LE NOZZE DI FIGARO:Mozart
Original Air Date: 04/07/1956
Rudolf, Siepi, Conner, de los Angeles, Guarrera, Miller
MOD Audio SID.19080641
I don’t remember this performance specifcally, but Siepi and de los Angeles are among my favorite Figaro and Countess. What is so critical in a FIgaro is the conductor and Max Rudolf was starting to fill in some of the assignments Stiedry had regularly commanded. I’ll be checking this performance out to see if it merits the many positive comments from Jackson. I’m not as taken with Conner and Guarrera as Jackson is, but the overall performance is worthwhile.
DAS RHEINGOLD:Wagner
Original Air Date: 03/27/1993
Levine; Morris, Schwarz, Langridge, Wlaschiha, Hölle, Koptchak
MOD Audio SID.19080743
This is close to the end of Schwarz’s Met career. Not quite. She is back for the 2016 season for Buryja in Jenufa after an absence of 14 years. She has an earlier Rheingold Fricka in 1993, and I saw her in the Chereau Ring in 1978 and she closes her Met career with a 2002 Klytemnestra with Schnaut. I also saw her do an excellent Erda in Madrid in 2007. One also encounters Phillip Langridge’s fine Loge.
WERTHER:Massenet
Original Air Date: 02/03/1979
Bonynge; Kraus, Crespin, Battle, Carlson
MOD Audio SID.19080744
This performance is one I always enjoy. Kraus and Crespin are solid exponents of the style, and Battle is a delight as Sophie. This is Crespin’s final Charlotte, and finds Kraus on very congenial ground. This is also on Met Player. Nice to have a mini-Crespin festival this week. One of the most enjoyable of Met Werther broadcasts.
MOSES UND ARON:Schoenberg
Original Air Date: 02/20/1999
Levine; Tomlinson, Langridge
MOD Audio SID.19080745
There are only two broadcasts this Met broadcast premiere in 1999 and the 2003 with the same principals, The 1993 has been issued as a Met CD and is available in MOoD and has also been in Sirius rotation. The 1993 performance is only available in the Sirius rotation, but both come around rather frequently.There are only two broadcasts – this Met broadcast premiere in 1999 and the 2003 with the same principals, The 1993 has been issued as a Met CD and is available in MOoD and has also been in Sirius rotation. The 1993 performance is only available in the Sirius rotation, but both come around rather frequently. These same forces broadcast the opera again four years later, and to date these are the only broadcasts of the Schoenberg work from the Met. It’s not on my regular listening schedule, but an important 20th century work for those who determine importance.
DIE WALKÜRE:Wagner
Original Air Date: 02/17/1940
Leinsdorf; Flagstad, Lawrence, Branzell, Melchior, Huehn, List
MOD Audio SID.19080746
This performance was issued on Sony CD as part of the Wagner at the Met box in honor of the composer’s bicentenary in 2013. Sirius postings didn’t see the need for adding Branzell or List to the listing, but Fricka and Hunding are both important roles. Flagstad moves up to Brunnhilde with Lawrence as Sieglinde. There is a 1937 broadcast with Lawrence as Brunnhilde and Flagstad as Sieglinde; Schorr is the Wotan and Olszewska as Fricka, and Althouse as Siegmund. That performance has not been on Sirius either, but also has the distinction of being conducted by Bodanzky. Several things are unusual about this 1940 broadcast. It is uncut, primarily championed by Leinsdorf, and is Flagstad’s only Walkure Brunnhilde broadcast until her return 11 years later in 1951 under Stiedry. Melchior is in particularly resplendent voice and his long-held Walse cries in the first act are as much a taunt to Leinsdorf as anything. Julius Huehn’s Wotan ( he was 30 at the time of this broadcast (!!!!) wins high praise from Paul Jackson in his Met broadcast review.
