CARMEN:Bizet
Original Air Date: 02/16/1952
Reiner; Stevens, Tucker, Conner, Silveri
MOD Audio SID.19220639
My operagoing just missed Stevens , but I saw Tucker many times. The special attraction is the work of Reiner, and he is definitely worth hearing in live performance. Silveri is not my ideal as Escamillo, but only Merrill (beauty of voice) and van Dam (style AND voice) regularly please me in this deceptively difficult part. The RCA recording made shortly after the opening of this production with Met forces substitutes Peerce for Tucker (because of RT’s exclusive Columbia contract), Albanese for Conner and Merrill for Silveri.
DON GIOVANNI:Mozart
Original Air Date: 03/03/1973
Maag; Siepi, Moser, Flagello, Lorengar, Shirley, Elias
SID.19220640
This is Siepi’s farewell broadcast to the Met, and Moser and Lorengar are particularly good foils for him. I wish Corena had joined him for the this, but Flagello is a very solid Leporello. We are still missing from Sirius Siepi’s 1957 new production broadcast and his 1967 with Sutherland and Lorengar under Bohm. Two of Siepi’s best Don Giovanni broadcasts have not been on Sirius (with Steber and Della Casa under Bohm in 1957 and Bohm again with Sutherland and Lorengar in 1967). This is Siepi’s Met broadcast farewell, his final performance coming a month later as Don Basilio in a Prey/Horne Barbiere. The first Siepi Don to be broadcast in the Sirius series, mighty Cesare had 11 broadcasts of the role between 1952 and 1973. Lorengar and Moser are under-represented on commercial recordings, but both fine Mozarteans; this is also George Shirley’s final broadcast, and along with Simon Estes, they are the only African American males to have had any significant (leading roles, broadcasts) role at the Met so far. Two other Siepi Don Giovanni broadcasts are urgently requested: the 1957 under Karl Bohm with the new production cast (Steber, Della Casa, Peters, Peerce for Valletti in the broadcast, Corena) and the 1967 also under Bohm with the most potent bass clef for the final scene in the history of the opera (Siepi, Flagello (in his prime which this 1973 isnt), Giaiotti plus Sutherland and Lorengar); the 1978 telecast and subsequent broadcast should be revisited for Julia Varady’s only Met appearances and fine ones as Elvira and a very young but juicy of voice James Morris along with Sutherland again. Once again I will make a plea for two of Siepi’s great Don Giovanni broadcasts, the first year of the Graf/Berman production in 1957 with Bohm conducting Steber and Della Casa, and a decade later in the first season in Lincoln Center again with Bohm conducting and Sutherland in a rare Met non-Bonynge appearance with Lorengar and Flagello from this cast, but 6 years earlier. These two continuing omissions leave big gaps on both Sirius and MOoD. . And while I am at it I will make a plea for Siepi’s 3 unheard Faust Mephistophes– 2 with Bjorling in 1950 and 1959 and his final broadcast of Faust with Gedda, Lorengar, and Merrill from 1969.
SIEGFRIED:Wagner
Original Air Date: 04/10/1993
Levine; Jones, Johns, Morris, Gjevang, Zednik, Wlaschiha
SID.19220641
This 1993 cycle catches at least three performers in splendid voice: Morris, Zednik, Wlaschiha. Siegfried has not been especially well served on the airwaves. Melchior only has one complete from 1937 (not yet broadcast on Sirius), and the 1951 with Svanholdm and Traubel has also not been heard. Surprisingly Nilsson’s first cycle (1962) Siegfried has also not been heard, and Hopf possibly excepted, the remainder of the cast is extremely strong. Let’s hear prime Frick, Kuen, London, Nilsson, Arroyo (Forest BIrd).This is Gwyneth Jones’ only broadcast Siegfried Brunnhilde from the Met, and my memory is that Johns is a solid Siegfried. This should be in MOoD. I saw Jones at Bayreuth in 1978, but I think this is the cycle that found her in more satisfying voice than usual. Morris (James), Zednik, Wlaschiha, Salminen are just about as well as you can do.
