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
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!!!!!)
TOSCA:Puccini
Original Air Date: 10/25/2018
Rizzi; Radvanovsky, Calleja, Koch, Carfizzi
SID.19230535
Met favorite Sondra Radvanovsky and rising star Jennifer Rowley share the title role of the volatile diva at the heart of Puccini’s operatic thriller. Joseph Calleja brings his stylish tenor to the role of Cavaradossi, and Wolfgang Koch and Claudio Sgura share the role of the nefarious police chief Scarpia. Carlo Rizzi conducts Sir David McVicar’s resplendent production. Production a gift of Jacqueline Desmarais, in memory of Paul G. Desmarais Sr; The Paiko Foundation; and Dr. Elena Prokupets, in memory of her late husband, Rudy Prokupets Major funding from Rolex Revival a gift of NPD Group, Inc.
IDOMENEO:Mozart
Original Air Date: 02/15/1986
Tate; Rendall, Valente, Behrens, von Stade, Alexander
MOD Audio SID.19240214
Idomeneo has some of Mozart’s greatest music. Valente is a doing double duty this week along with Falstaff, and she’s a sublime lyric for either Nanetta or Ilia. Behrens is tough sledding as Elettra. Carol Vaness has two broadcasts on MOoD which I highly recommend.
DER ROSENKAVALIER:Strauss
Original Air Date: 12/14/1946
Busch; Stevens, Jessner, List, Steber, Lechner
MOD Audio SID.19240315
This performance has been on before, and this is Steber’s only 40s broadcast to have made it to Sirius (and to MOoD). This is the kind of voice I love as Sophie, a full lyric, not a soubrette. Jessner has a lot of time in support mostly on the rocks (she debuted as a Valkyrie in 1936, and ended as Gutrune (but preceded by more “rocks” work). Her solo roles were most often Marschallin (cover for Lehmann?) and Eva. She is OK, and this is Stevens still in reasonably fresh voice. glad to have a peek at the 1940s.
DER FREISCHÜTZ:Weber
Original Air Date: 04/15/1972
Ludwig; Kónya, Lorengar, Feldhoff, Mathis
MOD Audio SID.19240316
This is the only Met broadcast of Freischutz, and despite some good work from the treble/tenor clef, Ludwig’s conducting does not give it the sparkle it needs. Feldhoff is more adequate than commanding. One cannot blame the Met entirely, this work simply is not as much a part of the “standard” opera house repertoire as it was 50 years ago.
ORFEO ED EURIDICE:Gluck
Original Air Date: 01/18/1958
Rudolf; Stevens, Amara, Cundari
MOD Audio SID.19240321
The strongest thing about this performance is Rudolf’s conducting. Stevens was definitely a star Orfeo, but she’s never an audio favorite of mine. A very great artist outstanding advocate for American artists , and the role of the arts in general. She had quite a following, but her audios alone do not make a career. She is still with us, and may she have many more years. For me this is much too late for Stevens (She retires in 1960). I did check Paul Jackson’s authoritative volume on Met broadcasts– and he’s at his best in the 40s and 50s, but has nothing to say about this performance. This performance has been on before and is on MOoD.
IDOMENEO:Mozart
Original Air Date: 02/15/1986
Tate; Rendall, Valente, Behrens, von Stade, Alexander
MOD Audio SID.19240423
Idomeneo has some of Mozart’s greatest music. Valente is a doing double duty this week along with Falstaff, and she’s a sublime lyric for either Nanetta or Ilia. Behrens is tough sledding as Elettra. Carol Vaness has two broadcasts on MOoD which I highly recommend.
LE NOZZE DI FIGARO:Mozart
Original Air Date: 04/22/2006
Wigglesworth; Relyea, Rost, Isokoski, Mattei, Coote
MOD Audio SID.19240424
Interesting casting for Nozze di Figaro and Isokoski’s last week at the Met. I thought her a very fine singer, but she’s no spring chicken. Mattei is an excellent Count.
