DIE WALKÜRE:Wagner
Original Air Date: 03/01/1969
von Karajan; Nilsson, Adam, Crespin, Vickers, Veasey, Talvela
MOD Audio SID.19270748
Last appearance at MET by Von Karajan. To my knowledge this is the only broadcast opera performance (not counting galas) in which both Nilsson and Crespin appear together. This is Crespin’s only broadcast Sieglinde from the Met. It is also Karajan’s final Met performance (he had done the Rheingold broadcast a week earlier (also on MOoD); it is also Josephine Veasey’s Met farewell. I’m rather sorry that Stewart did not get this broadcast, but he had the first year’s with Nilsson, Rysanek, Vickers,and Ludwig. Adam is experienced (he is in Bohm’s Bayreuth Ring of the same period, but his tone is not so agreeable to me.) This 1969 broadcast is Talvela’s only broadcast Hunding. The quality of the performance is one of the best postwar Walkures. 2/10/12 -This is one of von Karajan’s two Met broadcasts (the other is Rheingold), and Crespin’s only Sieglinde broadcast. The performance is also on MetPlayer. I’m not a big fan of Adam, but this is still powerhouse casting. Karajan’s conducting is in many ways closer to his early Bayreuth conducting than his 60s studio efforts.
DIE WALKÜRE:Wagner
Original Air Date: 03/01/1969
von Karajan; Nilsson, Adam, Crespin, Vickers, Veasey, Talvela
MOD Audio SID.19270749
Last appearance at MET by Von Karajan. To my knowledge this is the only broadcast opera performance (not counting galas) in which both Nilsson and Crespin appear together. This is Crespin’s only broadcast Sieglinde from the Met. It is also Karajan’s final Met performance (he had done the Rheingold broadcast a week earlier (also on MOoD); it is also Josephine Veasey’s Met farewell. I’m rather sorry that Stewart did not get this broadcast, but he had the first year’s with Nilsson, Rysanek, Vickers,and Ludwig. Adam is experienced (he is in Bohm’s Bayreuth Ring of the same period, but his tone is not so agreeable to me.) This 1969 broadcast is Talvela’s only broadcast Hunding. The quality of the performance is one of the best postwar Walkures. 2/10/12 -This is one of von Karajan’s two Met broadcasts (the other is Rheingold), and Crespin’s only Sieglinde broadcast. The performance is also on MetPlayer. I’m not a big fan of Adam, but this is still powerhouse casting. Karajan’s conducting is in many ways closer to his early Bayreuth conducting than his 60s studio efforts.
GÖTTERDÄMMERUNG:Wagner
Original Air Date: 01/27/1962
Leinsdorf; Nilsson, Hopf, Frick, Mittelmann, Kuchta, Dalis
MOD Audio SID.19280102
This is a magnificent performance with Nilsson and Frick among the best ever in two of the most challenging roles in the repertoire. The rest of the cast are seasoned performers who certainly bring something special. This was possibly the first uncut broadcast Gotterdammerung, though that now seems commonplace.
GÖTTERDÄMMERUNG:Wagner
Original Air Date: 01/27/1962
Leinsdorf; Nilsson, Hopf, Frick, Mittelmann, Kuchta, Dalis
MOD Audio SID.19280103
This is a magnificent performance with Nilsson and Frick among the best ever in two of the most challenging roles in the repertoire. The rest of the cast are seasoned performers who certainly bring something special. This was possibly the first uncut broadcast Gotterdammerung, though that now seems commonplace.
DER ROSENKAVALIER:Strauss
Original Air Date: 02/08/1969
Böhm; Ludwig, Rysanek, Berry, Grist, Knoll
MOD Audio SID.19280105
This production had its final performances in 2013-2014 with Martina Serafin, and Alice Coote. I remember the premiere of this Nathaniel Merrill/Robert O’Hearn production. The opening of the second act almost blinded the audience. Bohm, Ludwig, Rysanek, and Berry all rank very high in their portrayals in this opera, and for me only Grist was a little undercast for a house the size of the Met. Glad it’s returning to the Sirius airwaves, and even happier that it’s in MOoD. Gedda is lagniappe indeed as the Italian Singer.
