“ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA : Barber
Original Air Date: 09/16/1966
Cast: Schippers; Díaz, Price, Thomas, Flagello, Elias
Media: MOD Audio SID.17480534 Tags: Archive; 2017
From MOD: Expectations were high when the Metropolitan Opera announced that the world premiere of Samuel Barber’s Antony and Cleopatra would christen its new house at Lincoln Center in the fall of 1966—a suitably grand work based on Shakespeare’s tragedy and written specifically for Leontyne Price as Cleopatra. A singer himself, the composer knew Price’s voice and what it could do, shaping his conception of the opera’s heroine around this iconic American diva.
The 26-year-old Puerto Rican–born bass Justino Díaz starred alongside Price as Antony while Ezio Flagello portrayed Antony’s friend Enobarbus. Tenor Jess Thomas brought his heroic presence to the role of Octavius Caesar, and the beloved mezzo-soprano Rosalind Elias, already a Met veteran in her 30s, sang the role of Cleopatra’s attendant Charmian.
Thanks to a Texaco–Metropolitan Opera Radio Network broadcast from the opera’s world premiere, this indelible piece of Met history has been preserved for generations.
***
This is the opening of the new Met at Lincoln Center and the world premiere of the opera. Leontyne never sang better than this night, and luckily it is well preserved for all to hear. Lady Bird Johnson and Imelda Marcos were among the dignitaries that night”
“IL TROVATORE : Verdi
Original Air Date: 03/13/1971
Cast: Mehta; Tucker, Arroyo, Verrett, Sereni, Michalski
Media: MOD Audio SID.17480535 Tags: Archive; 2017, Verdi
This is Verrett’s first Met Trovatore, and she is on fire. It remains one of her best parts and serves as her Met farewell in 1990.
Tucker and Arroyo have plenty to offer and Sereni’s limitations as Luna are only in comparison to Warren or Bastianini, not today’s rather pitiful crop of Verdi baritones.
This is Mehta’s final run at the Met and the non-broadcast marks his farewell after 6 seasons. I always rather enjoyed his work at the Met, but his NY Philharmonic and the Chicago Ring did not wow me. He continues to hold multiple prestigious posts. Though Maazel did better at the Philharmonic, Mehta is a better man of the theatre.”
“CARMEN : Bizet
Original Air Date: 04/03/1954
Cast: Kozma; Stevens, Tucker, de los Angeles, Guarrera
Media: MOD Audio SID.17480636 Tags: Archive; 2017
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.”
“ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA : Barber
Original Air Date: 09/16/1966
Cast: Schippers; Díaz, Price, Thomas, Flagello, Elias
Media: MOD Audio SID.17480638 Tags: Archive; 2017
From MOD: Expectations were high when the Metropolitan Opera announced that the world premiere of Samuel Barber’s Antony and Cleopatra would christen its new house at Lincoln Center in the fall of 1966—a suitably grand work based on Shakespeare’s tragedy and written specifically for Leontyne Price as Cleopatra. A singer himself, the composer knew Price’s voice and what it could do, shaping his conception of the opera’s heroine around this iconic American diva.
The 26-year-old Puerto Rican–born bass Justino Díaz starred alongside Price as Antony while Ezio Flagello portrayed Antony’s friend Enobarbus. Tenor Jess Thomas brought his heroic presence to the role of Octavius Caesar, and the beloved mezzo-soprano Rosalind Elias, already a Met veteran in her 30s, sang the role of Cleopatra’s attendant Charmian.
Thanks to a Texaco–Metropolitan Opera Radio Network broadcast from the opera’s world premiere, this indelible piece of Met history has been preserved for generations.
***
This is the opening of the new Met at Lincoln Center and the world premiere of the opera. Leontyne never sang better than this night, and luckily it is well preserved for all to hear. Lady Bird Johnson and Imelda Marcos were among the dignitaries that night”
“SAMSON ET DALILA : Saint-Saëns
Original Air Date: 04/12/1958
Cast: Cleva; Del Monaco, Stevens, Singher
Media: MOD Audio SID.17480641 Tags: Archive; 2017
Del Monaco never did a studio version of Samson so this performance is welcome. Stevens I never saw live, but I want a more settled, glamorous sound for Dalila.