DER ROSENKAVALIER:Strauss
Original Air Date: 12/14/1946
Busch; Stevens, Jessner, List, Steber, Lechner
MOD Audio SID.19240531
This performance has been on before, and this is Steber’s only 40s broadcast to have made it to Sirius (and to MOoD). This is the kind of voice I love as Sophie, a full lyric, not a soubrette. Jessner has a lot of time in support mostly on the rocks (she debuted as a Valkyrie in 1936, and ended as Gutrune (but preceded by more “rocks” work). Her solo roles were most often Marschallin (cover for Lehmann?) and Eva. She is OK, and this is Stevens still in reasonably fresh voice. glad to have a peek at the 1940s.
DER FREISCHÜTZ:Weber
Original Air Date: 04/15/1972
Ludwig; Kónya, Lorengar, Feldhoff, Mathis
MOD Audio SID.19240532
This is the only Met broadcast of Freischutz, and despite some good work from the treble/tenor clef, Ludwig’s conducting does not give it the sparkle it needs. Feldhoff is more adequate than commanding. One cannot blame the Met entirely, this work simply is not as much a part of the “standard” opera house repertoire as it was 50 years ago.
LA TRAVIATA:Verdi
Original Air Date: 12/15/2018
Nézet-Séguin; Damrau, Flórez, Kelsey
Live in HD SID.19240535
Yannick Nézet-Séguin conducts Michael Mayer’s richly textured new production, featuring a dazzling 19th-century setting that changes with the seasons. Soprano Diana Damrau plays the tragic heroine, Violetta, and tenor Juan Diego Flórez returns to the Met for the first time since 2015 to sing the role of Alfredo, Violetta’s hapless lover. Baritone Quinn Kelsey is Alfredo’s father, Germont, who destroys their love. Later performances feature Anita Hartig, Stephen Costello, Artur Ruciński, and Plácido Domingo.
REVIEW: The Met Turns the Tragedy of ‘Traviata’ Into Dull Disney Schmaltz By James Jorden • 12/05/18 – Well, you have to give the Met credit for accomplishing a feat no other opera company in the world could—or should. At Tuesday’s gala new production of La Traviata, the company managed to downgrade Verdi’s masterpiece of musical drama to a kitschy Disney musical. The prime culprit in this act of artistic vandalism is director Michael Mayer, who seems to have no handle at all on this classic tale of a courtesan inspired by true love to make the most profound sacrifice. In the great duet in the second act, for example, when the penitent Violetta confronts Germont, the morally outraged father of her lover, the singers circled listlessly around a bed that hogged center stage through all three acts. observer.com/2018/12/the-met-la-traviata-opera-tragedy-disney-schmaltz/
Review: ‘La Traviata’ Opens a New Era at the Met Opera By Anthony Tommasini Dec. 5, 2018 ….”To begin his tenure as the company’s music director, Mr. Nézet-Séguin led an uncommonly fine rendition of Verdi’s “La Traviata,” in a new staging by Michael Mayer that stars the soprano Diana Damrau and the tenor Juan Diego Flórez. And in a rare gesture of respect and good will, the Met’s musicians joined Mr. Nézet-Séguin on stage for a bow after the show.
ORFEO ED EURIDICE:Gluck
Original Air Date: 01/18/1958
Rudolf; Stevens, Amara, Cundari
MOD Audio SID.19240638
The strongest thing about this performance is Rudolf’s conducting. Stevens was definitely a star Orfeo, but she’s never an audio favorite of mine. A very great artist outstanding advocate for American artists , and the role of the arts in general. She had quite a following, but her audios alone do not make a career. She is still with us, and may she have many more years. For me this is much too late for Stevens (She retires in 1960). I did check Paul Jackson’s authoritative volume on Met broadcasts– and he’s at his best in the 40s and 50s, but has nothing to say about this performance. This performance has been on before and is on MOoD.
LE NOZZE DI FIGARO:Mozart
Original Air Date: 04/22/2006
Wigglesworth; Relyea, Rost, Isokoski, Mattei, Coote
MOD Audio SID.19240640
Interesting casting for Nozze di Figaro and Isokoski’s last week at the Met. I thought her a very fine singer, but she’s no spring chicken. Mattei is an excellent Count.
