DON GIOVANNI:Mozart
Original Air Date: 03/03/1973
Maag; Siepi, Moser, Flagello, Lorengar, Shirley, Elias
SID.19220424
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.19220425
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.19220426
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.
NORMA:Bellini
Original Air Date: 02/28/1976
Masini; Caballé, Verrett, Alexander, Michalski
SID.19220427
I was at this performance which was very exciting. Verrett takes just about every option ever imagined for an Adalgisa, and with Alexander as a very strong partner–one of the most frequent partners for Sutherland, Caballe, Tebaldi, Leontyne Price, Beverly Sills, he was among the most accomplished tenors around as comfortable with Mozart as he was with French opera. Verrett moves up to Norma title role two months later on Met tour in Boston– quite a spectacular evening for her. I saw one of this run, and Verrett was to do her first Norma (title role) two months later with the Met on tour which I saw. Caballe is in better voice on her earlier effort with Cossotto (her best ever in most people’s eyes and ears was the Orange Norma (on Hardy video). This is Verrett at very close to her absolute peak, and she does many of the interpolations heard on her studio Adalgisa with Sills. John Alexander is a very solid Pollione (and of course sang the role with Sutherland as well). He was an extremely versatile singer with technique to take him from Mozart (Ferrando at the beginning of his career, Arbace (Idomeneo) at the end to Richard Strauss, Wagner at the end. A propos of fine Cassios in Otello, he is on the Santi second season McCracken broadcast from 1964. His 379 Met performances over 26 years is a distinguished legacy
PETER GRIMES:Britten
Original Air Date: 12/31/1994
Conlon; Rolfe Johnson, Fleming, Opie, Walker, Howard
MOD Audio SID.19220428
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.19220529
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.
DIE ZAUBERFLÖTE:Mozart
Original Air Date: 02/09/1991
Levine; Battle, Araiza, Hemm, Serra, Moll
SID.19220530
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.
WERTHER:Massenet
Original Air Date: 03/04/1972
Behr; Corelli, Elias, Boky, Cossa
SID.19220531
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.
KÁT’A KABANOVÁ:Janácek
Original Air Date: 01/09/1999
Mackerras; Malfitano, Randová, Straka, Koptchak, Clarke, Karnéus
SID.19220532
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 Kat’a.
SIMON BOCCANEGRA:Verdi
Original Air Date: 04/02/1960
Mitropoulos; Guarrera, Milanov, Bergonzi, Tozzi, Flagello
SID.19220533
This is the production that premiered with Warren a month earlier and he died the week following the premiere onstage in Forza. Guarrera who was not intended by nature as Simon does a fine job of characterization. Flagello is the most splendid Paolo you’ll ever hear, and this is Bergonzi’s only round of Gabrieles. This is Mitropoulos’ penultimate broadcast, Butterfly coming two weeks later. What great work came from his hand in the late 1950s.
Various:Various
Original Air Date: 01/01/9999
Various Artists
SID.19220534
Various selections between scheduled operas. Siriusxm Radio and web player will show the Composer and Title.
LA FAVORITA:Donizetti
Original Air Date: 03/11/1978
López-Cobos; Verrett, Pavarotti, Milnes, Giaiotti
SID.19220636
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.
NORMA:Bellini
Original Air Date: 02/28/1976
Masini; Caballé, Verrett, Alexander, Michalski
SID.19220637
I was at this performance which was very exciting. Verrett takes just about every option ever imagined for an Adalgisa, and with Alexander as a very strong partner–one of the most frequent partners for Sutherland, Caballe, Tebaldi, Leontyne Price, Beverly Sills, he was among the most accomplished tenors around as comfortable with Mozart as he was with French opera. Verrett moves up to Norma title role two months later on Met tour in Boston– quite a spectacular evening for her. I saw one of this run, and Verrett was to do her first Norma (title role) two months later with the Met on tour which I saw. Caballe is in better voice on her earlier effort with Cossotto (her best ever in most people’s eyes and ears was the Orange Norma (on Hardy video). This is Verrett at very close to her absolute peak, and she does many of the interpolations heard on her studio Adalgisa with Sills. John Alexander is a very solid Pollione (and of course sang the role with Sutherland as well). He was an extremely versatile singer with technique to take him from Mozart (Ferrando at the beginning of his career, Arbace (Idomeneo) at the end to Richard Strauss, Wagner at the end. A propos of fine Cassios in Otello, he is on the Santi second season McCracken broadcast from 1964. His 379 Met performances over 26 years is a distinguished legacy
ROMÉO ET JULIETTE:Gounod
Original Air Date: 01/25/1986
Cambreling; Shicoff, Malfitano, Plishka, Harris, Schexnayder
SID.19220638
Malfitano and Shicoff make for a good pairing, and this is the first appearance of Juliet’s “Potion”aria which is now quite standard.
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).