Singher came in 1943 to the Met and makes his farewell eight months after this Samson broadcast doing the two performances of the four Hoffmann villains. He’s an important part of the Met’s French wing with both Pelleas and Golaud in two different revivals. He went on to be a major teacher at the Curtis Institute, with James King his most notable student.
This performance is available on MOoD, and I am happy to have it since Del Monaco never did a studio version
12/5/16
***
I am not a huge fan of the audio only Stevens’ Dalila, but this performance with a fine High Priest from Singher certainly is not wanting for vocal voltage. This performance is available on MetPlayer as well. 1/16/12
“
“LA GIOCONDA : Ponchielli
Original Air Date: 03/02/1968
Cast: Cleva; Tebaldi, Bergonzi, MacNeil, Cossotto, Giaiotti
Media: MOD Audio SID.17480642 Tags: Archive; 2017, Tebaldi
This is Tebaldi’s second broadcast of the street singer, and what a sensational cast the Met surrounds her with. Bergonzi did a run with Bumbry eleven years later but that was not broadcast. Tebaldi’s first broadcast a year earlier has also been on Sirius, and is also on MOoD. The earlier broadcast has Morrell (replacing Corelli) and Elias in the Bergonzi and Cossotto parts. Siepi and Giaiotti are both top class Alvises. 9/5/16
***
This Tebaldi’s final Gioconda, and she has a platinum supporting cast.
She’s marginally better on the previous year’s broadcast (also on
MOoD), but I like the sparks from her colleagues on this performance. 4/7/14
***
This Tebaldi’s final Gioconda, and she has a platinum supporting cast. She’s marginally better on the previous year’s broadcast, but I like the sparks from her colleagues on this. 4/22/13
***
The Met listing leaves off Dunn, and Cieca is definitely one of the star parts. This is Tebaldi’s second Gioconda broadcast, and despite the wear and tear from 32 Met Giocondas in 2 years — it is her final Gioconda. Bing serves up A+ colleagues for her, and it is a rousing afternoon. This performance is on Met Player, and I highly recommend. 7/4/11
“
“PETER GRIMES : Britten
Original Air Date: 01/10/1998
Cast: Atherton; Langridge, Racette, Opie, Christin, Blythe
Media: MOD Audio SID.17480744 Tags: Archive; 2017
I remember listening to this and thought this a good part for Racette. Langridge is fine in the title role, but for those of us who saw Jon Vickers, he simply WAS Peter Grimes and his 38 Met performances exceed the 33 done by the other 8 interpreters starting back with Frederick Jagel in 1948 and ending with Anthony Dean Griffey in 2008 (with Racette again). 2/22/16
***
This is a good part for Racette, and Langridge’s death just a few years ago was a shock. Atherton is a strong Britten conductor. 8/12/12
***
Racette’s first try at the Met as Ellen Orford and with Langridge as a distinguished Grimes. 11/14/11
“
“MACBETH : Verdi
Original Air Date: 01/01/1959
Cast: Leinsdorf; Warren, Rysanek, Hines, Bergonzi
Media: MOD Audio SID.17480749 Tags: MOR; 2017, Verdi
“
“DER FLIEGENDE HOLLÄNDER : Wagner
Original Air Date: 12/30/1950
Cast: Reiner; Hotter, Varnay, Svanholm, Nilsson
Media: MOD Audio SID.17490102 Tags: Archive; 2017, Nilsson, Wagner
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) “
“ROMÉO ET JULIETTE : Gounod
Original Air Date: 12/06/1986
Cast: Domingo; Kraus, Gasdia, Plishka, Harris, Schexnayder
Media: MOD Audio SID.17490105 Tags: Archive; 2017, Domingo
This broadcast documents Gasdia’s only season at the Met. The run, Kraus’ only times in Romeo at the Met, also featured 6 performances with Soviero, whom I would have preferred in the broadcast. “
“AIDA : Verdi
Original Air Date: 03/11/1950
Cast: Cooper; Welitsch, Vinay, Harshaw, Merrill, Hines
Media: MOD Audio SID.17490106 Tags: Archive; 2017, Verdi
According to my records this is new to Sirius [ in 2013]. It may have
been broadcast in the first three years of Sirius when I wasn’t doing
the playlists.