IDOMENEO:Mozart
Original Air Date: 02/15/1986
Tate; Rendall, Valente, Behrens, von Stade, Alexander
MOD Audio SID.19240746
Idomeneo has some of Mozart’s greatest music. Valente is a doing double duty this week along with Falstaff, and she’s a sublime lyric for either Nanetta or Ilia. Behrens is tough sledding as Elettra. Carol Vaness has two broadcasts on MOoD which I highly recommend.
DER ROSENKAVALIER:Strauss
Original Air Date: 12/14/1946
Busch; Stevens, Jessner, List, Steber, Lechner
MOD Audio SID.19240747
This performance has been on before, and this is Steber’s only 40s broadcast to have made it to Sirius (and to MOoD). This is the kind of voice I love as Sophie, a full lyric, not a soubrette. Jessner has a lot of time in support mostly on the rocks (she debuted as a Valkyrie in 1936, and ended as Gutrune (but preceded by more “rocks” work). Her solo roles were most often Marschallin (cover for Lehmann?) and Eva. She is OK, and this is Stevens still in reasonably fresh voice. glad to have a peek at the 1940s.
DER FREISCHÜTZ:Weber
Original Air Date: 04/15/1972
Ludwig; Kónya, Lorengar, Feldhoff, Mathis
MOD Audio SID.19250101
This is the only Met broadcast of Freischutz, and despite some good work from the treble/tenor clef, Ludwig’s conducting does not give it the sparkle it needs. Feldhoff is more adequate than commanding. One cannot blame the Met entirely, this work simply is not as much a part of the “standard” opera house repertoire as it was 50 years ago.
CAVALLERIA RUSTICANA / PAGLIACCI:Mascagni / Leoncavallo
Original Air Date: 12/07/1985
Navarro; Behrens, Moldoveanu, Clark / Pilou, Vickers, Milnes
MOD Audio SID.19250102
New wave of Wagner singer (Behrens) meets older wave (Vickers) but it’s Cav/Pag, not Wagner. Behrens’ only run as Santuzza at the Met is a distant memory for me, and she doesn’t rise to one of the great Santuzzas (now Dimitrova, not always a favorite, DOES). Vickers’ debuted in 1960 as Canio, and this 1985 broadcast performance is his final Canio at the Met. As always Vickers does it his way. He is not quite as demented as his Colon (Buenos Aires) broadcast but if you get his message (and I do), he does great honor to his farewell at the Met to this role in his antepenultimate broadcast.
ARABELLA:Strauss
Original Air Date: 03/05/1983
Leinsdorf; Te Kanawa, Weikl, Battle, Rendall, Dunn, Gramm
MOD Audio SID.19250103
This new production was the first time in German at the Met. Te Kanawa sings beautifully but for anyone who has heard the prior broadcasts from Steber and Della Casa, it’s just not in the same league. Battle and Weikl are strong vocal support.
CARMEN:Bizet
Original Air Date: 04/03/1954
Kozma; Stevens, Tucker, de los Angeles, Guarrera
MOD Audio SID.19250104
This is a standard Met Carmen from the 50s, with especially rich vocal performances from Tucker and DeLos Angeles. Stevens is a Met icon, but again one needs her visuals to get the full effect. Stevens broadcast Carmen 11 times,4 under Edward Johnson’s regime in the 40s and 7 times under Bing, 4 of them with Tucker, 2 with Del Monaco, 1 with Di Stefano. This revival of Carmen had been originally under the baton of Pierre Monteux who had previously conducted the work 1917-1919!!!. Kozma gets a good review from Robert Sabin in Musical America. Although this as this is only the 3d Sirius week of rebroadcast in the last 5 years, it is now available in the Met’s streaming service, MOoD.
