ERNANI:Verdi
Original Air Date: 12/29/1956
Mitropoulos; Del Monaco, Milanov, Warren, Siepi
MOD Audio SID.19030641
This is the first Met broadcast of Ernani, and although Del Monaco is slightly better in his Florence broadcast with Cerquetti, he is the Verdian bandit to the life. This is a bit late for Milanov, but Warren and Siepi are certainly top drawer as well. Mitropoulos brings his accustomed fire and a few odd choices in musical text. Not a bad preparation for the revival coming in February with Meade. I love Ernani, but I don’t love this performance. Mitropoulos and Del Monaco are better represented from Florence, and this part is simply too late for Milanov. This part is HARD– check Freni’s challenge at La Scala. Ernani involvami demands full blown coloratura mastery from the moment you open your mouth, and while the rest of the role is mostly ensembles, it’s challenging. Leona Mitchell is mostly very up to the challenges. Two good stabs at the part were NOT broadcast, Arroyo’s opening night with Bergonzi and Milnes, and Millo, (2 in the house, 4 in the parks very early in her Met career). The good news on Ernani is the complete Met broadcast history is documented on Sirius. The Met trots out its star Verdians for the first appearance of Ernani in a quarter century. It’s a bit too late for Milanov, but Del Monaco and Siepi are in especially fine form. This is also available on MOoD. Elvira is definitely a bit late for Milanov, but the men are the best in the business for these roles in 1956, and all among the greatest ever in these roles.
DIE ZAUBERFLÖTE:Mozart
Original Air Date: 04/16/2005
Levine; Milne, Polenzani, Goerne, Miklósa, Moll
MOD Audio SID.19030743
This is the broadcast from the first year of the Taymor production. This is an extremely solid cast with no weak links. Goerne was originally scheduled for the premiere in the fall, but had an injury, and was replaced by Pogossov. Roschmann was the premiere Pamina (and an outstanding one) but her only appearances on Sirius so far have been non-matinee broadcasts for Sirius subscribers. The Sirius 3 x a week of contemporary performances are invaluable. This is Moll’s broadcast farewell and his final Met appearance is Sarastro one week later (not marked in the Met Database-still true 4/2015) Moll also sang Commendatore in Don Giovanni in the evening after this Zauberflote matinee.
LOHENGRIN:Wagner
Original Air Date: 03/21/1998
Levine; Heppner Voigt, Polaski, Ketelsen, Halfvarson
MOD Audio SID.19030746
Heppner is the star here with outstanding orchestral performance as well. He did it the following season with Mattila and Pape, but that improved casting was not broadcast, and by the time 2006 rolled around, Levine was unavailable, Heppner was in more variable form, and Mattila was not the singer she was 8 years earlier.
LOHENGRIN:Wagner
Original Air Date: 03/21/1998
Levine; Heppner Voigt, Polaski, Ketelsen, Halfvarson
MOD Audio SID.19030747
Heppner is the star here with outstanding orchestral performance as well. He did it the following season with Mattila and Pape, but that improved casting was not broadcast, and by the time 2006 rolled around, Levine was unavailable, Heppner was in more variable form, and Mattila was not the singer she was 8 years earlier.
LES CONTES D’HOFFMANN:Offenbach
Original Air Date: 04/10/1971
Baudo; Gedda, Bacquier, Boky, Crespin, Amara, von Stade
MOD Audio SID.19040101
Here is why I love the current Sirius service for Met repertory : The fall performances went unbroadcast. This 1970/71 Hoffmann was divided between a fall group with Grist, Elias, and Lorengar in the three ladies and the spring offering was Boky, Crespin, and Amara. The excellent Gedda and Bacquier were in both parts of the revival. I saw one of the fall performances and Grist and Lorengar were excellent. The broadcast does not come until spring, and much as Ilove Crespin as an artist, her Giulietta while visually dazzling was one rocky ride on the Venetian canal. Amara sang a solid Antonia, but her tone never had the luster of a Lorengar. Boky I found similarly lacking compared to Grist. Baudo is no Julius Rudel (among the best conductors I’ve ever heard for Hoffmann) or Chailly, let alone Monteux who originated the production in 1955. What should be mentioned is the strong supporting cast including von Stade as Nicklausse , Velis in the 4 comic tenor parts, and Paul Franke as an inimitable Spalanzani.
