAÏS : Massenet
Original Air Date: 12/20/2008
Cast: López-Cobos; Fleming, Hampson, Schade
Media: Live in HDMOD Video SID.18150749 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.”
“THE EXTERMINATING ANGEL : Adès
Original Air Date: 11/18/2017
Cast: Adès; Luna, Echalaz, Matthews, etc.
Media: SID.18160640 Tags: LIVE; 2018
From metopera.org: Following the rapturous response to his last opera, The Tempest, the Met presents the American premiere of Thomas Adès’s The Exterminating Angel, inspired by the classic Luis Buñuel film of the same name. Hailed by the New York Times at its 2016 Salzburg Festival premiere as “inventive and audacious … a major event,” The Exterminating Angel is a surreal fantasy about a dinner party from which the guests can’t escape. Tom Cairns, who wrote the libretto, directs the new production, and Adès conducts his own adventurous new opera.
Music by Thomas Adès, libretto by Tom Cairns in collaboration with the composer, based on the screenplay by Luis Buñuel and Luis Alcoriza”
“CENDRILLON : Massenet
Original Air Date: 04/28/2018
Cast: de Billy; DiDonato, Coote, Kim, Blythe, Naouri
Media: Live Broadcast SID.18170640 Tags: LIVE; 2018
observer.com/2018/04/joyce-didonato-shines-in-luminous-cendrillon-at-met-opera-review/“
“BILLY BUDD : Britten
Original Air Date: 04/04/1992
Cast: Mackerras; Hampson, Clark, Morris, Held, Courtney
Media: MOD Audio SID.18180211 Tags: Archive; 2018
Morris has sung almost every Claggart in the production and it is one of his best parts. Hampson isn’t always ideal as an innocent, but he’s a fine musician and the cast under Mackerras is top drawer. There is also an excellent Met video of the production with Dwayne Croft on MOoD.”
“LA FORZA DEL DESTINO : Verdi
Original Air Date: 11/29/1952
Cast: Stiedry; Milanov, Tucker, Warren, Hines, Miller, Pechner
Media: MOD Audio SID.18180212 Tags: Archive; 2018, Verdi
Here’s Milanov, Tucker, and Warren again and very well cast. This performance is available on Met Player and despite the odd (Bruno Walter) arrangement and cuts brings you a Forza you simply can’t hear today. two Leontyne Price Forzas (one from 1968 with Corelli, and the other from 1972 with Bergonzi whould be rebroadcast. She is very well represented in Sirius but the 1977 with Domingo and the 1984 video
do not show her as well as the earlier broadcasts.
This performance is available in MOoD, and with good reason. At pretty much close to their best, one of the strongest Forza casts in the postwar period.
All four of Milanov’s Forza broadcasts (all with Sitedry conducting)
have been on Sirius, and this, the earliest has also appeared in
MOoD. Despite the cuts and re-arrangement, when this performance
concludes you know you’ve heard Forza. Tucker and Warren make very
challenging parts sound almost easy. Hines is not as impressive as
Siepi, but he toweres over what passes for most bass singing today.”
“TRISTAN UND ISOLDE : Wagner
Original Air Date: 03/22/2008
Cast: Levine; Voigt, DeYoung, Smith, Schulte, Salminen
Media: Live in HDMOD Video SID.18180213 Tags: Archive; 2018, Levine
Celebrated Wagnerian conductor Daniel Barenboim made his Met debut with this production of one of opera’s greatest dramas. Gary Lehman and Katarina Dalayman are the legendary title characters in this searing story of love and destiny. Kwangchul Youn sings King Marke, the betrayed monarch whose understanding and forgiveness comes too late to save the lovers’ life. Michelle DeYoung is Isolde’s servant Brangäne and Gerd Grochowski sings Kurwenal, Tristan’s faithful companion.
***
I’ve enjoyed Dalayman in other Wagner roles, and Barenboim in his Tristans from Bayreuth and La Scala, but my memories just didn’t show this hanging together as well. I’ll be listening again via MOoD as well.. We are finally starting to have Gelb era broadcasts in the rotation and it is good to be able to hear some new views
“
“TRISTAN UND ISOLDE : Wagner
Original Air Date: 03/22/2008
Cast: Levine; Voigt, DeYoung, Smith, Schulte, Salminen
Media: Live in HDMOD Video SID.18180214 Tags: Archive; 2018, Levine
Celebrated Wagnerian conductor Daniel Barenboim made his Met debut with this production of one of opera’s greatest dramas. Gary Lehman and Katarina Dalayman are the legendary title characters in this searing story of love and destiny. Kwangchul Youn sings King Marke, the betrayed monarch whose understanding and forgiveness comes too late to save the lovers’ life. Michelle DeYoung is Isolde’s servant Brangäne and Gerd Grochowski sings Kurwenal, Tristan’s faithful companion.
***
I’ve enjoyed Dalayman in other Wagner roles, and Barenboim in his Tristans from Bayreuth and La Scala, but my memories just didn’t show this hanging together as well. I’ll be listening again via MOoD as well.. We are finally starting to have Gelb era broadcasts in the rotation and it is good to be able to hear some new views
“
“LA FORZA DEL DESTINO : Verdi
Original Air Date: 11/29/1952
Cast: Stiedry; Milanov, Tucker, Warren, Hines, Miller, Pechner
Media: MOD Audio SID.18180424 Tags: Archive; 2018, Verdi
Here’s Milanov, Tucker, and Warren again and very well cast. This performance is available on Met Player and despite the odd (Bruno Walter) arrangement and cuts brings you a Forza you simply can’t hear today. two Leontyne Price Forzas (one from 1968 with Corelli, and the other from 1972 with Bergonzi whould be rebroadcast. She is very well represented in Sirius but the 1977 with Domingo and the 1984 video
do not show her as well as the earlier broadcasts.
This performance is available in MOoD, and with good reason. At pretty much close to their best, one of the strongest Forza casts in the postwar period.
All four of Milanov’s Forza broadcasts (all with Sitedry conducting)
have been on Sirius, and this, the earliest has also appeared in
MOoD. Despite the cuts and re-arrangement, when this performance
concludes you know you’ve heard Forza. Tucker and Warren make very
challenging parts sound almost easy. Hines is not as impressive as
Siepi, but he toweres over what passes for most bass singing today.”
“BILLY BUDD : Britten
Original Air Date: 04/04/1992
Cast: Mackerras; Hampson, Clark, Morris, Held, Courtney
Media: MOD Audio SID.18180529 Tags: Archive; 2018
Morris has sung almost every Claggart in the production and it is one of his best parts. Hampson isn’t always ideal as an innocent, but he’s a fine musician and the cast under Mackerras is top drawer. There is also an excellent Met video of the production with Dwayne Croft on MOoD.”