“LA JUIVE : Halévy
Original Air Date: 12/13/2003
Cast: Viotti; Isokoski, Shicoff, Futral, Cutler, Furlanetto
Media: MOD Audio SID.17510321 Tags: Archive; 2017
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.”
“DIE MEISTERSINGER VON NÜRNBERG : Wagner
Original Air Date: 01/10/1953
Cast: Reiner; Schöffler, de los Angeles, Hopf, Pechner, Greindl, Holm
Media: MOD Audio SID.17510426 Tags: Archive; 2017, Wagner
This performance has been on Sirius before and is in the Sony Wagner at the Met box. 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.”
“DIE MEISTERSINGER VON NÜRNBERG : Wagner
Original Air Date: 01/10/1953
Cast: Reiner; Schöffler, de los Angeles, Hopf, Pechner, Greindl, Holm
Media: MOD Audio SID.17510427 Tags: Archive; 2017, Wagner
This performance has been on Sirius before and is in the Sony Wagner at the Met box. 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.”
“DER ROSENKAVALIER : Strauss
Original Air Date: 02/18/1956
Cast: Kempe; Stevens, Della Casa; Edelmann, Güden, Herbert
Media: MOD Audio SID.17510428 Tags: Archive; 2017, Strauss
Sadly, we lost Della Casa this past week [December 2012]. No more
beautiful woman ever trod the operatic stage. With Kempe in the pit
for his final Met broadcast, this is a wonderful all-around performance.
5/3/11 – This performance has been on, but not frequently. I found a reference to my hearing it in January 2010, but Met Database does not show it has having been on Sirius. In any case I give the performance an absolute rave. If maybe a little late for Stevens, Della Casa and Guden are in absolute prime. Kempe appeared too little and we certainly need his Arabella (in English) with Steber, Guden and London to appear on Sirius. Don’t miss.”
“FAUST : Gounod
Original Air Date: 12/10/2011
Cast: Nézet-Séguin; Kaufmann, Poplavskaya, Pape, Braun, Losier
Media: Live in HDMOD Video SID.17510533 Tags: Archive; 2017
Nezet-Seguin’s conducting was one of the best things he’s done at the
Met, and both Kaufmann and Pape were excellent if not exactly erasing
aural memories of Bjorling and Siepi (1950 and 1959). The two blots for me were Poplavskaya as Marguerite and the misconceived production by Des McAnuff which will not disturb listening.
11/16/15 – The Met website continues to show the wrong broadcast date (20th) for this performance.
11/9/15 – This is the first time the Nezet-Seguin/Kaufmann Faust has appeared in the archival series. It was on several times including December 10, 2011 which was the Live in HD Transmission (part of Met Opera on Demand video offerings) and a Toll Brothers matinee. Thanks to Wendell Eatherly for listening to this morning’s introduction (I was in the shower and off to work) Contrary to the Met and Sirius’ postings of 12/20/2011 — which was broadcast on that EVENING as part of regular live transmissions, but not part of the Toll Brothers matinees which make up the broadcast base for archival rebroadcast, the December 10, 2011 Toll Brothers matinee is being broadcast this morning. We’ll see how long it takes before the published Met web page shows the right date.
Nezet-Seguin’s conducting was one of the best things he’s done at the Met, and both Kaufmann and Pape were excellent if not exactly erasing aural memories of Bjorling and Siepi (1950 and 1959). The two blots for me were Poplavskaya as Marguerite and the misconceived production by Des McAnuff which will not disturb listening.”
“LA JUIVE : Halévy
Original Air Date: 12/13/2003
Cast: Viotti; Isokoski, Shicoff, Futral, Cutler, Furlanetto
Media: MOD Audio SID.17510637 Tags: Archive; 2017
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.”
“DER ROSENKAVALIER : Strauss
Original Air Date: 02/18/1956
Cast: Kempe; Stevens, Della Casa; Edelmann, Güden, Herbert
Media: MOD Audio SID.17510638 Tags: Archive; 2017, Strauss
Sadly, we lost Della Casa this past week [December 2012]. No more
beautiful woman ever trod the operatic stage. With Kempe in the pit
for his final Met broadcast, this is a wonderful all-around performance.