COSÌ FAN TUTTE:Mozart
Original Air Date: 01/22/1972
Pritchard; Zylis- Gara, Bottazzo, Elias, Uppman, Stratas, Berry
MOD Audio SID.19250105
This is the first season Cosi returns to the original Italian at the Met, but still retains the Lunt/Gerard production. Pritchard is an experienced Mozartean, if rarely to my taste. Stratas is sharp casting for Despina, and nice to see Berry in a congenial part.This is Vickers’ first of four Otello broadcasts and in the Zeffirelli production new the previous year. This is Levine’s first season out in Otello, and Quilico is a familiar figure with a voice well suited to Verdi baritone roles– in an era of Merrill, MacNeil, and Milnes, Quilico doesn’t seem so top tier. Among today’s baritones he sings the pants off of any of them
TRISTAN UND ISOLDE:Wagner
Original Air Date: 03/18/1961
Rosenstock; Nilsson, Dalis, Liebl, Cassel, Hines
MOD Audio SID.19250107
This is Nilsson’s second of four Isolde broadcasts from the Met, and is also available in MOoD as is the exact same cast but under Solti in one of his rare Met broadcasts two years later in 1963. Rosenstock rarely thrills me, but the key question is how well Liebl holds up two years into his Tristan ventures. Nilsson’s first Isolde broadcast from 1960 features Bohm in the pit, but has never been on Sirius, an unfortunate omission. 5/24/2012 – This is Nilsson’s second Isolde broadcast, and Liebel is much helped by the microphones. Nilsson is also available in 1963 with much the same cast under Solti. Both this performance and the Solti are on MOoD. What has not been on Sirius is Nilsson’s first Isolde from 1960 which features Bohm’s only season in the pit for Tristan and Vinay as her Tristan. The supporting cast is otherwise much the same. Could we dig that one out as well? 8/7/2011 – This performance has been available for some time on Met Player, and Met Player recently added the Nilsson Solti from 1963 with much the same supporting cast. My records show that Nilsson’s debut year Isolde under Bohm has still not been on Sirius.
MEFISTOFELE:Boito
Original Air Date: 02/19/2000
Elder; Ramey, Villarroel, Margison
MOD Audio SID.19250211
So far this is the only Met broadcast of Mefistofele, as its 1925 previous Met performance precedes the Met matinee series, and Bing had mostly ceded the work to NYCO first with Treigle, and later with Ramey. Here is Ramey at close to his twilight from the Met in a very solid performance, and a good delivery from the Met chorus. Margison and Villaroel are OK, but much better tenor casting was certainly available during the Bing years. Ramey was still in good voice for this broadcast, but this Robert Carsen production which had been practically everywhere (I saw it in SF as well as NYC) could not attract the great tenors of the day to Faust. A pity. I saw Kraus in Philadelphia, and Bergonzi has distinguished performances as well. Margerita deserves better than Villaroel as well. Time for the Met to revive again with or without the Carsen production. Lots of good casting around for this. even if no one at Ghiaurov/ Siepi vocal accomplishment for the title role. These days, the basso ranks are even more depleted than 13 years ago, but lots of interesting tenors and sopranos for these two roles. Calleja would be my first choice for Faust, but there are others who could do fine work, including Fabiano. Radvanovsky would be a most interesting combo Margerita/Helen and the Met chorus is several cuts above their work a dozen years ago. I’m not wild about the Carsen production (there are worse), but a rumored revival seems to have disappeared. Mefistofele is not represented in MOoD and should be available there, starting with capturing prime Ramey
DER FLIEGENDE HOLLÄNDER:Wagner
Original Air Date: 12/30/1950
Reiner; Hotter, Varnay, Svanholm, Nilsson
MOD Audio SID.19250212
Only two months since the last rotation? A bit of chaos in current Sirius programming. This performance is also in the Met’s bicentenary Wagner CD box from Sony. Reiner, Hotter, and Varnay are experienced Wagnerians, but this is one Wagner opera better served by the historic partnership a decade later of Schippers / Bohm, London, and Rysanek (and Tozzi too). (9/26/16)
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I PURITANI:Bellini
Original Air Date: 03/30/1991
Bonynge; Gruberova, Merritt, Gavanelli, Plishka
MOD Audio SID.19250213
This is primarily for Gruberova fans. She doesn’t sing in USA much so just as well since she only has two Met broadcasts, this Puritani and Zerbinetta in Ariadne auf Naxos. Of greater interest would be her Queen of the Night (Met debut) and the new production of Traviata with Kleiber and Shicoff (neither broadcast; in today’s world of live Sirius, we would likely be hearing both)
LA TRAVIATA:Verdi
Original Air Date: 01/22/1949
Antonicelli; Steber, Di Stefano, Merrill
MOD Audio SID.19250214
Steber has her only broadcast of Violetta (late replacement for Sayao), and is clearly in top form and vocally and musically this is one of the best. DiStefano is more promising of tone than execution. It’s his first time at the Met in the part, and he only has seven more, the last in 1952. Merrill is in one of his signature parts, and the voice is truly a “wall of beautiful sound”. Paul Jackson in volume 1 of his 3 volume annotated coverage of Met broadcasts gives a very detailed review of this performance and is particularly enthusiastic on Steber “glorious from start to finish and one of the finest in [Met] broadcast history”and Antonicelli.