DIE WALKÜRE:Wagner
Original Air Date: 02/02/1957
Mitropoulos; Harshaw, Edelmann, Schech, Vinay, Thebom, Böhme
MOD Audio SID.19040104
Mitropoulos is not often heard in Wagner, but he is alert to the drama at all times. Unfortunately, there are a number of cuts even in parts of the Todesverkundigung (about 4.5 minutes there by my check). Still, this is a performance worth hearing. Harshaw is a stalwart Brunnhilde, and Edelmann was not yet in terminal Ochs voice. I also like Vinay very much, but he is not to everyone’s taste. One of MY highlights for the week.
CARMEN:Bizet
Original Air Date: 03/22/1986
Levine; Ewing, Domingo, Malfitano, Devlin
MOD Audio SID.19040106
This is the second of Domingo’s three Jose broadcasts the first is 1971 with Ruza Baldani and Robert Merrill under Jean Morel which has not been rebroadcast on Sirius he also conducts a Carmen (not while singing Jose) and also has a telecast with Waltraud Meier, available on MOoD. Three days before the telecast is his last matinee broadcast, also not rebroadcast on Sirius. I was not a big fan of the Ewing Carmen, but for a change this is an interesting cast despite thinking Deomingo was always in Carmen, at the Met he was not– his 26 rank well behind Martinelli at 74 , Tucker at 60, or even McCracken at 47; not far behind PD are Del Monaco and Vickers at 18 each and Alagna at 20.
CAVALLERIA RUSTICANA / PAGLIACCI:Mascagni / Leoncavallo
Original Air Date: 03/03/1951
Erede; Milanov, Tucker, Harvuot / Rigal, Baum, Warren
MOD Audio SID.19040107
The Cavalleria is strongly cast, and Warren was the major Tonio of the 1950s in Pagliacci. 1/18/2012 – For me the two highlight vocal performances are Tucker in the Cavalleria and Warren in the Pagliacci. Milanov has a later broadcast on MetPlayer with Baum as Turiddu and Del Monaco as Canio. 1/12/2011 – Representative Met performance, especially in Cavalleria, but Warren’s Prologue is something to hear as well.
DIE MEISTERSINGER VON NÜRNBERG:Wagner
Original Air Date: 01/10/1953
Reiner; Schöffler, de los Angeles, Hopf, Pechner, Greindl, Holm
MOD Audio SID.19040209
De los Angeles is one of my favorite singers, and Reiner is one of my favorite conductors, and Schoffler still has some youth on him. For me, the distinctions are chiefly Reiner, Schoffler, and de los Angeles. Greindl, the Pogner, Holm, the David make their final Met appearances on this broadcast. This performance has been on Sirius before and is in the Sony Wagner at the Met box.
DIE MEISTERSINGER VON NÜRNBERG:Wagner
Original Air Date: 01/10/1953
Reiner; Schöffler, de los Angeles, Hopf, Pechner, Greindl, Holm
MOD Audio SID.19040210
De los Angeles is one of my favorite singers, and Reiner is one of my favorite conductors, and Schoffler still has some youth on him. For me, the distinctions are chiefly Reiner, Schoffler, and de los Angeles. Greindl, the Pogner, Holm, the David make their final Met appearances on this broadcast. This performance has been on Sirius before and is in the Sony Wagner at the Met box.
BILLY BUDD:Britten
Original Air Date: 04/04/1992
Mackerras; Hampson, Clark, Morris, Held, Courtney
MOD Audio SID.19040211
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.
RIGOLETTO:Verdi
Original Air Date: 02/22/1964
Cleva; Merrill, Peters, Tucker, Giaiotti, Dunn
MOD Audio SID.19040212
Amazingly Merrill (debut 1946) and Tucker (debut 1945) are also around eight years later in 1972 for them sharing their final Rigoletto broadcast. Peters who sang Gilda at the Met as late as 1985 did not broadcast it after 1967. Dunn,Giaiotti, and Macurdy are outstandingly strong support. 1/16/12 – This has recently been released in the Sony Historic Broadcasts. All of the singers are fine, and the technical command of these full voiced singers could teach some more lyric singers the art of bel canto. Giaiotti was a stalwart of the Met bass contingent in the 60s, 70s, 80s. Giaiotti also has one broadcast Monterone which also includes Dunn, and MacNeil in his first Rigoletto broadcast. This has not been on Sirius and I would love to hear it. The performance is also on MetPlayer.
