CARMEN:Bizet
Original Air Date: 01/12/1974
Lewis; Horne, McCracken, Amara, Reardon
MOD Audio SID.19280640
I’m rather down on this performance from its most recent rebroadcast. Lewis’conducting lacks snap or allure, and Horne without Bernstein to challenge her seems too wayward for me. If you want to sample Horne and McCracken, listen to the studio based on the first performances of the production from the previous season; the March 1973 broadcast (same cast except Krause for Reardon) is only slightly better. Check the DG recording with Lenny.
L’ITALIANA IN ALGERI:Rossini
Original Air Date: 01/04/1986
Levine; Horne, Ahlstedt, Montarsolo, Monk
MOD Video SID.19280641
This performance precedes the telecast by one week and that telecast is available in MOoD. For me, the distinction of the performance is mostly Montarsolo. Isabella is Horne’s second most performed role at 37 (Carmen unsurprisingly is first at 49) Her 3d is Adalgisa in Norma (all with Sutherland). MOD is 1/11/86 performance with same cast.
AIDA:Verdi
Original Air Date: 02/20/1954
Cleva; Milanov, Baum, Barbieri, Warren, Hines
MOD Audio SID.19280642
Milanov, Barbieri, Warren and Hines are major Aida players any way you look at it. I used to have some cavils about Warren’s lack of equalization, but after the Verdi baritone singing I’ve endured the last quarter century, I am always grateful to encounter him in one of his signature roles.
FIDELIO:Beethoven
Original Air Date: 02/22/1941
Walter; Flagstad, Maison, Huehn, Kipnis, Farell, Laufkötter
SID.19280743
This performance is important on several counts: 1) it comes only a week after Walter’s Met debut and marked his first appearances in the USA as an opera conductor—he had led symphonic ensembles for close to a decade. Flagstad was concluding her pre-war Met career (9 performances, half of them on tour and she was to be gone for a decade). The supporting cast is of high quality, but the real hallmarks are Walter’s conducting and her luminous Leonore. They can be sampled in MOoD in Flagstad’s return in 1951. Having a voice with the quality of Kipnis is another recommendation for including this performance in MOoD as well.
SIMON BOCCANEGRA:Verdi
Original Air Date: 03/03/2007
Luisi; Hampson, Gheorghiu, Giordani, Furlanetto, Gerello
MOD Audio SID.19280744
Simon is one opera that gets regular outings at the Met, though not necessarily everywhere, starting with the titanic duo of Tibbett and Pinza, both of whom are still my standard in Simon and Fiesco (but not yet appearing on Sirius). I am not a big fan of Hampson’s traversal of the Verdi baritone repertoire. This was followed with another MOoD broadcast (video) with Domingo moving up to the title role under Levine. For me the best of the recent SBs was the FOLLOWING year when Levine did a short revival with Hvorostovsky (not always my choice for Verdi either) with Frittoli, Vargas, and Furlanetto, where Levine seems at his most inspired– he’s conducted 1/3 of all Boccanegras at the Met, and this performance is now out on MOoD as well. Somehow this performance did not make it in to MOoD– it should.
L’ELISIR D’AMORE:Donizetti
Original Air Date: 03/18/1978
Caldwell; Pavarotti, Blegen, Corena, Sereni
SID.19280745
My memory of Caldwell’s conducting (her Met farewell) is not so positive; this is the second of three Blegen/Pavarotti Elisirs. For me Sereni and Corena, especially Corena have never been replaced in these roles. Corena’s near monopoly of Dr. Dulcamara is totally deserved. It is just a shame that there are not more video representations of his very considerable art. A particular word of praise for Sereni, whose recent passing reminds us of what a reliable artist he was. The best Elisir for my money is the all Italian one from 1972 with Scotto, Bergonzi, Sereni, and Corena (on MOoD); there is an earlier broadcast (1966) which is on MOoD and Sony CD which substitutes Peters and Guarrera under Schippers for Scotto and Sereni. MOoD covers all this ground plus a fine broadcast with Peters and Kraus from 1968 with again Sereni and Corena.
LE NOZZE DI FIGARO:Mozart
Original Air Date: 01/11/1958
Leinsdorf; Tozzi, Güden, Della Casa, London, Miller
SID.19280746
Sirius honors Giorgio Tozzi who died May 30, 2011 at the age of 88. Leinsdorf and three members of this cast moved on to Vienna to record Figaro (Peters for Guden, and Elias for Miller on the recording are new) A used copy on Amazon was asking $172. This performance has been on before , but my memory of Della Casa, Guden and London are mostly from other broadcasts, so I’ll definitely take a listen. Bing did a lot of Nozze — this round of performances comes just before a new production two seasons later also with Leinsdorf. The other four performances feature cast changes in every part . A nice cast, but make sure this is the chemistry you want.