SIEGFRIED:Wagner
Original Air Date: 04/10/1993
Levine; Jones, Johns, Morris, Gjevang, Zednik, Wlaschiha
SID.19220642
This 1993 cycle catches at least three performers in splendid voice: Morris, Zednik, Wlaschiha. Siegfried has not been especially well served on the airwaves. Melchior only has one complete from 1937 (not yet broadcast on Sirius), and the 1951 with Svanholdm and Traubel has also not been heard. Surprisingly Nilsson’s first cycle (1962) Siegfried has also not been heard, and Hopf possibly excepted, the remainder of the cast is extremely strong. Let’s hear prime Frick, Kuen, London, Nilsson, Arroyo (Forest BIrd).This is Gwyneth Jones’ only broadcast Siegfried Brunnhilde from the Met, and my memory is that Johns is a solid Siegfried. This should be in MOoD. I saw Jones at Bayreuth in 1978, but I think this is the cycle that found her in more satisfying voice than usual. Morris (James), Zednik, Wlaschiha, Salminen are just about as well as you can do.
LA CENERENTOLA:Rossini
Original Air Date: 03/11/2000
Campanella; Larmore, Giménez, Alaimo, Corbelli
MOD Audio SID.19220743
This is Larmore’s second Angelina broadcast (the first was 1998 with Levine conducting). Corbelli is the Dandini, and Alaimo the Magnifico. Eight years later Corbelli moves down to Magnifico. A little of this opera goes a long way with me.
PETER GRIMES:Britten
Original Air Date: 12/31/1994
Conlon; Rolfe Johnson, Fleming, Opie, Walker, Howard
MOD Audio SID.19220744
Excellent all-around performance. Fleming in an unusual role and Rolfe Johnson taken from us much too soon. I like hearing a young fresh voice as Ellen Orford. This is Fleming’s only season as Ellen Orford, and I find her youthful singing a most pleasant plus.
ADRIANA LECOUVREUR:Cilea
Original Air Date: 02/26/1983
Fulton; Scotto; Shicoff, Cortez, Sereni
SID.19220745
Scotto is a vivid Adriana, if caught a bit late. A good part for Shicoff. This is not my favorite work, and while Scotto is very attentive to the veristic details, we’re starting to get into the “scratchy” years. While I like the Sony recording (with Obraztsova, Domingo) with her a bit better, she is a vivid Adriana, and Shicoff is an excellent Maurizio. Available in MOoD.
UN BALLO IN MASCHERA:Verdi
Original Air Date: 02/28/1959
Schippers; Stella, Hurley, Madeira, Peerce, Merrill
MOD Audio SID.19220746
I saw Antonietta Stella in this part on November 23, 1963 in Dallas with Di Stefano, Sereni, Berini, and Guglielmi; it was originally scheduled for the 22nd but postponed because of the JFK assassination the day before. I did not see her again until (and last time) in Philadelphia in 1974 in a Puccini gala in Philadelphia celebrating the 50th anniversary of Puccini’s death when she did the 4th Act of Manon Lescaut. The gala also featured Bergonzi and Scotto in Act 1 of Butterfly and with Mastilovic added, Acts 2 & 3 of Turandot– to my knowledge the only stage Turandot appearances for Bergonzi and Scotto. Back to Ballo. Peerce’s association with Ballo goes back to the 1940s and he also is on Toscanini’s broadcast with Merrill and Nelli. This performance is better than OK, but not one of the great ones such as the Milanov Bjorling from 1940 and Price Bergonzi from 1966, both on MOoD. This performance was rotated with more regularity early on the Sirius service. Peerce is not my favorite tone in Riccardo, but the overall cast is in good representative form.
WERTHER:Massenet
Original Air Date: 03/04/1972
Behr; Corelli, Elias, Boky, Cossa
SID.19220747
As much as I love Corelli, I’m afraid the best thing about him in Werther are his press pics. Werther and Romeo come at the end of his Met career and give one no idea of what he had to offer. I don’t even mind his Faust recording with the Bonynges, but this is too late. The Met has other Werthers which are more interesting. This is the second of Corelli’s two Werther broadcasts (both with Elias). It is also available on MOoD (Metropolitan Opera on Demand, formerly Met Player) Corelli looked great as Werther, but when one is just listening, I think one does better with Kraus or Carreras, or these days, Kaufmann.