CARMEN:Bizet
Original Air Date: 01/12/1974
Lewis; Horne, McCracken, Amara, Reardon
MOD Audio SID.19280208
I’m rather down on this performance from its most recent rebroadcast. Lewis’conducting lacks snap or allure, and Horne without Bernstein to challenge her seems too wayward for me. If you want to sample Horne and McCracken, listen to the studio based on the first performances of the production from the previous season; the March 1973 broadcast (same cast except Krause for Reardon) is only slightly better. Check the DG recording with Lenny.
AIDA:Verdi
Original Air Date: 02/20/1954
Cleva; Milanov, Baum, Barbieri, Warren, Hines
MOD Audio SID.19280210
Milanov, Barbieri, Warren and Hines are major Aida players any way you look at it. I used to have some cavils about Warren’s lack of equalization, but after the Verdi baritone singing I’ve endured the last quarter century, I am always grateful to encounter him in one of his signature roles.
SIMON BOCCANEGRA:Verdi
Original Air Date: 03/03/2007
Luisi; Hampson, Gheorghiu, Giordani, Furlanetto, Gerello
MOD Audio SID.19280212
Simon is one opera that gets regular outings at the Met, though not necessarily everywhere, starting with the titanic duo of Tibbett and Pinza, both of whom are still my standard in Simon and Fiesco (but not yet appearing on Sirius). I am not a big fan of Hampson’s traversal of the Verdi baritone repertoire. This was followed with another MOoD broadcast (video) with Domingo moving up to the title role under Levine. For me the best of the recent SBs was the FOLLOWING year when Levine did a short revival with Hvorostovsky (not always my choice for Verdi either) with Frittoli, Vargas, and Furlanetto, where Levine seems at his most inspired– he’s conducted 1/3 of all Boccanegras at the Met, and this performance is now out on MOoD as well. Somehow this performance did not make it in to MOoD– it should.
GÖTTERDÄMMERUNG:Wagner
Original Air Date: 01/27/1962
Leinsdorf; Nilsson, Hopf, Frick, Mittelmann, Kuchta, Dalis
MOD Audio SID.19280318
This is a magnificent performance with Nilsson and Frick among the best ever in two of the most challenging roles in the repertoire. The rest of the cast are seasoned performers who certainly bring something special. This was possibly the first uncut broadcast Gotterdammerung, though that now seems commonplace.
GÖTTERDÄMMERUNG:Wagner
Original Air Date: 01/27/1962
Leinsdorf; Nilsson, Hopf, Frick, Mittelmann, Kuchta, Dalis
MOD Audio SID.19280319
This is a magnificent performance with Nilsson and Frick among the best ever in two of the most challenging roles in the repertoire. The rest of the cast are seasoned performers who certainly bring something special. This was possibly the first uncut broadcast Gotterdammerung, though that now seems commonplace.
DER ROSENKAVALIER:Strauss
Original Air Date: 02/08/1969
Böhm; Ludwig, Rysanek, Berry, Grist, Knoll
MOD Audio SID.19280321
This production had its final performances in 2013-2014 with Martina Serafin, and Alice Coote. I remember the premiere of this Nathaniel Merrill/Robert O’Hearn production. The opening of the second act almost blinded the audience. Bohm, Ludwig, Rysanek, and Berry all rank very high in their portrayals in this opera, and for me only Grist was a little undercast for a house the size of the Met. Glad it’s returning to the Sirius airwaves, and even happier that it’s in MOoD. Gedda is lagniappe indeed as the Italian Singer.
CARMEN:Bizet
Original Air Date: 01/12/1974
Lewis; Horne, McCracken, Amara, Reardon
MOD Audio SID.19280424
I’m rather down on this performance from its most recent rebroadcast. Lewis’conducting lacks snap or allure, and Horne without Bernstein to challenge her seems too wayward for me. If you want to sample Horne and McCracken, listen to the studio based on the first performances of the production from the previous season; the March 1973 broadcast (same cast except Krause for Reardon) is only slightly better. Check the DG recording with Lenny.
AIDA:Verdi
Original Air Date: 02/20/1954
Cleva; Milanov, Baum, Barbieri, Warren, Hines
MOD Audio SID.19280426
Milanov, Barbieri, Warren and Hines are major Aida players any way you look at it. I used to have some cavils about Warren’s lack of equalization, but after the Verdi baritone singing I’ve endured the last quarter century, I am always grateful to encounter him in one of his signature roles.