TRISTAN UND ISOLDE:Wagner
Original Air Date: 03/18/1961
Rosenstock; Nilsson, Dalis, Liebl, Cassel, Hines
MOD Audio SID.19250317
This is Nilsson’s second of four Isolde broadcasts from the Met, and is also available in MOoD as is the exact same cast but under Solti in one of his rare Met broadcasts two years later in 1963. Rosenstock rarely thrills me, but the key question is how well Liebl holds up two years into his Tristan ventures. Nilsson’s first Isolde broadcast from 1960 features Bohm in the pit, but has never been on Sirius, an unfortunate omission. 5/24/2012 – This is Nilsson’s second Isolde broadcast, and Liebel is much helped by the microphones. Nilsson is also available in 1963 with much the same cast under Solti. Both this performance and the Solti are on MOoD. What has not been on Sirius is Nilsson’s first Isolde from 1960 which features Bohm’s only season in the pit for Tristan and Vinay as her Tristan. The supporting cast is otherwise much the same. Could we dig that one out as well? 8/7/2011 – This performance has been available for some time on Met Player, and Met Player recently added the Nilsson Solti from 1963 with much the same supporting cast. My records show that Nilsson’s debut year Isolde under Bohm has still not been on Sirius.
CAVALLERIA RUSTICANA / PAGLIACCI:Mascagni / Leoncavallo
Original Air Date: 12/07/1985
Navarro; Behrens, Moldoveanu, Clark / Pilou, Vickers, Milnes
MOD Audio SID.19250318
New wave of Wagner singer (Behrens) meets older wave (Vickers) but it’s Cav/Pag, not Wagner. Behrens’ only run as Santuzza at the Met is a distant memory for me, and she doesn’t rise to one of the great Santuzzas (now Dimitrova, not always a favorite, DOES). Vickers’ debuted in 1960 as Canio, and this 1985 broadcast performance is his final Canio at the Met. As always Vickers does it his way. He is not quite as demented as his Colon (Buenos Aires) broadcast but if you get his message (and I do), he does great honor to his farewell at the Met to this role in his antepenultimate broadcast.
ARABELLA:Strauss
Original Air Date: 03/05/1983
Leinsdorf; Te Kanawa, Weikl, Battle, Rendall, Dunn, Gramm
MOD Audio SID.19250319
This new production was the first time in German at the Met. Te Kanawa sings beautifully but for anyone who has heard the prior broadcasts from Steber and Della Casa, it’s just not in the same league. Battle and Weikl are strong vocal support.
CARMEN:Bizet
Original Air Date: 04/03/1954
Kozma; Stevens, Tucker, de los Angeles, Guarrera
MOD Audio SID.19250320
This is a standard Met Carmen from the 50s, with especially rich vocal performances from Tucker and DeLos Angeles. Stevens is a Met icon, but again one needs her visuals to get the full effect. Stevens broadcast Carmen 11 times,4 under Edward Johnson’s regime in the 40s and 7 times under Bing, 4 of them with Tucker, 2 with Del Monaco, 1 with Di Stefano. This revival of Carmen had been originally under the baton of Pierre Monteux who had previously conducted the work 1917-1919!!!. Kozma gets a good review from Robert Sabin in Musical America. Although this as this is only the 3d Sirius week of rebroadcast in the last 5 years, it is now available in the Met’s streaming service, MOoD.