I’ve heard this performance, and Welitsch has some powerful moments, and a pleasure to hear early Merrill in this role. He is the Met champion Amonasro with 72 (MacNeil is 71, and Amato 70) “
“ARIADNE AUF NAXOS : Strauss
Original Air Date: 03/20/1993
Cast: Marin; Norman, Moser, Swenson, Mentzer, Stewart, Oswald
Media: MOD Audio SID.17490211 Tags: Archive; 2017, Strauss
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. 11/21/16
***
This is Norman’s last Ariadne broadcast and in the new production for her. I prefer the 1988 video (which is on DVD from DG) with Troyanos and Battle under Levine. Swenson has her moments as well. 4/23/12
***
I’m not sure about the interest in this performance. Norman five years earlier under Levine has a sterling broadcast and telecast with King, Troyanos, and Battle. What has NOT been broadcast on Sirius is either Bohm Ariadne : the Met premiere season in 1963 with Rysanek (supposed to have been Della Casa, but with the opera switch from Dutchman, it went to LR). Seven years later features Bohm and Rysanek with King and a delectable performance from Reri Grist. 11 July 2011
“
“ROMÉO ET JULIETTE : Gounod
Original Air Date: 12/06/1986
Cast: Domingo; Kraus, Gasdia, Plishka, Harris, Schexnayder
Media: MOD Audio SID.17490317 Tags: Archive; 2017, Domingo
This broadcast documents Gasdia’s only season at the Met. The run, Kraus’ only times in Romeo at the Met, also featured 6 performances with Soviero, whom I would have preferred in the broadcast. “
“AIDA : Verdi
Original Air Date: 03/11/1950
Cast: Cooper; Welitsch, Vinay, Harshaw, Merrill, Hines
Media: MOD Audio SID.17490318 Tags: Archive; 2017, Verdi
According to my records this is new to Sirius [ in 2013]. It may have
been broadcast in the first three years of Sirius when I wasn’t doing
the playlists.
I’ve heard this performance, and Welitsch has some powerful moments, and a pleasure to hear early Merrill in this role. He is the Met champion Amonasro with 72 (MacNeil is 71, and Amato 70) “
“DER FLIEGENDE HOLLÄNDER : Wagner
Original Air Date: 12/30/1950
Cast: Reiner; Hotter, Varnay, Svanholm, Nilsson
Media: MOD Audio SID.17490425 Tags: Archive; 2017, Nilsson, Wagner
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) “
“ARIADNE AUF NAXOS : Strauss
Original Air Date: 03/20/1993
Cast: Marin; Norman, Moser, Swenson, Mentzer, Stewart, Oswald
Media: MOD Audio SID.17490530 Tags: Archive; 2017, Strauss
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. 11/21/16
***
This is Norman’s last Ariadne broadcast and in the new production for her. I prefer the 1988 video (which is on DVD from DG) with Troyanos and Battle under Levine. Swenson has her moments as well. 4/23/12
***
I’m not sure about the interest in this performance. Norman five years earlier under Levine has a sterling broadcast and telecast with King, Troyanos, and Battle. What has NOT been broadcast on Sirius is either Bohm Ariadne : the Met premiere season in 1963 with Rysanek (supposed to have been Della Casa, but with the opera switch from Dutchman, it went to LR). Seven years later features Bohm and Rysanek with King and a delectable performance from Reri Grist. 11 July 2011
“
“ROMÉO ET JULIETTE : Gounod
Original Air Date: 12/06/1986
Cast: Domingo; Kraus, Gasdia, Plishka, Harris, Schexnayder
Media: MOD Audio SID.17490535 Tags: Archive; 2017, Domingo
This broadcast documents Gasdia’s only season at the Met. The run, Kraus’ only times in Romeo at the Met, also featured 6 performances with Soviero, whom I would have preferred in the broadcast. “
“AIDA : Verdi
Original Air Date: 03/11/1950
Cast: Cooper; Welitsch, Vinay, Harshaw, Merrill, Hines
Media: MOD Audio SID.17490637 Tags: Archive; 2017, Verdi
According to my records this is new to Sirius [ in 2013]. It may have
been broadcast in the first three years of Sirius when I wasn’t doing
the playlists.