DIE WALKÜRE:Wagner
Original Air Date: 02/17/1940
Leinsdorf; Flagstad, Lawrence, Branzell, Melchior, Huehn, List
MOD Audio SID.19080747
This performance was issued on Sony CD as part of the Wagner at the Met box in honor of the composer’s bicentenary in 2013. Sirius postings didn’t see the need for adding Branzell or List to the listing, but Fricka and Hunding are both important roles. Flagstad moves up to Brunnhilde with Lawrence as Sieglinde. There is a 1937 broadcast with Lawrence as Brunnhilde and Flagstad as Sieglinde; Schorr is the Wotan and Olszewska as Fricka, and Althouse as Siegmund. That performance has not been on Sirius either, but also has the distinction of being conducted by Bodanzky. Several things are unusual about this 1940 broadcast. It is uncut, primarily championed by Leinsdorf, and is Flagstad’s only Walkure Brunnhilde broadcast until her return 11 years later in 1951 under Stiedry. Melchior is in particularly resplendent voice and his long-held Walse cries in the first act are as much a taunt to Leinsdorf as anything. Julius Huehn’s Wotan ( he was 30 at the time of this broadcast (!!!!) wins high praise from Paul Jackson in his Met broadcast review.
L’ASSEDIO DI CORINTO:Rossini
Original Air Date: 04/19/1975
Schippers; Sills, Verrett, Theyard, Díaz
MOD Audio SID.19090102
The following season also with Sills and Verrett under Woitach) are the Met broadcast history of this problematic Rossini work, and both are on MOoD. Verrett is in top form, but I find Sills too late for these assumptions. I find the work as edited for these performances a jumble and they don’t make this reluctant Rossinian any less so. Barbiere remains a miracle and though done to death, still sparkles.
NORMA:Bellini
Original Air Date: 04/04/1970
Bonynge; Sutherland, Horne, Bergonzi, Siepi
MOD Audio SID.19090105
This is Sutherland/Horne’s first of two Met broadcasts of Norma (both in 1970 but different seasons). One will not find stronger support than Bergonzi and Siepi, and the ladies stand up very well to the competition. This performance is available in MOoD, and if the fall performances are even half this level we will be very lucky indeed. The only appearances I know for Bergonzi as Pollione. Siepi goes back to Milanov and Callas. This is available also on MOoD (Met Opera on Demand) so you can listen to it anytime you want. The ladies’ duet singing is remarkable.
LA JUIVE:Halévy
Original Air Date: 12/13/2003
Viotti; Isokoski, Shicoff, Futral, Cutler, Furlanetto
MOD Audio SID.19090209
“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.”
MADAMA BUTTERFLY:Puccini
Original Air Date: 01/01/1966
Schick; Scotto, Alexander, Grillo, Dunlap, Schmorr
MOD Audio SID.19090210
This is *Scotto*’s first broadcast, after debuting the previous October. This EVENING broadcast had one of the more infamous Singers Roundtables as I remember (Milanov and Gedda come to mind) remember but alas we never get the interrmission features. I don’t much care for *Dunlap* as Sharpless, but *Scotto* is a major *Butterfly*.
CARMEN:Bizet
Original Air Date: 12/13/1975
Lewis; Crespin, Lewis, Ricciarelli, Van Dam
MOD Audio SID.19090315
No, William Lewis did not conduct and sing Jose simultaneously. Conductor is Henry Lewis, and W. Lewis is deputizing for Domingo. I like Crespin even better on her 1978 broadcast which was on Sirius a few weeks ago. This 1975 performance is on MOoD, but I like the 1978 cast with Chauvet, Mitchell, a good deal more. Van Dam is the best Escamillo around, but Devlin (STILL at the Met in small, mostly single line roles) in the 1978 is very capable. A Crespin Carmen is almost always a listen for me, no matter the performance.
NORMA:Bellini
Original Air Date: 04/04/1970
Bonynge; Sutherland, Horne, Bergonzi, Siepi
MOD Audio SID.19090317
This is Sutherland/Horne’s first of two Met broadcasts of Norma (both in 1970 but different seasons). One will not find stronger support than Bergonzi and Siepi, and the ladies stand up very well to the competition. This performance is available in MOoD, and if the fall performances are even half this level we will be very lucky indeed. The only appearances I know for Bergonzi as Pollione. Siepi goes back to Milanov and Callas. This is available also on MOoD (Met Opera on Demand) so you can listen to it anytime you want. The ladies’ duet singing is remarkable.