LA FAVORITA:Donizetti
Original Air Date: 03/11/1978
López-Cobos; Verrett, Pavarotti, Milnes, Giaiotti
SID.19220748
This is a very fully sung performance. I remember better Leonora de Guzmans from Verrett (Dallas about 1971 and a sizzling concert performance at Carnegie with Kraus some years earlier), but this cast gives all they have. Still, this is a zingy performance and one will not be bored. It’s on Met On Demand as well. This remains the only broadcast of Favorita, and it is a shame that it has now been out of the Met repertory for more than three decades. Zajick for one made a great success with the part in Spain. The opera is more easily cast than Puritani. Milnes is far from my favorite baritone, but this performance has all singers well up to the mark with plenty of energy from all.
DIE ZAUBERFLÖTE:Mozart
Original Air Date: 02/09/1991
Levine; Battle, Araiza, Hemm, Serra, Moll
SID.19220749
This is the simultaneous broadcast/telecast of the new David Hockney production (based on a Glyndebourne original). The video has been on DVD also. Serra’s tone is a bit white, but very accurate, and the overall casting is of high quality.
KATA KABANOVA:Janácek
Original Air Date: 01/09/1999
Mackerras; Malfitano, Randová, Straka, Koptchak, Clarke, Karnéus
SID.19230101
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. Mackerras is a master of the Czech repertoire, but I really need the visual to work for me with Kata.
SALOME:Strauss
Original Air Date: 03/27/2004
Gergiev; Mattila, Jerusalem, Diadkova, Dohmen, Polenzani
MOD Audio SID.19230317
This is Mattila’s first season as Salome, and she delivered one of the greatest Salomes ever at the Met. Though she did the part again in 2008 as part of the HD telecasts, she didn’t have the same supremacy she had four years earlier (this HD is available on MOoD). This week’s audio broadcast is the one to hear in case you are in any doubt of what her top form sounds like. I like the supporting cast better in this 2004 performance as well. She filmed it in 2004 at the Met (not HD and pre Gelb) with Terfel, but we are likely to never see this which is a shame. Maybe they could put the audio version on MOoD. (editors note… it is on MOD now) Although this has been on before, because of the HD 4 years later, that performance is more frequently encountered. The 2004 performance was filmed also, but we think will never see the light of day. I’m happy that the Sirius audio survives (the video included Terfel, not Dohmen) and so warmly welcome this rebroadcast again. I would still love to hear the 1958 with Borkh under Mitropoulos (Schicchi is the curtain-raiser!!!!!)
LE PROPHÈTE:Meyerbeer
Original Air Date: 01/29/1977
Lewis; McCracken, Scotto, Horne, Hines
SID.19230318
Though this is the only broadcast of Prophete from the Met, I find the work of little interest. The big name singers work hard, but Lewis is not the man to make the work seem better than it is. The second season is in the opening weeks under Charles Mackerras (typically a much higher profile conductor), but not broadcast. In the current environment we would have had one and possibly two offerings with new casting of both Berthe (Rita Shane) and Jean (Guy Chauvet).
LA FORZA DEL DESTINO:Verdi
Original Air Date: 03/09/1968
Molinari-Pradelli; Price, Corelli, Merrill, Hines, Pearl, Corena
SID.19230319
This performance marks Price’s first Leonora de Vargas broadcast and Corelli’s second and last Alvaro broadcast; Merrill only has two Met broadcasts as Leonora’s brother, the first with Farrell and Tucker in 1961 which has not been on Sirius at all and this 1968 performance. This should be in MOoD as it is one of the few main Corelli roles unrepresented. Molinari-Pradelli is also at the helm of the classic Decca London studio performance with Tebaldi, Del Monaco, Bastianini, Siepi, Corena all in their prime. This 1968 broadcast is probably Price’s best effort before the broadcast mikes, as her final broadcast (also video) in 1984 is much too late.