I’ve heard this performance, and Welitsch has some powerful moments, and a pleasure to hear early Merrill in this role. He is the Met champion Amonasro with 72 (MacNeil is 71, and Amato 70) “
“DER FLIEGENDE HOLLÄNDER : Wagner
Original Air Date: 12/30/1950
Cast: Reiner; Hotter, Varnay, Svanholm, Nilsson
Media: MOD Audio SID.17490641 Tags: Archive; 2017, Nilsson, Wagner
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) “
“ARIADNE AUF NAXOS : Strauss
Original Air Date: 03/20/1993
Cast: Marin; Norman, Moser, Swenson, Mentzer, Stewart, Oswald
Media: MOD Audio SID.17500101 Tags: Archive; 2017, Strauss
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. 11/21/16
***
This is Norman’s last Ariadne broadcast and in the new production for her. I prefer the 1988 video (which is on DVD from DG) with Troyanos and Battle under Levine. Swenson has her moments as well. 4/23/12
***
I’m not sure about the interest in this performance. Norman five years earlier under Levine has a sterling broadcast and telecast with King, Troyanos, and Battle. What has NOT been broadcast on Sirius is either Bohm Ariadne : the Met premiere season in 1963 with Rysanek (supposed to have been Della Casa, but with the opera switch from Dutchman, it went to LR). Seven years later features Bohm and Rysanek with King and a delectable performance from Reri Grist. 11 July 2011
“
“OTELLO : Verdi
Original Air Date: 03/11/1967
Cast: Mehta; Caballé, McCracken, Gobbi, Lorenzi
Media: MOD Audio SID.17500105 Tags: Archive; 2017, Verdi
This is the first Otello broadcast from the new house at Lincoln
Center, and I attended an earlier performance in the run. Caballe is very fine in the fourth act, but earlier acts do not find her fully engaged. McCracken and Gobbi are fully engaged from first note, and Mehta is a solid participant. Sirius continues to deprive us of Tebaldi’s 1955 and 1958 Desdemonas which capture her (especially 1955) in remarkable voice. This performance is available in Met Opera on Demand (MOoD)
and definitely worth your time.
1/16/12 – I remember this revival well, but in the house and on the airwaves, it was certainly strongly performed by all. This is Caballe’s first broadcast from the Met, and McCracken, Gobbi and Mehta are wonderful partners. Compared to some other Desdemonas, I found her a little short until Act Four, but in the final act she was on all eight cylinders. I love the chemistry of McCracken and Gobbi. This fine performance is available on MetPlayer also.
There never was a tenor quite like James McCracken—a veritable force of nature vocally, he fought his way to an international career that would come to be dominated by his seething portrayal of the title role of Verdi’s Otello. In this March 11, 1967, broadcast conducted by Zubin Mehta, McCracken’s finely sung Otello rages with a raw-nerve fury but also brings heroic tenderness to the love duet and his final moments. Montserrat Caballé’s singing, regal in its beauty throughout, gives way to towering passion in Desdemona’s clash with Otello in Act III. Tito Gobbi is utter, impeccable evil as Iago, heard in the savage glee he finally takes in hurling Cassio’s name, like a knife, at Otello at the end of Act II.”
“RUSALKA : Dvorák
Original Air Date: 12/11/1993
Cast: Fiore; Benacková, Heppner, Martin, Toczyska, Koptchak
Media: MOD Audio SID.17500106 Tags: Archive; 2017
This is from the first Met season for Rusalka and Benackova is a worthy heroine. For the broadcast a young Ben Heppner is the Prince replacing Neil Rosenshein. There is a later broadcast with Fleming and Antonenko which I don’t remember so well and would love to hear again. Zajick did the Jezibaba premiere but ceded the broadcast to Toczyska who is a very fine artist. I love the work, and never miss a chance to hear.
8/25/14 – This is from the first Met season for Rusalka and Benackova is a worthy heroine. For the broadcast a young Ben Heppner is the Prince
replacing Neil Rosenshein. There is a later broadcast with Fleming and Antonenko which I don’t remember so well and would love to hear again. Zajick did the Jezibaba premiere but ceded the broadcast to Toczyska who is very fine artist. I love the work, and never miss a chance to hear.