SIMON BOCCANEGRA:Verdi
Original Air Date: 03/03/2007
Luisi; Hampson, Gheorghiu, Giordani, Furlanetto, Gerello
MOD Audio SID.19280428
Simon is one opera that gets regular outings at the Met, though not necessarily everywhere, starting with the titanic duo of Tibbett and Pinza, both of whom are still my standard in Simon and Fiesco (but not yet appearing on Sirius). I am not a big fan of Hampson’s traversal of the Verdi baritone repertoire. This was followed with another MOoD broadcast (video) with Domingo moving up to the title role under Levine. For me the best of the recent SBs was the FOLLOWING year when Levine did a short revival with Hvorostovsky (not always my choice for Verdi either) with Frittoli, Vargas, and Furlanetto, where Levine seems at his most inspired– he’s conducted 1/3 of all Boccanegras at the Met, and this performance is now out on MOoD as well. Somehow this performance did not make it in to MOoD– it should.
GÖTTERDÄMMERUNG:Wagner
Original Air Date: 01/27/1962
Leinsdorf; Nilsson, Hopf, Frick, Mittelmann, Kuchta, Dalis
MOD Audio SID.19280636
This is a magnificent performance with Nilsson and Frick among the best ever in two of the most challenging roles in the repertoire. The rest of the cast are seasoned performers who certainly bring something special. This was possibly the first uncut broadcast Gotterdammerung, though that now seems commonplace.
DER ROSENKAVALIER:Strauss
Original Air Date: 02/08/1969
Böhm; Ludwig, Rysanek, Berry, Grist, Knoll
MOD Audio SID.19280638
This production had its final performances in 2013-2014 with Martina Serafin, and Alice Coote. I remember the premiere of this Nathaniel Merrill/Robert O’Hearn production. The opening of the second act almost blinded the audience. Bohm, Ludwig, Rysanek, and Berry all rank very high in their portrayals in this opera, and for me only Grist was a little undercast for a house the size of the Met. Glad it’s returning to the Sirius airwaves, and even happier that it’s in MOoD. Gedda is lagniappe indeed as the Italian Singer.
CARMEN:Bizet
Original Air Date: 01/12/1974
Lewis; Horne, McCracken, Amara, Reardon
MOD Audio SID.19280640
I’m rather down on this performance from its most recent rebroadcast. Lewis’conducting lacks snap or allure, and Horne without Bernstein to challenge her seems too wayward for me. If you want to sample Horne and McCracken, listen to the studio based on the first performances of the production from the previous season; the March 1973 broadcast (same cast except Krause for Reardon) is only slightly better. Check the DG recording with Lenny.
AIDA:Verdi
Original Air Date: 02/20/1954
Cleva; Milanov, Baum, Barbieri, Warren, Hines
MOD Audio SID.19280642
Milanov, Barbieri, Warren and Hines are major Aida players any way you look at it. I used to have some cavils about Warren’s lack of equalization, but after the Verdi baritone singing I’ve endured the last quarter century, I am always grateful to encounter him in one of his signature roles.
SIMON BOCCANEGRA:Verdi
Original Air Date: 03/03/2007
Luisi; Hampson, Gheorghiu, Giordani, Furlanetto, Gerello
MOD Audio SID.19280744
Simon is one opera that gets regular outings at the Met, though not necessarily everywhere, starting with the titanic duo of Tibbett and Pinza, both of whom are still my standard in Simon and Fiesco (but not yet appearing on Sirius). I am not a big fan of Hampson’s traversal of the Verdi baritone repertoire. This was followed with another MOoD broadcast (video) with Domingo moving up to the title role under Levine. For me the best of the recent SBs was the FOLLOWING year when Levine did a short revival with Hvorostovsky (not always my choice for Verdi either) with Frittoli, Vargas, and Furlanetto, where Levine seems at his most inspired– he’s conducted 1/3 of all Boccanegras at the Met, and this performance is now out on MOoD as well. Somehow this performance did not make it in to MOoD– it should.
GÖTTERDÄMMERUNG:Wagner
Original Air Date: 01/27/1962
Leinsdorf; Nilsson, Hopf, Frick, Mittelmann, Kuchta, Dalis
MOD Audio SID.19280748
This is a magnificent performance with Nilsson and Frick among the best ever in two of the most challenging roles in the repertoire. The rest of the cast are seasoned performers who certainly bring something special. This was possibly the first uncut broadcast Gotterdammerung, though that now seems commonplace.
