LA GIOCONDA:Ponchielli
Original Air Date: 04/20/1957
Cleva; Milanov, Poggi, Warren, Rankin, Siepi
SID.19030642
I never saw Milanov’s Gioconda, and strangely Paul Jackson in his history of Met broadcasts only deals with 1953 and 1961 in his volume that covers post 1950 Milanov. Rankin, Warren and Siepi are all among the very best exponents of their roles, but I’ve never gotten Poggi’s message. So it’s all about Milanov, and generally I always want her earlier (like 1939) rather than later. Milanov was definitely variable in the 50s for her Giocondas. She has 2 more going as last as 1961. Rankin, Warren and Siepi are fine support, and it all depends what kind of a day ZM is having. Her first (not yet broadcast by Sirius) is her best, though the 1946 is also very good (Tucker’s debut year, and he is leagues ahead of Poggi).
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.
LA FORZA DEL DESTINO:Verdi
Original Air Date: 01/23/1943
Walter; Roman, Jagel, Tibbett, Pinza, Petina, Baccaloni
SID.19030744
Roman is particularly impressive, and we don’t have so many surviving Bruno Walter broadcasts that this one is particularly welcome. This is a bit late for Tibbett, but Pinza is wonderful in one of Verdi’s greatest bass roles.
L’ELISIR D’AMORE:Donizetti
Original Air Date: 01/07/2006
Barbacini; Vargas, Swenson, Shore, ColemanWright
SID.19030745
Swenson has 3 L’Elisir broadcasts all of which have been on Sirius. This is close to the end of Swenson’s Met tenure, and while Vargas is a strong Nemorino (Hadley and Pavarotti on the other two), the rest of the cast here is of no special distinction at all. Additionally, L’Elisir is overbroadcast with multiple offerings. Almost a poor man’s Boheme.
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.
MAZEPPA:Tchaikovsky
Original Air Date: 03/18/2006
Gergiev; Putilin, Guryakova, Balashov, Burchuladze, Diadkova
SID.19030748
This is the only Met broadcast of Tchaikovsky’s powerful work. This performance is notable for Tchaikovsky’s powerful music, Gergiev’s assured conducting, and Putilin giving his considerable all to the title role. This is offbeat repertory that I’m glad we’ve had. Gergiev and Putilin make a strong case for hearing the work more often. It should really be on MOoD.
UN BALLO IN MASCHERA:Verdi
Original Air Date: 02/26/1966
Molinari, Pradelli, Bergonzi, Price, Merrill, Peters, Dunn
SID.19030749
This is the first of Corelli’s four Don Carlo broadcasts and the 1964 performance which was issued in 2011 on Sony only retains Dalis and Uhde in their roles.Since Curtis-Verna is generally underrepresented, I am happy to have this on, but the missing broadcast which is earnestly called for is Bing’s final broadcast as general manager from 1972 with Siepi and Amara returning in their roles from Bing’s inaugural broadcast 22 years earlier. Curtis-Verna only has one other broadcast, that of Aida in 1957 replacing Tebaldi who had withdrawn the day before due to her mother’s death. Curtis-Verna has a very respectable 97 performances over 9 seasons all in leads, but does not make it past 1966 into the new House. She was interviewed in Opera News before her death in 2009 and finished off her career with a distinguished tenure at University of Washington for more than 3 decades in their voice department.
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.
LA BOHÈME:Puccini
Original Air Date: 03/14/1964
Cleva; Tebaldi, Kónya, Hurley, Guarrera, Hines
SID.19040102
This is Tebaldi’s first of two broadcast Mimis, the other being from 1970 with Tucker and available on MOoD. She still notched 36 Met performances which puts her 9th in Mimi totals. Konya gets a good review from Peter G. Davis for this performance, and the supporting cast is solid. A nice pre-Gioconda memory of Tebaldi.
LE NOZZE DI FIGARO:Mozart
Original Air Date: 02/07/1987
Levine; Van Dam, Battle, Söderström, Hynninen, von Stade
SID.19040103
This is the second year of the Ponnelle production, and plenty of interesting casting with Battle and von Stade the only holdovers. This is Montarsolo’s farewell, but for me the real star is Levine welding the whole ensemble together.
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.
OTELLO:Verdi
Original Air Date: 04/02/1994
Gergiev; Domingo, Vaness, Leiferkus, Croft
SID.19040105
Vaness’ Desdemona is professional and musical without being especially memorable. In the current controversy [this was over Gergiev’s close support of Putin and around the time of the Onegin opening night, where will Ukraine be in January 2015 when Gergiev is back at the house?] Gergiev was hardly deserving of an Otello production, but he was Joe Volpe’s counterbalance to Levine. His participation here is not a plus. Domingo’s Otello is a known quantity and he’s heard better elsewhere. though surprisingly streaming only features one audio performance and two videos; his actual broadcast total from the Met is two videos and four audios.
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.