3/4/14 – This is quite a wonderful performance with Benackova, Heppner, and Koptchak especially strong. I love Rusalka and this premiere Met season of it, the ensemble is of high quality. This is a performance that belongs in MOoD.
9/11/12 – I love Rusalka, and this is its only broadcast until Fleming’s 2009 run where three performances were on Sirius, and one of them was in the matinee series on the Met International network. Belohlavek is an authentic conductor, but I think Fiore does just fine with his excellently prepared cast.
11/22/11 – I love the music in Rusalka and this is the Met’s first season with it. Martin is the only one less than excellent, but the Foreign Princess is a very awkwardly written role, so not all the blame goes to her. Even if some of the names are unknown to you, they are well up to the considerable vocal demands.
7/5/11 – Benackova was the first broadcast Rusalka at the Met, and this performance captures her very well. Heppner early in his Met career is on fine form as is the lesser known Koptchak as the Water Sprite. Martin is a bit tested as the Foreign Princess– a very difficult part, no one makes it sound easy. Still, a lovely opera in a fine performance, and this is well deserving being added to the Met Player repertory besides its visibility on Sirius.
1/17/11 – Benackova to the manner born, and early Heppner. Toczyska and Koptchak really on top of things as well. Love this work.”
“DON GIOVANNI : Mozart
Original Air Date: 02/15/2003
Cast: Cambreling; Mattei, Radvanovsky, Furlanetto, Diener, Trost, Netrebko
Media: MOD Audio SID.17500212 Tags: Archive; 2017, Netrebko, Mozart
This Don Giovanni is a solid performance especially in key roles, and proof that not all fine performances are pre-1980. Radvanovsky and Netrebko have gone on to extraordinary careers, but Mattei and Furlanetto make for a fresh and effective pairing as the Don and Leporello (Mattei will reprise his DON later in the 2014-2015 season, but I don’t think Furlanetto does Leporello so much these days. I’ve listened to this performance
thanks to previous Sirius appearances. Recommended.
8/22/11 – This performance is on Met Player and I think it’s a splendid afternoon. I saw an earlier performance with Mattei and found him one of the very best of recent Giovannis. I’m not forgetting Siepi, but Mattei managed to be both dark of drama and sunny of voice. The women are among the very best of recent trios, with Radvanovsky just starting to take off, Diener very solid, and Netrebko one of the lushest Zerlinas ever. Furlanetto is not chopped liver as Leporello, and Trost is OK. Not all fine
performances took place 40 years ago.”
“GÖTTERDÄMMERUNG : Wagner
Original Air Date: 03/02/1957
Cast: Stiedry; Harshaw, Windgassen, Böhme, Uhde, Schech, Madeira
Media: MOD Audio SID.17500213 Tags: Archive; 2017, Wagner
This is a very solid performance and Windgassen in one of only two broadcasts from his single season at the Met. While Frick was the pre-eminent Wagner bass of the 50s, for Hagen there was a strong competition between Bohme and Greindl for next slot. I always preferred Bohme’s voice. Harshaw is up to the score in every way if without the star presence of Nilsson or Varnay. This performance is also available in MOoD. This used to be a very rare performance.
11/21/11 – The Siegfried from this cycle was on a few weeks ago, and while Harshaw is a far different Brunnhilde than Modl, I look forward to hearing this. These are major Wagnerians (mostly native Europeans) from the late 1950s, and well worth hearing. “
“GÖTTERDÄMMERUNG : Wagner
Original Air Date: 03/02/1957
Cast: Stiedry; Harshaw, Windgassen, Böhme, Uhde, Schech, Madeira
Media: MOD Audio SID.17500214 Tags: Archive; 2017, Wagner
This is a very solid performance and Windgassen in one of only two broadcasts from his single season at the Met. While Frick was the pre-eminent Wagner bass of the 50s, for Hagen there was a strong competition between Bohme and Greindl for next slot. I always preferred Bohme’s voice. Harshaw is up to the score in every way if without the star presence of Nilsson or Varnay. This performance is also available in MOoD. This used to be a very rare performance.