CAPRICCIO:Strauss
Original Air Date: 01/31/1998
Davis; Te Kanawa, Rootering, Kuebler, Keenlyside, Brendel, Harries
MOD Audio SID.19040213
The Met has only had two matinee broadcasts for Strauss’ final work: this one with Te Kanawa and Fleming in 2012. Andrew Davis conducted both revivals. Clairon was a famous role for Troyanos and luckily it is captured on a San Francisco telecast with Te Kanawa, but she died in 1993, which I guess is one reason for the more lightweight casting. Te Kanawa is definitely worth hearing.
CAVALLERIA RUSTICANA / PAGLIACCI:Mascagni / Leoncavallo
Original Air Date: 03/03/1951
Erede; Milanov, Tucker, Harvuot / Rigal, Baum, Warren
MOD Audio SID.19040316
The Cavalleria is strongly cast, and Warren was the major Tonio of the 1950s in Pagliacci. 1/18/2012 – For me the two highlight vocal performances are Tucker in the Cavalleria and Warren in the Paglia cci. Milanov has a later broadcast on MetPlayer with Baum as Turiddu and Del Monaco as Canio. 1/12/2011 – Representative Met performance, especially in Cavalleria, but Warren’s Prologue is something to hear as well.
CARMEN:Bizet
Original Air Date: 03/22/1986
Levine; Ewing, Domingo, Malfitano, Devlin
MOD Audio SID.19040317
This is the second of Domingo’s three Jose broadcasts the first is 1971 with Ruza Baldani and Robert Merrill under Jean Morel which has not been rebroadcast on Sirius he also conducts a Carmen (not while singing Jose) and also has a telecast with Waltraud Meier, available on MOoD. Three days before the telecast is his last matinee broadcast, also not rebroadcast on Sirius. I was not a big fan of the Ewing Carmen, but for a change this is an interesting cast despite thinking Deomingo was always in Carmen, at the Met he was not– his 26 rank well behind Martinelli at 74 , Tucker at 60, or even McCracken at 47; not far behind PD are Del Monaco and Vickers at 18 each and Alagna at 20.
DIE WALKÜRE:Wagner
Original Air Date: 02/02/1957
Mitropoulos; Harshaw, Edelmann, Schech, Vinay, Thebom, Böhme
MOD Audio SID.19040320
Mitropoulos is not often heard in Wagner, but he is alert to the drama at all times. Unfortunately, there are a number of cuts even in parts of the Todesverkundigung (about 4.5 minutes there by my check). Still, this is a performance worth hearing. Harshaw is a stalwart Brunnhilde, and Edelmann was not yet in terminal Ochs voice. I also like Vinay very much, but he is not to everyone’s taste. One of MY highlights for the week.
SALOME:Strauss
Original Air Date: 02/12/1977
Leinsdorf; Rysanek, Ulfung, Varnay, Bailey, Riegel
MOD Audio SID.19040321
Along with the 1972 Bohm Salome, these are Rysanek’s only two Met broadcasts of the role. My memory says that Rysanek is in better voice for this performance. Completely recast except for Rysanek, the most interesting personage is Norman Bailey, who is usually heard within the English language confines of the ENO. He has some good outings at the Met, and one I would particularly like to hear which has not been on Sirius is also from Winter 1977 Walkure with Rita Hunter, Janis Martin, James King, Mignon Dunn, and Manfred Schenk. Almost a complete Anglophone cast also under Leinsdorf. I wouldn’t mind Bailey’s Amfortas broadcast (with Levine) also joining the Sirius airwaves.
BILLY BUDD:Britten
Original Air Date: 04/04/1992
Mackerras; Hampson, Clark, Morris, Held, Courtney
MOD Audio SID.19040422
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.
DIE MEISTERSINGER VON NÜRNBERG:Wagner
Original Air Date: 01/10/1953
Reiner; Schöffler, de los Angeles, Hopf, Pechner, Greindl, Holm
MOD Audio SID.19040425
De los Angeles is one of my favorite singers, and Reiner is one of my favorite conductors, and Schoffler still has some youth on him. For me, the distinctions are chiefly Reiner, Schoffler, and de los Angeles. Greindl, the Pogner, Holm, the David make their final Met appearances on this broadcast. This performance has been on Sirius before and is in the Sony Wagner at the Met box.