MADAMA BUTTERFLY:Puccini
Original Air Date: 01/08/1994
Fulton; Soviero, Leech, Deng, Allen, Anthony
SID.19230320
Soviero sometimes seems like the last of the “veristas”, but I am glad this performance which has been on Sirius before is once again in the rotation. I’m still waiting for the Stella/Fernandi Butterfly from 1958 and the Tucci/Bergonzi (this one time was scheduled for Sirius, but for some reason never happened). This is Thomas Fulton’s last Met broadcast, and his solid support in the pit is still much missed. *** I don’t remember this performance, but Soviero is a fine singer, Scotto-like detail with a more agreeable upper register. Leech was still a fine Pinkerton at this stage. Soviero and Leech are together again 2 years later (Soviero’s last Met Butterfly), but this performance features Thomas Allen and Thomas Fulton conduting (the latter’s farewell Met performance).
ARIADNE AUF NAXOS:Strauss
Original Air Date: 03/20/1976
Levine; Caballé, Remedios, Welting, Troyanos, Dooley, Titus
SID.19230321
The star is Troyanos shortly after her debut. Caballe, though not noted as a Straussian pleased many, but it does not reappear in her repertoire (and only two more after this broadcast premiere) Remedios is in his Met debut at this broadcast, and does not return for future seasons at the Met. This is Levine’s first go at Ariadne at the Met, and he does just short of half (41) of the 91 performances since Bohm premiered it in 1962. He got much better as the seasons stretched on, but Bohm is definitely the more authentic but neither his premiere year 1963 has been broadcast (possibly affected by the English translation nor the 1970, the first time the complete opera and prologue were done in German.
Rigoletto, without threatening anyone in the top tier. The same goes for Blegen and Raffanti. Our odds on a well cast Rigoletto today might not be nearly so good as dependable a Rigoletto as Louis Quilico would be hard to find today.
SAMSON ET DALILA:Saint-Saëns
Original Air Date: 03/14/1953
Cleva; Vinay, Stevens, Björling
SID.19230424
I like Vinay but prefer the 1949 versions with same leads, but with Merrill as High Priest. Stevens’ first Dalila broadcast is 1941 with Maison and L. Warren under Pelletier which has not been on Sirius. Stevens’ last broadcast of Dalila comes in 1958 with Del Monaco and Singher. That is available on MOoD. This performance is not for everyone, though I enjoy Vinay a lot. The main Sirius problem with Samson is it is not a work that is worthy of MONTHLY programming (albeit in different performances) which is what it has received in 2013. It’s appeal is more limited
DIE WALKÜRE:Wagner
Original Air Date: 03/07/1987
Levine; Behrens, McIntyre, Altmeyer, Hofmann, Fassbaender, Haugland
MET On Record SID.19230425
This is Levine’s first broadcast of Walkure and the opening production in the Schenk/Schneider-Siemssen Ring. The opening night of the production in the fall had Simon Estes as Wotan. I had seen Hofmann in the Chereau Ring nine years earlier at Bayreuth, and his voice was already showing wear and tear to the extent he never made it to Siegfried or beyond the Ring, Tristan for which he was scheduled. This broadcast is his antepenultimate Met appearance which totals twenty-nine performances and concludes a year later with another Walkure notable more for being Rysanek’s final Met Sieglinde and Waltraud Meier’s only broadcast Walkure Fricka. McIntyre was also in the Chereau Ring and was in much better condition and whose Met career goes on for another nine years beyond this broadcast.
DIE WALKÜRE:Wagner
Original Air Date: 03/07/1987
Levine; Behrens, McIntyre, Altmeyer, Hofmann, Fassbaender, Haugland
MET On Record SID.19230426
This is Levine’s first broadcast of Walkure and the opening production in the Schenk/Schneider-Siemssen Ring. The opening night of the production in the fall had Simon Estes as Wotan. I had seen Hofmann in the Chereau Ring nine years earlier at Bayreuth, and his voice was already showing wear and tear to the extent he never made it to Siegfried or beyond the Ring, Tristan for which he was scheduled. This broadcast is his antepenultimate Met appearance which totals twenty-nine performances and concludes a year later with another Walkure notable more for being Rysanek’s final Met Sieglinde and Waltraud Meier’s only broadcast Walkure Fricka. McIntyre was also in the Chereau Ring and was in much better condition and whose Met career goes on for another nine years beyond this broadcast.