MAZEPPA:Tchaikovsky
Original Air Date: 03/18/2006
Gergiev; Putilin, Guryakova, Balashov, Burchuladze, Diadkova
SID.19280747
This is the only Met broadcast of Tchaikovsky’s powerful work. This performance is notable for Tchaikovsky’s powerful music, Gergiev’s assured conducting, and Putilin giving his considerable all to the title role. This is offbeat repertory that I’m glad we’ve had. Gergiev and Putilin make a strong case for hearing the work more often. It should really be on MOoD.
GÖTTERDÄMMERUNG:Wagner
Original Air Date: 01/27/1962
Leinsdorf; Nilsson, Hopf, Frick, Mittelmann, Kuchta, Dalis
MOD Audio SID.19280748
This is a magnificent performance with Nilsson and Frick among the best ever in two of the most challenging roles in the repertoire. The rest of the cast are seasoned performers who certainly bring something special. This was possibly the first uncut broadcast Gotterdammerung, though that now seems commonplace.
GÖTTERDÄMMERUNG:Wagner
Original Air Date: 01/27/1962
Leinsdorf; Nilsson, Hopf, Frick, Mittelmann, Kuchta, Dalis
MOD Audio SID.19280749
This is a magnificent performance with Nilsson and Frick among the best ever in two of the most challenging roles in the repertoire. The rest of the cast are seasoned performers who certainly bring something special. This was possibly the first uncut broadcast Gotterdammerung, though that now seems commonplace.
OTELLO:Verdi
Original Air Date: 10/13/1995
Levine; Domingo, Fleming, Morris, Croft
MOD Video SID.19330101
This performance is also available as a DVD from Deutsche Grammophon. This was Fleming’s first big success at the Met, and she is a splendid Desdemona.This performance is also available as a DVD from Deutsche Grammophon. This was Fleming’s first big success at the Met, and she is a splendid Desdemona.
ORFEO ED EURIDICE:Gluck
Original Air Date: 01/09/1971
Bonynge; Bumbry, Tucci, Peters
SID.19330317
Bumbry premiered this final Rolf Gerard designed production complete in Courreges boots. She is in luscious voice for this, but how Gluckian one finds it might leave some of the more scholarly oriented very disappointed. When Mackerras arrived for a revival with Marilyn Horne we were in a different, but not necessarily more successful one. For the record, Gerard was the designer for the Webster Don Carlo, the Alfred Lunt Cosi Fan Tutte, the Peter Brook Faust, the Tyrone Guthrie Carmen, and the Garson Kanin Fledermaus among 20 productions over a 20 year period (only 2 in the 2 house– Romeo and this Orfeo). These productions rank among the great successes of the Bing regime. This is the premiere cast in a Rolf Gerard production (so out of ideas), but Bumbry is in luscious voice, if not your standard issue Orfeo. Why oh why is her effort not in MOoD?
LES TROYENS:Berlioz
Original Air Date: 02/18/1984
Levine; Norman, Sooter, Monk, Taillon, Plishka, Ahlstedt
MOD Audio SID.19330318
Norman repeated Verrett’s double assumption on this broadcast (Verrett’s was for the opening of the production in 1973 when Ludwig was indisposed–I was there, quite an evening). I rather prefer Norman’s Didon to her Cassandre, but this broadcast now takes its place in MOoD. Enee is close to an impossible part, but Sooter is no worse than Ronald Dowd was in Boston for Caldwell.
LES TROYENS:Berlioz
Original Air Date: 02/18/1984
Levine; Norman, Sooter, Monk, Taillon, Plishka, Ahlstedt
MOD Audio SID.19330319
Norman repeated Verrett’s double assumption on this broadcast (Verrett’s was for the opening of the production in 1973 when Ludwig was indisposed–I was there, quite an evening). I rather prefer Norman’s Didon to her Cassandre, but this broadcast now takes its place in MOoD. Enee is close to an impossible part, but Sooter is no worse than Ronald Dowd was in Boston for Caldwell.
ARIADNE AUF NAXOS:Strauss
Original Air Date: 03/20/1993
Marin; Norman, Moser, Swenson, Mentzer, Stewart, Oswald
MOD Audio SID.19330320
For my money Jessye Norman is much better in her two earlier broadcasts (the first with Andrew Davis conducting, the second with Levine and subsequently telecast). Moser is not my preferred Bacchus, but Swenson featuring more of a lyric Zerbinetta (a la Guden) is very fine. This is Norman’s last Ariadne broadcast and in the new production for her. See the 1988 video (which is on DVD from DG) with Troyanos and Battle under Levine. Norman five years earlier under Levine has a sterling broadcast and telecast with King, Troyanos, and Battle.