L’ASSEDIO DI CORINTO:Rossini
Original Air Date: 04/19/1975
Schippers; Sills, Verrett, Theyard, Díaz
MOD Audio SID.19090425
The following season also with Sills and Verrett under Woitach) are the Met broadcast history of this problematic Rossini work, and both are on MOoD. Verrett is in top form, but I find Sills too late for these assumptions. I find the work as edited for these performances a jumble and they don’t make this reluctant Rossinian any less so. Barbiere remains a miracle and though done to death, still sparkles.
MADAMA BUTTERFLY:Puccini
Original Air Date: 01/01/1966
Schick; Scotto, Alexander, Grillo, Dunlap, Schmorr
MOD Audio SID.19090426
This is *Scotto*’s first broadcast, after debuting the previous October. This EVENING broadcast had one of the more infamous Singers Roundtables as I remember (Milanov and Gedda come to mind) remember but alas we never get the interrmission features. I don’t much care for *Dunlap* as Sharpless, but *Scotto* is a major *Butterfly*.
CARMEN:Bizet
Original Air Date: 12/13/1975
Lewis; Crespin, Lewis, Ricciarelli, Van Dam
MOD Audio SID.19090427
No, William Lewis did not conduct and sing Jose simultaneously. Conductor is Henry Lewis, and W. Lewis is deputizing for Domingo. I like Crespin even better on her 1978 broadcast which was on Sirius a few weeks ago. This 1975 performance is on MOoD, but I like the 1978 cast with Chauvet, Mitchell, a good deal more. Van Dam is the best Escamillo around, but Devlin (STILL at the Met in small, mostly single line roles) in the 1978 is very capable. A Crespin Carmen is almost always a listen for me, no matter the performance.
LA JUIVE:Halévy
Original Air Date: 12/13/2003
Viotti; Isokoski, Shicoff, Futral, Cutler, Furlanetto
MOD Audio SID.19090529
“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.”
NORMA:Bellini
Original Air Date: 04/04/1970
Bonynge; Sutherland, Horne, Bergonzi, Siepi
MOD Audio SID.19090535
This is Sutherland/Horne’s first of two Met broadcasts of Norma (both in 1970 but different seasons). One will not find stronger support than Bergonzi and Siepi, and the ladies stand up very well to the competition. This performance is available in MOoD, and if the fall performances are even half this level we will be very lucky indeed. The only appearances I know for Bergonzi as Pollione. Siepi goes back to Milanov and Callas. This is available also on MOoD (Met Opera on Demand) so you can listen to it anytime you want. The ladies’ duet singing is remarkable.
LA FILLE DU RÉGIMENT:Donizetti
Original Air Date: 03/02/2019
Mazzola; Yende, Blythe, Camarena, Corbelli, Muraro
Live in HD SID.19090640
Intermission
-Backstage Pass – HD Host Nadine Sierra interviews Pretty Yende
-William Berger interviews Ailyn Pérez, Marie-Nicole Lemieux, and Golda Schultz about Falstaff
-Backstage Pass – HD Host Nadine Sierra interviews Stephanie Blythe and Maurizio Muraro
-Backstage Pass – HD Host Nadine Sierra interviews Javier Camarena
Tenor Javier Camarena and soprano Pretty Yende team up for a feast of bel canto vocal fireworks—including the show-stopping tenor aria “Ah! Mes amis … Pour mon âme,” with its nine high Cs. Alessandro Corbelli and Maurizio Muraro trade off as the comic Sergeant Sulpice, with mezzo-soprano Stephanie Blythe as the outlandish Marquise of Berkenfield. And in an exciting piece of casting, stage and screen icon Kathleen Turner makes her Met debut in the speaking role of the Duchess of Krakenthorp. Enrique Mazzola conducts. A co-production of the Metropolitan Opera; the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London; and the Wiener Staatsoper, Vienna
L’ASSEDIO DI CORINTO:Rossini
Original Air Date: 04/19/1975
Schippers; Sills, Verrett, Theyard, Díaz
MOD Audio SID.19090641
The following season also with Sills and Verrett under Woitach) are the Met broadcast history of this problematic Rossini work, and both are on MOoD. Verrett is in top form, but I find Sills too late for these assumptions. I find the work as edited for these performances a jumble and they don’t make this reluctant Rossinian any less so. Barbiere remains a miracle and though done to death, still sparkles.