FAUST:Gounod
Original Air Date: 01/05/1991
Fulton; Leech, Soviero, Morris, Quilico, Quittmeyer
SID.19230427
This all north American cast does just fine by Gounod, and especially nice to see Leech and Soviero featured. They stack up very well against the competition, as does Morris. Like Gioconda, Faust knows how to make grand opera work, and even more memorably. MOoD is missing a number of important Fausts, not least of which are the two Bjorling performances with Siepi; this one would be welcome as well.
LES CONTES D’HOFFMANN:Offenbach
Original Air Date: 12/03/1955
Monteux; Tucker, Singher, Peters, Stevens, Amara, Miller
SID.19230428
To Monteux went the honor of conducting the world premieres of Sacre du Printemps Petruchka and Daphnis et Chloe all for Diaghilev and was principal viola in the world premiere of Pelleas. He appeared at the Met for the first time in 1917 and came back 37 years later for a series of performances which allowed three broadcasts of Faust, Pelleas, Carmen, Manon (just issued on Met Player), Orfeo and this delightful performance of Contes d’Hoffmann. Tucker might not be the stylist of a Gedda or Kraus but he certainly gives his all. This is also on Met Player, and the villains are in the most capable hands of Martial Singher. What a treat to hear ANY week. This performance has also been issued Sony Historical CD and is on MOoD. The women are musical if not especially satisfying. Tucker and Singher fill their considerable duties with tone (Tucker) and style (Singher). Just the right touch comes from the legendary Monteux.
MESSA DA REQUIEM:Verdi
Original Air Date: 02/20/1982
Levine; Price, Quivar, Domingo, Cheek
MOD Audio SID.19230529
This broadcast is in memory of long-time Met Assistant Manager and Press representative, Francis Robinson. This is getting to be pretty late Price, and Domingo is not in my first tier of tenor soloists for the Requiem. Quivar is a very solid mezzo soloist, and for me to be preferred to many commercially recorded mezzos. Cheek is OK, but if you are a Met Opera on Demand (MOoD) you can listen to a 1964 Requiem (in memory of John F. Kennedy) under Solti with Price,Elias, Bergonzi, and Siepi. Sound is not digital, but the performance is splendid and marks Solti’s final appearance with the Met
MADAMA BUTTERFLY:Puccini
Original Air Date: 01/08/1994
Fulton; Soviero, Leech, Deng, Allen, Anthony
SID.19230530
Soviero sometimes seems like the last of the “veristas”, but I am glad this performance which has been on Sirius before is once again in the rotation. I’m still waiting for the Stella/Fernandi Butterfly from 1958 and the Tucci/Bergonzi (this one time was scheduled for Sirius, but for some reason never happened). This is Thomas Fulton’s last Met broadcast, and his solid support in the pit is still much missed. *** I don’t remember this performance, but Soviero is a fine singer, Scotto-like detail with a more agreeable upper register. Leech was still a fine Pinkerton at this stage. Soviero and Leech are together again 2 years later (Soviero’s last Met Butterfly), but this performance features Thomas Allen and Thomas Fulton conduting (the latter’s farewell Met performance).