GÖTTERDÄMMERUNG:Wagner
Original Air Date: 01/27/1962
Leinsdorf; Nilsson, Hopf, Frick, Mittelmann, Kuchta, Dalis
MOD Audio SID.19280749
This is a magnificent performance with Nilsson and Frick among the best ever in two of the most challenging roles in the repertoire. The rest of the cast are seasoned performers who certainly bring something special. This was possibly the first uncut broadcast Gotterdammerung, though that now seems commonplace.
CAPRICCIO:Strauss
Original Air Date: 01/31/1998
Davis; Te Kanawa, Rootering, Kuebler, Keenlyside, Brendel, Harries
MOD Audio SID.19290104
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.
IL BARBIERE DI SIVIGLIA:Rossini
Original Air Date: 03/06/1954
Erede; Merrill, Peters, Valletti, Corena, Siepi
MOD Audio SID.19290105
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. This is Peters at ther best, and I find the male contingent very satisfying indeed. No Cessa di piu resistere though Valletti did include it on the RCA recording. Don’t miss. 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.
COSÌ FAN TUTTE:Mozart
Original Air Date: 04/09/1988
Epstein; TeKanawa, Rendall, Montague, Hagegård, Hong, Cheek
MOD Audio SID.19290213
While the Met casting for Zauberflote may not always leave a memorable result, the broadcast annals have a number of fine Cosis, and this is one. Max Epstein, who was Levine’s chief assistant for several years before dying much too young (the Walkure studio recording is dedicated to him as he did the major musical preparation). Te Kanawa always found Fiordiligi one of her most congenial assignments (and other Met Fiordiligis include such fine exponents as Steber (only available in the Sony studio recording because all her broadcasts are in translation), Vaness, Fleming (not on the airwaves, but a great studio recording, and a fine run at the Met), Lorengar (who followed TeKanawa in the new production and did the broadcast).
LA GIOCONDA:Ponchielli
Original Air Date: 01/03/1953
Cleva; Milanov, Baum, Warren, Barbieri, Siepi
MOD Audio SID.19290214
This is a big voiced Gioconda cast– the work does not call for chamber voices and this is the third of Milanov’s 7 broadcasts of the street singer. Baum is on a lower plane than the other starry principals, but for Gioconda aficionados (I’m one), this is a performance to enjoy.
EUGENE ONEGIN:Tchaikovsky
Original Air Date: 04/19/1997
Pappano; Chernov, Gorchakova, Farina, Tarassova, Ognovenko
MOD Audio SID.19290315
We hear so much more of Onegin these days, and this run is Pappano’s (CGarden music director) only Met appearance. Good to hear Chernov again in retrospect. Turned out to not be the Russian Robert Merrill. Antonio Pappano, though an American resident for some years has ended up basing most of his operatic career as the music director at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. The Met thought enough to give him this new production as his debut and only run of Met appearances Chernov was originally brought in as a Russian Robert Merrill. The voice is attractive and smoothly lyric, but not a patch on his countryman, Yuri Mazurok, and at least two sizes too small to even be compared to Merrill. Even in the Met’s own archives, the Peter G. Davis review of the opening night comes in for some very hard knocks musically for both the singers and the conductor. Why this was picked for MOoD when the two Mazurok broadcasts (regularly on Sirius) were not picked gives one pause about performance selection on MOoD.
CAPRICCIO:Strauss
Original Air Date: 01/31/1998
Davis; Te Kanawa, Rootering, Kuebler, Keenlyside, Brendel, Harries
MOD Audio SID.19290320
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.
IL BARBIERE DI SIVIGLIA:Rossini
Original Air Date: 03/06/1954
Erede; Merrill, Peters, Valletti, Corena, Siepi
MOD Audio SID.19290321
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. This is Peters at ther best, and I find the male contingent very satisfying indeed. No Cessa di piu resistere though Valletti did include it on the RCA recording. Don’t miss. 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.
LA GIOCONDA:Ponchielli
Original Air Date: 01/03/1953
Cleva; Milanov, Baum, Warren, Barbieri, Siepi
MOD Audio SID.19290423
This is a big voiced Gioconda cast– the work does not call for chamber voices and this is the third of Milanov’s 7 broadcasts of the street singer. Baum is on a lower plane than the other starry principals, but for Gioconda aficionados (I’m one), this is a performance to enjoy.