11/21/11 – The Siegfried from this cycle was on a few weeks ago, and while Harshaw is a far different Brunnhilde than Modl, I look forward to hearing this. These are major Wagnerians (mostly native Europeans) from the late 1950s, and well worth hearing. “
“OTELLO : Verdi
Original Air Date: 03/11/1967
Cast: Mehta; Caballé, McCracken, Gobbi, Lorenzi
Media: MOD Audio SID.17500315 Tags: Archive; 2017, Verdi
This is the first Otello broadcast from the new house at Lincoln
Center, and I attended an earlier performance in the run. Caballe is very fine in the fourth act, but earlier acts do not find her fully engaged. McCracken and Gobbi are fully engaged from first note, and Mehta is a solid participant. Sirius continues to deprive us of Tebaldi’s 1955 and 1958 Desdemonas which capture her (especially 1955) in remarkable voice. This performance is available in Met Opera on Demand (MOoD)
and definitely worth your time.
1/16/12 – I remember this revival well, but in the house and on the airwaves, it was certainly strongly performed by all. This is Caballe’s first broadcast from the Met, and McCracken, Gobbi and Mehta are wonderful partners. Compared to some other Desdemonas, I found her a little short until Act Four, but in the final act she was on all eight cylinders. I love the chemistry of McCracken and Gobbi. This fine performance is available on MetPlayer also.
There never was a tenor quite like James McCracken—a veritable force of nature vocally, he fought his way to an international career that would come to be dominated by his seething portrayal of the title role of Verdi’s Otello. In this March 11, 1967, broadcast conducted by Zubin Mehta, McCracken’s finely sung Otello rages with a raw-nerve fury but also brings heroic tenderness to the love duet and his final moments. Montserrat Caballé’s singing, regal in its beauty throughout, gives way to towering passion in Desdemona’s clash with Otello in Act III. Tito Gobbi is utter, impeccable evil as Iago, heard in the savage glee he finally takes in hurling Cassio’s name, like a knife, at Otello at the end of Act II.”
“RUSALKA : Dvorák
Original Air Date: 12/11/1993
Cast: Fiore; Benacková, Heppner, Martin, Toczyska, Koptchak
Media: MOD Audio SID.17500317 Tags: Archive; 2017
This is from the first Met season for Rusalka and Benackova is a worthy heroine. For the broadcast a young Ben Heppner is the Prince replacing Neil Rosenshein. There is a later broadcast with Fleming and Antonenko which I don’t remember so well and would love to hear again. Zajick did the Jezibaba premiere but ceded the broadcast to Toczyska who is a very fine artist. I love the work, and never miss a chance to hear.
8/25/14 – This is from the first Met season for Rusalka and Benackova is a worthy heroine. For the broadcast a young Ben Heppner is the Prince
replacing Neil Rosenshein. There is a later broadcast with Fleming and Antonenko which I don’t remember so well and would love to hear again. Zajick did the Jezibaba premiere but ceded the broadcast to Toczyska who is very fine artist. I love the work, and never miss a chance to hear.
3/4/14 – This is quite a wonderful performance with Benackova, Heppner, and Koptchak especially strong. I love Rusalka and this premiere Met season of it, the ensemble is of high quality. This is a performance that belongs in MOoD.
9/11/12 – I love Rusalka, and this is its only broadcast until Fleming’s 2009 run where three performances were on Sirius, and one of them was in the matinee series on the Met International network. Belohlavek is an authentic conductor, but I think Fiore does just fine with his excellently prepared cast.
11/22/11 – I love the music in Rusalka and this is the Met’s first season with it. Martin is the only one less than excellent, but the Foreign Princess is a very awkwardly written role, so not all the blame goes to her. Even if some of the names are unknown to you, they are well up to the considerable vocal demands.
7/5/11 – Benackova was the first broadcast Rusalka at the Met, and this performance captures her very well. Heppner early in his Met career is on fine form as is the lesser known Koptchak as the Water Sprite. Martin is a bit tested as the Foreign Princess– a very difficult part, no one makes it sound easy. Still, a lovely opera in a fine performance, and this is well deserving being added to the Met Player repertory besides its visibility on Sirius.