DAS RHEINGOLD:Wagner
Original Air Date: 02/22/1969
von Karajan; Adam, Reynolds, Stolze, Kelemen, Talvela, Ridderbusch
MOD Audio SID.19330321
One of Karajan’s only 2 broadcasts. This performance is available in MOoD, and if Adam is far from my favorite Wotan, Reynolds, Kelemen and Stolze are wonderful as Fricka, Alberich, and Loge respectively. Reynolds replaced Veasey who was will, and also sing Flosshilde (her originally scheduled role) with Shirley Love picking up the Rhinemaiden in the final scene. Milnes is an excellent Donner. I was in the theatre for this very special performance and still have wonderful memories of it. Karajan’s Met farewell is the following Saturday with the Walkure broadcast.
CARMEN:Bizet
Original Air Date: 03/23/1996
Levine; Graves, Margison, Vallarroel, Leiferkus
SID.19330422
While Levine had done the fall series of performances (which includes Graves’ debut), Fiore did the whole spring series culminating in this broadcast. I double checked against the Archives. Graves was an especially attractive Carmen visually, but musically I felt she played too many of her trumps in the early acts. This is not the cast I would create were I the casting director despite Graves’ considerable physical appeal. I don’t understand the appeal of this performance. Levine is not my favorite Carmen conductor, and this cast does not have much to recommend it.
LA JUIVE:Halévy
Original Air Date: 12/13/2003
Viotti; Isokoski, Shicoff, Futral, Cutler, Furlanetto
MOD Audio SID.19330423
Viotti died only a year or so after premiering the Juive. He was a real talent, and Shicoff, Isokoski and Furlanetto all bring their considerable talents in a production transferred from Vienna. This is the Met’s first season since the mid 1930s and its only broadcast to date. Some early 1930s operas were broadcast but don’t exist. La Juive was never broadcast until 2003.
somewhat better performance which is available on MOoD and on Sony Historical CD. [1/6/14]
COSÌ FAN TUTTE:Mozart
Original Air Date: 01/20/1990
Levine; Mims, Hadley, Troyanos, Hampson, Hong, Van Allan
MOD Audio SID.19330425
This performance is notable as Troyanos’ only Met season as Dorabella, and the same holds true for Hampson’s Guglielmo. She has a well regarded RCA recording from 1968 (!!!) very early in her career. I find Levine at his most inspired in Mozart, and especially so in Cosi. It will be his return opera to the Met next season and is scheduled for Live in HD. The ensemble is well drilled. Worth a listen. Updated note : Sirius subscribers have heard Levine’s return in Cosi already with the matinee broadcast and Live in HD to come in March 2014. I thought Levine lived up to his considerable reputation in the fall Cosis.
SIMON BOCCANEGRA:Verdi
Original Air Date: 01/30/1965
Cleva; Colzani, Tebaldi, Shirley, Hines, Díaz
SID.19330426
This is Tebaldi’s final Met Amelia, but the Met still has not broadcast her 1961 effort nor the 1974 performance with Wixell as the Doge along with Tucker, Maliponte, Tozzi under Ehrling. For her final outing in this role Tebaldi still brings a lot of her vocal sheen.
MADAMA BUTTERFLY:Puccini
Original Air Date: 12/15/1956
Mitropoulos; Albanese, Barioni, Elias, Brownlee, De Paolis
SID.19330427
No one surpasses Farrar’s 139 Cio Cio Sans (!!!!!!), and Dorothy Kirsten makes for a close third behind Albanese with 68, but Licia’s 72 firmly puts her at number 2. Generally I like her Butterfly more than her Violetta, and Mitropoulos gives excellent direction from the pit. Her last Butterfly broadcast is 2 years later under Leinsdorf.
DIE FRAU OHNE SCHATTEN:Strauss
Original Air Date: 04/01/1978
Böhm; Rysanek, King, Schröder-Feinen, Berry, Dunn
MOD Audio SID.19330428
This is the last of the 4 Bohm broadcasts starting in 1966 all with Rysanek and Berry; 3 of the 4 are with King, but the first three feature Ludwig and Dalis in their parts; Schroder-Feinen and Dunn are first rate presences as well. It is a shame that the 1966 premiere season and 1971 performances which have been on Sirius with some regularity have not made their way to MOoD. The 1969 broadcast is reported in the MetDatabase as having been on Sirius, but according to my records it has not been broadcast in the last four years. as has the 1971 Unfortunately Bohm never came close to the near completeness of his 1955 Decca recording at the Met, and a steady increase of cuts came with each revival. NEVERTHELESS, one could do much worse than hear one of the great Straussian ensembles he held together for over 2 decades in New York. Frau’s best moments are right up there with Ariadne, Elektra, and Rosenkavalier, and the weaker stuff is better than the weaker Rosenkavalier pages.