MADAMA BUTTERFLY:Puccini
Original Air Date: 01/01/1966
Schick; Scotto, Alexander, Grillo, Dunlap, Schmorr
MOD Audio SID.19090642
This is *Scotto*’s first broadcast, after debuting the previous October. This EVENING broadcast had one of the more infamous Singers Roundtables as I remember (Milanov and Gedda come to mind) remember but alas we never get the interrmission features. I don’t much care for *Dunlap* as Sharpless, but *Scotto* is a major *Butterfly*.
L’ITALIANA IN ALGERI:Rossini
Original Air Date: 02/28/2004
Levine; Borodina, Flórez, Furlanetto, Patriarco
MOD Audio SID.19100103
Isabella……………….Olga Borodina
Lindoro………………..Juan Diego Flórez
Taddeo…………………Earle Patriarco
Mustafà………………..Ferruccio Furlanetto
Elvira…………………Lyubov Petrova
Zulma………………….Sandra Piques Eddy
Haly…………………..Mariusz Kwiecien
Conductor………………James Levine
Production……………..Jean-Pierre Ponnelle
Stage Director………….David Kneuss
Designer……………….Jean-Pierre Ponnelle
Associate Designer………David Reppa
Levine is always ready to take the podium when a major star or a video is handy, even if Rossini does not figure prominently in his normally outsized totals– 6 Barbieres, 12 Cenerentolas, and 19 Italianas (he does the Horne video revival in 1986 and this sunny revival from 2004. Borodina is a delightful Isabella, and Furlanetto brings more than the normal amount of voice to Mustafa. Having Florez and Kwiecien (one of his first major roles with the company) makes sure that this performance will have plenty to please the ear and the eye.
FAUST:Gounod
Original Air Date: 02/19/1955
Monteux; Peerce, de los Angeles, Siepi, Merrill, Miller
MOD Audio SID.19100105
Faust……………….Jan Peerce
Marguerite…………..Victoria de los Angeles
Méphistophélès……….Cesare Siepi
Valentin…………….Robert Merrill
Siebel………………Mildred Miller
Marthe………………Thelma Votipka
Wagner………………Lawrence Davidson
Dance……………….Sallie Wilson
Conductor……………Pierre Monteux
This is the second of Monteux’s three Faust broadcasts, the first one also including DeLosAngeles and Merrill. Paul Jackson, in is second volume reviewing Met broadcasts, Sign-off for the Old Met, is very favorable towards all three of them, a bit less so for Peerce and Siepi. I don’t have his reticence about Siepi and am glad this performance isvavailable on MOoD.
LUISA MILLER:Verdi
Original Air Date: 01/23/1982
Santi; Ricciarelli, Pavarotti, Nucci, Plishka, Cheek, Berini
MOD Audio SID.19100107
Luisa……………….Katia Ricciarelli
Rodolfo……………..Luciano Pavarotti
Miller………………Leo Nucci
Count Walter…………Paul Plishka
Wurm………………..John Cheek
Federica…………….Bianca Berini
Laura……………….Claudia Catania
Peasant……………..Lou Marcella
Conductor……………Nello Santi
Luisa is probably Ricciarelli’s best role, and is well suited to the lyricism as well as technical skill for this part. This performance is also available in MOoD and one I highly recommend, even if Santi is rather lethargic at some critical points. Act 3 of Luisa Miller is among Verdi’s greatest inspirations.
DON PASQUALE:Donizetti
Original Air Date: 01/20/1979
Rescigno; Bacquier, Sills, Kraus, Hagegård
MOD Audio SID.19100208
Don Pasquale…………Gabriel Bacquier
Norina………………Beverly Sills
Ernesto……………..Alfredo Kraus
Dr. Malatesta………..Håkan Hagegård
Notary………………Nico Castel
Servant……………..Unknown
Conductor……………Nicola Rescigno
This is Beverly Sills’ farewell production and her company farewell comes at the end of the Met spring tour in Detroit. This is the audio broadcast that followed the national telecast by 9 days, and marks her Metropolitan Opera House farewell. Both performances are available in Met Opera on Demand (MOoD). I find Sills’ video a congenial interpretation even if I prefer the Netrebko video. For audio, I prefer the younger Kraus with Grist and Corena.