1/17/11 – Benackova to the manner born, and early Heppner. Toczyska and Koptchak really on top of things as well. Love this work.”
“IL BARBIERE DI SIVIGLIA : Rossini
Original Air Date: 03/06/1954
Cast: Erede; Merrill, Peters, Valletti, Corena, Siepi
Media: MOD Audio SID.17500321 Tags: Archive; 2017
This production was recorded by RCA with Leinsdorf for Erede, and Tozzi for Siepi, but the rest of the cast intact. Merrill and Peters are both very fine, but it is the three Italians who give performances to savor. Corena was never in second tier with his Bartolo, and the recitatives with Siepi absolutely magical. A spirited ensemble and you can hear it in uncompressed sound on MOoD any time you want. Highly recommended.
10/24/11 – This broadcast, a month after the production’s premiere is among the most vocally potent Barbieres in the history of the Met, and the RCA recording under Leinsdorf only substitutes Tozzi for Siepi for the main cast. Though I generally prefer mezzo Rosinas, this is Peters at ther best, and I find the male contingent very satisfying indeed. This is available on Met Player, and I will make sure I check it out either via Sirius or Met Player this week. No Cessa di piu resistere though Valletti did include it on the RCA recording. Don’t miss.”
“OTELLO : Verdi
Original Air Date: 03/11/1967
Cast: Mehta; Caballé, McCracken, Gobbi, Lorenzi
Media: MOD Audio SID.17500423 Tags: Archive; 2017, Verdi
This is the first Otello broadcast from the new house at Lincoln
Center, and I attended an earlier performance in the run. Caballe is very fine in the fourth act, but earlier acts do not find her fully engaged. McCracken and Gobbi are fully engaged from first note, and Mehta is a solid participant. Sirius continues to deprive us of Tebaldi’s 1955 and 1958 Desdemonas which capture her (especially 1955) in remarkable voice. This performance is available in Met Opera on Demand (MOoD)
and definitely worth your time.
1/16/12 – I remember this revival well, but in the house and on the airwaves, it was certainly strongly performed by all. This is Caballe’s first broadcast from the Met, and McCracken, Gobbi and Mehta are wonderful partners. Compared to some other Desdemonas, I found her a little short until Act Four, but in the final act she was on all eight cylinders. I love the chemistry of McCracken and Gobbi. This fine performance is available on MetPlayer also.
There never was a tenor quite like James McCracken—a veritable force of nature vocally, he fought his way to an international career that would come to be dominated by his seething portrayal of the title role of Verdi’s Otello. In this March 11, 1967, broadcast conducted by Zubin Mehta, McCracken’s finely sung Otello rages with a raw-nerve fury but also brings heroic tenderness to the love duet and his final moments. Montserrat Caballé’s singing, regal in its beauty throughout, gives way to towering passion in Desdemona’s clash with Otello in Act III. Tito Gobbi is utter, impeccable evil as Iago, heard in the savage glee he finally takes in hurling Cassio’s name, like a knife, at Otello at the end of Act II.”
“DON GIOVANNI : Mozart
Original Air Date: 02/15/2003
Cast: Cambreling; Mattei, Radvanovsky, Furlanetto, Diener, Trost, Netrebko
Media: MOD Audio SID.17500529 Tags: Archive; 2017, Netrebko, Mozart
This Don Giovanni is a solid performance especially in key roles, and proof that not all fine performances are pre-1980. Radvanovsky and Netrebko have gone on to extraordinary careers, but Mattei and Furlanetto make for a fresh and effective pairing as the Don and Leporello (Mattei will reprise his DON later in the 2014-2015 season, but I don’t think Furlanetto does Leporello so much these days. I’ve listened to this performance
thanks to previous Sirius appearances. Recommended.
8/22/11 – This performance is on Met Player and I think it’s a splendid afternoon. I saw an earlier performance with Mattei and found him one of the very best of recent Giovannis. I’m not forgetting Siepi, but Mattei managed to be both dark of drama and sunny of voice. The women are among the very best of recent trios, with Radvanovsky just starting to take off, Diener very solid, and Netrebko one of the lushest Zerlinas ever. Furlanetto is not chopped liver as Leporello, and Trost is OK. Not all fine
performances took place 40 years ago.”