Featured,
ARIADNE AUF NAXOS:Strauss
Original Air Date: 03/20/1993
Marin; Norman, Moser, Swenson, Mentzer, Stewart, Oswald
MOD Audio SID.19330530
For my money Jessye Norman is much better in her two earlier broadcasts (the first with Andrew Davis conducting, the second with Levine and subsequently telecast). Moser is not my preferred Bacchus, but Swenson featuring more of a lyric Zerbinetta (a la Guden) is very fine. This is Norman’s last Ariadne broadcast and in the new production for her. See the 1988 video (which is on DVD from DG) with Troyanos and Battle under Levine. Norman five years earlier under Levine has a sterling broadcast and telecast with King, Troyanos, and Battle.
LES CONTES D’HOFFMANN:Offenbach
Original Air Date: 02/05/1983
Rudel; Riegel, Devlin, Bradley, Cortez, Malfitano, Catania, Atherton
SID.19330531
This is not an ideal cast, but I have appended James Atherton who does the comic tenor quartet of roles. He was a fine singer lost much too early. This performance catches Malfitano as Antonia early in her career. She went on to do all the heroines. Julius Rudel probably has conducted Hoffmann as much as anyone and he conducted my first Hoffmann with NYCO based cast of Sills, Domingo, Treigle in Philadelphia in 1965. Rudel is second only to Hasselmans (from the 1920s) with 37 Met appearances as conductor. This is not my first choice cast, but Malfitano (Antonia only), Devlin, and Atherton with Troyanos, Morris,and Velis no longer around for the broadcast.
CAVALLERIA RUSTICANA / PAGLIACCI:Mascagni / Leoncavallo
Original Air Date: 02/01/1941
Calusio; Roman, Jagel, Warren / Martinelli, Greco, Tibbett
MOD Audio SID.19330532
The star performers on this Cav/Pag are Martinelli and Tibbett, but the remarkable performance is from Stella Roman as Santuzza. She has many excellent broadcasts from the Met in the 1940s, but the only two which have made it to Sirius and MOoD are this Cav/Pag, and a Forza with many of the same singers under Bruno Walter in 1943. There is also a Bjorling Trovatore which has made the rounds of the private market. She’s not a perfect singer, but severely underrated.
ORFEO ED EURIDICE:Gluck
Original Air Date: 01/09/1971
Bonynge; Bumbry, Tucci, Peters
SID.19330533
Bumbry premiered this final Rolf Gerard designed production complete in Courreges boots. She is in luscious voice for this, but how Gluckian one finds it might leave some of the more scholarly oriented very disappointed. When Mackerras arrived for a revival with Marilyn Horne we were in a different, but not necessarily more successful one. For the record, Gerard was the designer for the Webster Don Carlo, the Alfred Lunt Cosi Fan Tutte, the Peter Brook Faust, the Tyrone Guthrie Carmen, and the Garson Kanin Fledermaus among 20 productions over a 20 year period (only 2 in the 2 house– Romeo and this Orfeo). These productions rank among the great successes of the Bing regime. This is the premiere cast in a Rolf Gerard production (so out of ideas), but Bumbry is in luscious voice, if not your standard issue Orfeo. Why oh why is her effort not in MOoD?
LES TROYENS:Berlioz
Original Air Date: 02/18/1984
Levine; Norman, Sooter, Monk, Taillon, Plishka, Ahlstedt
MOD Audio SID.19330636
Norman repeated Verrett’s double assumption on this broadcast (Verrett’s was for the opening of the production in 1973 when Ludwig was indisposed–I was there, quite an evening). I rather prefer Norman’s Didon to her Cassandre, but this broadcast now takes its place in MOoD. Enee is close to an impossible part, but Sooter is no worse than Ronald Dowd was in Boston for Caldwell.
MADAMA BUTTERFLY:Puccini
Original Air Date: 12/15/1956
Mitropoulos; Albanese, Barioni, Elias, Brownlee, De Paolis
SID.19330637
No one surpasses Farrar’s 139 Cio Cio Sans (!!!!!!), and Dorothy Kirsten makes for a close third behind Albanese with 68, but Licia’s 72 firmly puts her at number 2. Generally I like her Butterfly more than her Violetta, and Mitropoulos gives excellent direction from the pit. Her last Butterfly broadcast is 2 years later under Leinsdorf.