FIDELIO:Beethoven
Original Air Date: 04/01/2006
Nadler; Sunnegårdh, Heppner, Held, Sigmundsson, Welch-Babidge, Turay
SID.19040208
This was Volpe’s attempt at A Star is Born. Though Sunnegardh is still singing, her Met career barely encompasses two seasons (but maybe there’s more cover work before and since) She has four Turandot Sirius broadcasts(none in the matinee series from Toll Brothers). As for this Fidelio, it is not special in any department, and as much as I love Fidelio, when the first adjective coming to mind is workaday, it’s best passed over. One who has played out a similar scenario who I think is getting better and better is Lise Lindstrom who after consistent Turandot successes in many major theatres, has also now had a success as Salome (her Tosca at Glimmerglass a few seasons ago didn’t impress me quite as much), she has three Sirius (not Toll Brothers matinees) Turandots– the matinee and HD went to Guleghina. Keep on the lookout for Lindstrom, and she returned again in 2015 for more Turandots at the Met including Eyvazov (Mr. Netrebko)’s debut. Sunnegardh was a Volpe protege who didn’t quite take off– Waitress debuts at the Met. There have been worse Fidelios however, but no need for a special search for this.
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.
SIMON BOCCANEGRA:Verdi
Original Air Date: 02/06/1999
Levine; Agache, Mattila, Sylvester, Scandiuzzi, Fu
SID.19040214
This performance is very close to the same cast as the Covent Garden performance under Solti with te Kanawa for Mattila. Scandiuzzi did not turn out to be the successor to the lion Siepi. Sylvester is better with Solti ; his only remaining Met performances are a Radames the Fall of 1999, and 2 Calafs in the Fall of 2000. To me the best recent performance was from 2010 with Hvorostovsky, Frittoli, Vargas, and Furlanetto with Levine in particularly inspired form.This performance is very close to the same cast as the Covent Garden performance under Solti with te Kanawa for Mattila. Scandiuzzi did not turn out to be the successor to the lion Siepi. Sylvester is better with Solti ; his only remaining Met performances are a Radames the Fall of 1999, and 2 Calafs in the Fall of 2000. To me the best recent performance was from 2010 with Hvorostovsky, Frittoli, Vargas, and Furlanetto with Levine in particularly inspired form.
LA BOHÈME:Puccini
Original Air Date: 03/14/1964
Cleva; Tebaldi, Kónya, Hurley, Guarrera, Hines
SID.19040315
This is Tebaldi’s first of two broadcast Mimis, the other being from 1970 with Tucker and available on MOoD. She still notched 36 Met performances which puts her 9th in Mimi totals. Konya gets a good review from Peter G. Davis for this performance, and the supporting cast is solid. A nice pre-Gioconda memory of Tebaldi.
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.
LA BOHÈME:Puccini
Original Air Date: 03/14/1964
Cleva; Tebaldi, Kónya, Hurley, Guarrera, Hines
SID.19040318
This is Tebaldi’s first of two broadcast Mimis, the other being from 1970 with Tucker and available on MOoD. She still notched 36 Met performances which puts her 9th in Mimi totals. Konya gets a good review from Peter G. Davis for this performance, and the supporting cast is solid. A nice pre-Gioconda memory of Tebaldi.
LE NOZZE DI FIGARO:Mozart
Original Air Date: 02/07/1987
Levine; Van Dam, Battle, Söderström, Hynninen, von Stade
SID.19040319
This is the second year of the Ponnelle production, and plenty of interesting casting with Battle and von Stade the only holdovers. This is Montarsolo’s farewell, but for me the real star is Levine welding the whole ensemble together.
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.
OTELLO:Verdi
Original Air Date: 04/02/1994
Gergiev; Domingo, Vaness, Leiferkus, Croft
SID.19040423
Vaness’ Desdemona is professional and musical without being especially memorable. In the current controversy [this was over Gergiev’s close support of Putin and around the time of the Onegin opening night, where will Ukraine be in January 2015 when Gergiev is back at the house?] Gergiev was hardly deserving of an Otello production, but he was Joe Volpe’s counterbalance to Levine. His participation here is not a plus. Domingo’s Otello is a known quantity and he’s heard better elsewhere. though surprisingly streaming only features one audio performance and two videos; his actual broadcast total from the Met is two videos and four audios.
FIDELIO:Beethoven
Original Air Date: 04/01/2006
Nadler; Sunnegårdh, Heppner, Held, Sigmundsson, Welch-Babidge, Turay
SID.19040424
This was Volpe’s attempt at A Star is Born. Though Sunnegardh is still singing, her Met career barely encompasses two seasons (but maybe there’s more cover work before and since) She has four Turandot Sirius broadcasts(none in the matinee series from Toll Brothers). As for this Fidelio, it is not special in any department, and as much as I love Fidelio, when the first adjective coming to mind is workaday, it’s best passed over. One who has played out a similar scenario who I think is getting better and better is Lise Lindstrom who after consistent Turandot successes in many major theatres, has also now had a success as Salome (her Tosca at Glimmerglass a few seasons ago didn’t impress me quite as much), she has three Sirius (not Toll Brothers matinees) Turandots– the matinee and HD went to Guleghina. Keep on the lookout for Lindstrom, and she returned again in 2015 for more Turandots at the Met including Eyvazov (Mr. Netrebko)’s debut. Sunnegardh was a Volpe protege who didn’t quite take off– Waitress debuts at the Met. There have been worse Fidelios however, but no need for a special search for this.