LES TROYENS:Berlioz
Original Air Date: 02/18/1984
Levine; Norman, Sooter, Monk, Taillon, Plishka, Ahlstedt
MOD Audio SID.19100209
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.
I: La prise de Troie
Cassandra……………Jessye Norman
Coroebus…………….Allan Monk
Aeneas………………Edward Sooter
Ascanius…………….Claudia Catania
Priam……………….Ara Berberian
Hecuba………………Lucille Beer
Helenus……………..Robert Nagy
Andromache…………..Jane White
Astyanax…………….Robert Sanchez [Last performance]
Panthus……………..John Cheek
Hector’s Ghost……….Morley Meredith
Trojan Soldier……….Vernon Hartman
II: Les Troyens à Carthage
Dido………………..Jessye Norman
Anna………………..Jocelyne Taillon
Narbal………………Paul Plishka
Iopas……………….Douglas Ahlstedt
Ascanius…………….Claudia Catania
Panthus……………..John Cheek
Aeneas………………Edward Sooter
Mercury……………..Julien Robbins
Hylas……………….Philip Creech
Trojan Soldier……….John Darrenkamp
Trojan Soldier……….James Courtney
Priam’s Ghost………..James Courtney
Coroebus’s Ghost……..Allan Glassman
Cassandra’s Ghost…….Jean Kraft
Hector’s Ghost……….Morley Meredith
Act II: Ballet
Builders: Deanne Lay, Fredrick Wodin, Marcus Bugler
Sailors: Gary Cordial, Christopher Stocker, Linda Gelinas
Farmers: Kimberly Graves, Antoinette Peloso, Leonard Greco
Conductor……………James Levine
LES TROYENS:Berlioz
Original Air Date: 02/18/1984
Levine; Norman, Sooter, Monk, Taillon, Plishka, Ahlstedt
MOD Audio SID.19100210
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.
I: La prise de Troie
Cassandra……………Jessye Norman
Coroebus…………….Allan Monk
Aeneas………………Edward Sooter
Ascanius…………….Claudia Catania
Priam……………….Ara Berberian
Hecuba………………Lucille Beer
Helenus……………..Robert Nagy
Andromache…………..Jane White
Astyanax…………….Robert Sanchez [Last performance]
Panthus……………..John Cheek
Hector’s Ghost……….Morley Meredith
Trojan Soldier……….Vernon Hartman
II: Les Troyens à Carthage
Dido………………..Jessye Norman
Anna………………..Jocelyne Taillon
Narbal………………Paul Plishka
Iopas……………….Douglas Ahlstedt
Ascanius…………….Claudia Catania
Panthus……………..John Cheek
Aeneas………………Edward Sooter
Mercury……………..Julien Robbins
Hylas……………….Philip Creech
Trojan Soldier……….John Darrenkamp
Trojan Soldier……….James Courtney
Priam’s Ghost………..James Courtney
Coroebus’s Ghost……..Allan Glassman
Cassandra’s Ghost…….Jean Kraft
Hector’s Ghost……….Morley Meredith
Act II: Ballet
Builders: Deanne Lay, Fredrick Wodin, Marcus Bugler
Sailors: Gary Cordial, Christopher Stocker, Linda Gelinas
Farmers: Kimberly Graves, Antoinette Peloso, Leonard Greco
Conductor……………James Levine
RIGOLETTO:Verdi
Original Air Date: 02/24/1990
Panni; Nucci, Anderson, Pavarotti, Furlanetto, Svendén, Held
MOD Audio SID.19100214
Rigoletto……………Leo Nucci
Gilda……………….June Anderson
Duke of Mantua……….Luciano Pavarotti
Maddalena……………Birgitta Svendén
Sparafucile………….Ferruccio Furlanetto
Monterone……………Alan Held
Borsa……………….Michael Forest
Marullo……………..Vernon Hartman
Count Ceprano………..Richard Vernon
Countess Ceprano……..Joyce Guyer
Giovanna…………….Sondra Kelly
Page………………..Maria Donaldi
Guard……………….Paul De Paola
Conductor……………Marcello Panni