DIE MEISTERSINGER VON NÜRNBERG:Wagner
Original Air Date: 01/10/1953
Reiner; Schöffler, de los Angeles, Hopf, Pechner, Greindl, Holm
MOD Audio SID.19040426
De los Angeles is one of my favorite singers, and Reiner is one of my favorite conductors, and Schoffler still has some youth on him. For me, the distinctions are chiefly Reiner, Schoffler, and de los Angeles. Greindl, the Pogner, Holm, the David make their final Met appearances on this broadcast. This performance has been on Sirius before and is in the Sony Wagner at the Met box.
IOLANTA / BLUEBEARD’S CASTLE:Tchaikovsky/Bartók
Original Air Date: 01/24/2019
Nanasi; Yoncheva, Polenzani, Markov, Azizov, Kowaljow, Denoke, Finley
SID.19040428
Mariusz Treliński’s haunting production of the pairing of Tchaikovsky’s and Bartók’s one-act operas makes its first return to the stage since its Met premiere in the 2014–15 season. Soprano Sonya Yoncheva—following her triumphant 2017–18 performances as Tosca—is the blind princess, Iolanta, who discovers love for the first time, opposite tenor Matthew Polenzani as the dashing knight Vaudémont. In Bartók’s chilling Bluebeard’s Castle, baritone Gerald Finley is the menacing Bluebeard, and soprano Angela Denoke is his initially unsuspecting new wife. Henrik Nánási conducts. Co-production of the Metropolitan Opera and Teatr Wielki-Polish National Opera Production a gift of Ambassador and Mrs. Nicholas F. Taubman; Additional funding from Mrs. Veronica Atkins; Dr. Magdalena Berenyi, in memory of Dr. Kalman Berenyi; and the National Endowment for the Arts
RIGOLETTO:Verdi
Original Air Date: 02/22/1964
Cleva; Merrill, Peters, Tucker, Giaiotti, Dunn
MOD Audio SID.19040529
Amazingly Merrill (debut 1946) and Tucker (debut 1945) are also around eight years later in 1972 for them sharing their final Rigoletto broadcast. Peters who sang Gilda at the Met as late as 1985 did not broadcast it after 1967. Dunn,Giaiotti, and Macurdy are outstandingly strong support. 1/16/12 – This has recently been released in the Sony Historic Broadcasts. All of the singers are fine, and the technical command of these full voiced singers could teach some more lyric singers the art of bel canto. Giaiotti was a stalwart of the Met bass contingent in the 60s, 70s, 80s. Giaiotti also has one broadcast Monterone which also includes Dunn, and MacNeil in his first Rigoletto broadcast. This has not been on Sirius and I would love to hear it. The performance is also on MetPlayer.
CAPRICCIO:Strauss
Original Air Date: 01/31/1998
Davis; Te Kanawa, Rootering, Kuebler, Keenlyside, Brendel, Harries
MOD Audio SID.19040530
The Met has only had two matinee broadcasts for Strauss’ final work: this one with Te Kanawa and Fleming in 2012. Andrew Davis conducted both revivals. Clairon was a famous role for Troyanos and luckily it is captured on a San Francisco telecast with Te Kanawa, but she died in 1993, which I guess is one reason for the more lightweight casting. Te Kanawa is definitely worth hearing.
SALOME:Strauss
Original Air Date: 02/12/1977
Leinsdorf; Rysanek, Ulfung, Varnay, Bailey, Riegel
MOD Audio SID.19040532
Along with the 1972 Bohm Salome, these are Rysanek’s only two Met broadcasts of the role. My memory says that Rysanek is in better voice for this performance. Completely recast except for Rysanek, the most interesting personage is Norman Bailey, who is usually heard within the English language confines of the ENO. He has some good outings at the Met, and one I would particularly like to hear which has not been on Sirius is also from Winter 1977 Walkure with Rita Hunter, Janis Martin, James King, Mignon Dunn, and Manfred Schenk. Almost a complete Anglophone cast also under Leinsdorf. I wouldn’t mind Bailey’s Amfortas broadcast (with Levine) also joining the Sirius airwaves.