LUCIA DI LAMMERMOOR:Donizetti
Original Air Date: 02/18/1989
Müller; Devia, Glassman, Quilico, Howell
SID.19230531
This is Devia’s first Lucia broadcast; she also broadcast the role five years later in 1994 with Hadley, Pons, Plishka under Santi. This later performance is available in MOoD.She is still singing and has an active schedule with Anna Bolena currently in the Canaries, and Roberto Devereux upcoming in Madrid in September October. This is for a woman who made her Met debut in 1979 as Gilda Her Met 73 performance history (none since 1994) is equally as eclectic with Despina and two broadcasts Constanze in Entfuhrung, and appearances as Nannetta (Falstaff) and Gilda (Rigoletto) with no broadcasts. Still a 40+ year career in major houses. NOTE: Ms. Devia retires after singing three performances of NORMA at Teatro La Fenice the week of May 13, 2018. Devia has announced that after the “Norma” performances she will be retiring from the Opera stage and will dedicate her career to singing concerts and teaching. Ms. Devia was awarded the “Premio Una vita nella musica 2018” on May 14, 2018,
MACBETH:Verdi
Original Air Date: 03/24/1962
Rosenstock; Colzani, Rysanek, Tozzi, Bergonzi
SID.19230532
Rosenstock picked up much of the conducting load previously assigned to Leinsdorf, who had decamped to the Boston Symphony as Music Director. Rosenstock had debuted at the Met in 1929 with six appearances not to reappear again until 1961 when he began a 248 performance run at the Met ending in 1969 with Meistersinger which he had premiered in November 1962 in a new production by Robert O’Hearn and Nathaniel Merrill. In other repertory most of this late career could be described as correct, and nowhere at the level of Bohm, Leinsdorf, or Stiedry. This is Rysanek’s third and last Lady Macbeth performance, and she is not in the form of her debut 4 years earlier, nor is Rosenstock as up to the task as Leinsdorf who replaced the orgiinally scheduled Mitropoulos in 1958. Colzani can be a bit rough hewn, but that works as Macbeth, and Bergonzi is as classy as it gets; Tozzi I prefer to HInes, but I prefer Giaiotti to either– a role Siepi never did at the Met (and don’t notice it elsewhere either).
SALOME:Strauss
Original Air Date: 03/27/2004
Gergiev; Mattila, Jerusalem, Diadkova, Dohmen, Polenzani
MOD Audio SID.19230533
This is Mattila’s first season as Salome, and she delivered one of the greatest Salomes ever at the Met. Though she did the part again in 2008 as part of the HD telecasts, she didn’t have the same supremacy she had four years earlier (this HD is available on MOoD). This week’s audio broadcast is the one to hear in case you are in any doubt of what her top form sounds like. I like the supporting cast better in this 2004 performance as well. She filmed it in 2004 at the Met (not HD and pre Gelb) with Terfel, but we are likely to never see this which is a shame. Maybe they could put the audio version on MOoD. (editors note… it is on MOD now) Although this has been on before, because of the HD 4 years later, that performance is more frequently encountered. The 2004 performance was filmed also, but we think will never see the light of day. I’m happy that the Sirius audio survives (the video included Terfel, not Dohmen) and so warmly welcome this rebroadcast again. I would still love to hear the 1958 with Borkh under Mitropoulos (Schicchi is the curtain-raiser!!!!!)
LULU:Berg
Original Air Date: 04/02/1988
Levine; Malfitano, Mazura, Troyanos, Hamilton, Foldi
SID.19260101
Lulu is not a regular item for me, but Mazura and Troyanos were specialists, and Leighton Kerner, the late Village Voice critic found her the most satisfying of 11 Lulus he had encountered. I don’t find Lulu a very good audio only encounter, and it’s sad that the Dexter production which was telecast with Migenes (replacing Stratas) has not made its way to Met OperaonDemand, but is on a Met issued DVD in the Levine 40th anniversary DVD box.
LOHENGRIN:Wagner
Original Air Date: 04/11/1953
Stiedry; Sullivan, Steber, Harshaw, Björling, Ernster
SID.19260317
I prefer Steber at Bayreuth, but this is a very decent performance. There are two strange omissions in modern Met broadcast Lohengrins: the 1967 new production with Bjoner, Ludwig, Konya, Berry, Milnes (very well cast!) under Bohm and even more inexplicable the 1985 with Tomowa-Sintow, Marton, Domingo. Very unusual for a Domingo assumption to go undocumented, and T-S and Marton are a fabulous combination. I find the best of Lohengrin as great as anything Wagner ever wrote. Two years later Uhde and Edelmann now anchor the bass clef, and Steber after her summer at Bayreuth is much more to the task. The 1955 revival is on MOoD and is more strongly recommended. Sigurd Bjorling (no relation to Jussi) has one season at the Met.