This performance was of the new Otto Schenk production, catching both Anderson and Pavarotti in particularly good voice. Held is a solid Monterone (Sirius does not list, but I find it a very important, if short role). This performance is Pavarotti’s 3d Duke broadcast (the first was from 17 years earlier). As I remember this 1990 performance, he was in very good voice ; this performance is also available on Met Player. Nucci was a highly dependable Rigoletto, if not the crowd favorite Warren or MacNeil were at their best. I had forgotten that Furlanetto was the Sparafucile, and Alan Held the Monterone. Monterone is one of the shortest parts in opera, but a good one can really supercharge a Rigoletto. I would think Held would be well cast (I don’t remember his performance), but my two Monterones are Giaiotti and Morris (Giaiotti’s only broadcast is MacNeil’s first broadcast Rigoletto from 1960 and includes for further bass clef plush Tozzi– we need to hear this on Sirius!!!; Morris is available on Met Player with Pavarotti from 1973).
FAUST:Gounod
Original Air Date: 02/19/1955
Monteux; Peerce, de los Angeles, Siepi, Merrill, Miller
MOD Audio SID.19100315
Faust……………….Jan Peerce
Marguerite…………..Victoria de los Angeles
Méphistophélès……….Cesare Siepi
Valentin…………….Robert Merrill
Siebel………………Mildred Miller
Marthe………………Thelma Votipka
Wagner………………Lawrence Davidson
Dance……………….Sallie Wilson
Conductor……………Pierre Monteux
This is the second of Monteux’s three Faust broadcasts, the first one also including DeLosAngeles and Merrill. Paul Jackson, in is second volume reviewing Met broadcasts, Sign-off for the Old Met, is very favorable towards all three of them, a bit less so for Peerce and Siepi. I don’t have his reticence about Siepi and am glad this performance isvavailable on MOoD.
LUISA MILLER:Verdi
Original Air Date: 01/23/1982
Santi; Ricciarelli, Pavarotti, Nucci, Plishka, Cheek, Berini
MOD Audio SID.19100316
Luisa……………….Katia Ricciarelli
Rodolfo……………..Luciano Pavarotti
Miller………………Leo Nucci
Count Walter…………Paul Plishka
Wurm………………..John Cheek
Federica…………….Bianca Berini
Laura……………….Claudia Catania
Peasant……………..Lou Marcella
Conductor……………Nello Santi
Luisa is probably Ricciarelli’s best role, and is well suited to the lyricism as well as technical skill for this part. This performance is also available in MOoD and one I highly recommend, even if Santi is rather lethargic at some critical points. Act 3 of Luisa Miller is among Verdi’s greatest inspirations.
L’ITALIANA IN ALGERI:Rossini
Original Air Date: 02/28/2004
Levine; Borodina, Flórez, Furlanetto, Patriarco
MOD Audio SID.19100319
Isabella……………….Olga Borodina
Lindoro………………..Juan Diego Flórez
Taddeo…………………Earle Patriarco
Mustafà………………..Ferruccio Furlanetto
Elvira…………………Lyubov Petrova
Zulma………………….Sandra Piques Eddy
Haly…………………..Mariusz Kwiecien
Conductor………………James Levine
Production……………..Jean-Pierre Ponnelle
Stage Director………….David Kneuss
Designer……………….Jean-Pierre Ponnelle
Associate Designer………David Reppa
Levine is always ready to take the podium when a major star or a video is handy, even if Rossini does not figure prominently in his normally outsized totals– 6 Barbieres, 12 Cenerentolas, and 19 Italianas (he does the Horne video revival in 1986 and this sunny revival from 2004. Borodina is a delightful Isabella, and Furlanetto brings more than the normal amount of voice to Mustafa. Having Florez and Kwiecien (one of his first major roles with the company) makes sure that this performance will have plenty to please the ear and the eye.