CARMEN:Bizet
Original Air Date: 03/22/1986
Levine; Ewing, Domingo, Malfitano, Devlin
MOD Audio SID.19040533
This is the second of Domingo’s three Jose broadcasts the first is 1971 with Ruza Baldani and Robert Merrill under Jean Morel which has not been rebroadcast on Sirius he also conducts a Carmen (not while singing Jose) and also has a telecast with Waltraud Meier, available on MOoD. Three days before the telecast is his last matinee broadcast, also not rebroadcast on Sirius. I was not a big fan of the Ewing Carmen, but for a change this is an interesting cast despite thinking Deomingo was always in Carmen, at the Met he was not– his 26 rank well behind Martinelli at 74 , Tucker at 60, or even McCracken at 47; not far behind PD are Del Monaco and Vickers at 18 each and Alagna at 20.
DIE WALKÜRE:Wagner
Original Air Date: 02/02/1957
Mitropoulos; Harshaw, Edelmann, Schech, Vinay, Thebom, Böhme
MOD Audio SID.19040636
Mitropoulos is not often heard in Wagner, but he is alert to the drama at all times. Unfortunately, there are a number of cuts even in parts of the Todesverkundigung (about 4.5 minutes there by my check). Still, this is a performance worth hearing. Harshaw is a stalwart Brunnhilde, and Edelmann was not yet in terminal Ochs voice. I also like Vinay very much, but he is not to everyone’s taste. One of MY highlights for the week.
BILLY BUDD:Britten
Original Air Date: 04/04/1992
Mackerras; Hampson, Clark, Morris, Held, Courtney
MOD Audio SID.19040637
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.
RIGOLETTO:Verdi
Original Air Date: 02/22/1964
Cleva; Merrill, Peters, Tucker, Giaiotti, Dunn
MOD Audio SID.19040638
Amazingly Merrill (debut 1946) and Tucker (debut 1945) are also around eight years later in 1972 for them sharing their final Rigoletto broadcast. Peters who sang Gilda at the Met as late as 1985 did not broadcast it after 1967. Dunn,Giaiotti, and Macurdy are outstandingly strong support. 1/16/12 – This has recently been released in the Sony Historic Broadcasts. All of the singers are fine, and the technical command of these full voiced singers could teach some more lyric singers the art of bel canto. Giaiotti was a stalwart of the Met bass contingent in the 60s, 70s, 80s. Giaiotti also has one broadcast Monterone which also includes Dunn, and MacNeil in his first Rigoletto broadcast. This has not been on Sirius and I would love to hear it. The performance is also on MetPlayer.
MARNIE:Nico Muhly
Original Air Date: 11/10/2018
Broadcast Date: 1/10
Spano; Leonard, Kelly, Graves, Davies, Maltman
SID.19040640
INTERMISSION
-Marnie composer Nico Muhly with Elena Park
-Director Michael Mayer, mezzo Isabel Leonard and baritone Christopher Maltman discuss the making of Marnie
-Mary Jo Heath interviews Gerald Finley about Bluebeard’s Castle
Composer Nico Muhly unveils his second new opera for the Met with this gripping reimagining of Winston Graham’s novel, set in the 1950s, about a beautiful, mysterious young woman who assumes multiple identities. Director Michael Mayer and his creative team have devised a fast-moving, cinematic world for this exhilarating story of denial and deceit, which also inspired a film by Alfred Hitchcock. Mezzo-soprano Isabel Leonard sings the enigmatic Marnie, and baritone Christopher Maltman is the man who pursues her—with disastrous results. Robert Spano conducts. Music by Nico Muhly, libretto by Nicholas Wright, based on the novel by Winston Graham Production: Michael Mayer; Set/Projection Designers: Julian Crouch, 59 Productions; Costume Designer: Arianne Phillips; Lighting Designer: Kevin Adams, Choreographer: Lynne Page Commissioned by the Metropolitan Opera A co-production of the Metropolitan Opera and English National Opera By special arrangement with Universal Pictures
DIE MEISTERSINGER VON NÜRNBERG:Wagner
Original Air Date: 01/10/1953
Reiner; Schöffler, de los Angeles, Hopf, Pechner, Greindl, Holm
MOD Audio SID.19040642
De los Angeles is one of my favorite singers, and Reiner is one of my favorite conductors, and Schoffler still has some youth on him. For me, the distinctions are chiefly Reiner, Schoffler, and de los Angeles. Greindl, the Pogner, Holm, the David make their final Met appearances on this broadcast. This performance has been on Sirius before and is in the Sony Wagner at the Met box.