5/3/11 – This performance has been on, but not frequently. I found a reference to my hearing it in January 2010, but Met Database does not show it has having been on Sirius. In any case I give the performance an absolute rave. If maybe a little late for Stevens, Della Casa and Guden are in absolute prime. Kempe appeared too little and we certainly need his Arabella (in English) with Steber, Guden and London to appear on Sirius. Don’t miss.”
“DIE MEISTERSINGER VON NÜRNBERG : Wagner
Original Air Date: 01/10/1953
Cast: Reiner; Schöffler, de los Angeles, Hopf, Pechner, Greindl, Holm
Media: MOD Audio SID.17510642 Tags: Archive; 2017, Wagner
This performance has been on Sirius before and is in the Sony Wagner at the Met box. 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.”
“DIE MEISTERSINGER VON NÜRNBERG : Wagner
Original Air Date: 01/10/1953
Cast: Reiner; Schöffler, de los Angeles, Hopf, Pechner, Greindl, Holm
Media: MOD Audio SID.17510743 Tags: Archive; 2017, Wagner
This performance has been on Sirius before and is in the Sony Wagner at the Met box. 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.”
“FAUST : Gounod
Original Air Date: 12/10/2011
Cast: Nézet-Séguin; Kaufmann, Poplavskaya, Pape, Braun, Losier
Media: Live in HDMOD Video SID.17510744 Tags: Archive; 2017
Nezet-Seguin’s conducting was one of the best things he’s done at the
Met, and both Kaufmann and Pape were excellent if not exactly erasing
aural memories of Bjorling and Siepi (1950 and 1959). The two blots for me were Poplavskaya as Marguerite and the misconceived production by Des McAnuff which will not disturb listening.
11/16/15 – The Met website continues to show the wrong broadcast date (20th) for this performance.
11/9/15 – This is the first time the Nezet-Seguin/Kaufmann Faust has appeared in the archival series. It was on several times including December 10, 2011 which was the Live in HD Transmission (part of Met Opera on Demand video offerings) and a Toll Brothers matinee. Thanks to Wendell Eatherly for listening to this morning’s introduction (I was in the shower and off to work) Contrary to the Met and Sirius’ postings of 12/20/2011 — which was broadcast on that EVENING as part of regular live transmissions, but not part of the Toll Brothers matinees which make up the broadcast base for archival rebroadcast, the December 10, 2011 Toll Brothers matinee is being broadcast this morning. We’ll see how long it takes before the published Met web page shows the right date.
Nezet-Seguin’s conducting was one of the best things he’s done at the Met, and both Kaufmann and Pape were excellent if not exactly erasing aural memories of Bjorling and Siepi (1950 and 1959). The two blots for me were Poplavskaya as Marguerite and the misconceived production by Des McAnuff which will not disturb listening.”
“NABUCCO : Verdi
Original Air Date: 12/03/1960
Cast: Schippers; MacNeil, Rysanek, Siepi, Fernandi
Media: MOD Audio SID.17520102 Tags: Archive; 2017, Verdi
MacNeil and Siepi are both excellent in the Met’s first Nabucco production. Rysanek gives her all, but really not the right match of voice and role for her.
One does not hear the lead male roles sung like this anymore.
This performance has also been reissued in the Met’s Verdi bicentennial CD box. In fact, this broadcast from a single season was Nabucco’s only presence in the Met repertoire until early 2000.”
“DON PASQUALE : Donizetti
Original Air Date: 12/05/1970
Cast: Franci; Corena, Grist, Kraus, Krause
Media: MOD Audio SID.17520103 Tags: Archive; 2017
This is a fine performance, but I would love to hear Corena from 1956 with Peters and Valletti in Schippers debut season. I also notice Pinza did a broadcast in 1935 which I think does not survive.
Love to hear Pinza and Donizetti, though for the patter duet Corena is absolutely the last word, closely followed by Baccaloni. Corena’s 1965 broadcast with Peters has been on Sirius and is on MOoD, but that’s with Alva, not Valletti.”
“IDOMENEO : Mozart
Original Air Date: 02/15/1986
Cast: Tate; Rendall, Valente, Behrens, von Stade, Alexander
Media: MOD Audio SID.17520105 Tags: Archive; 2017, Mozart
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.”
“I VESPRI SICILIANI : Verdi
Original Air Date: 12/11/2004
Cast: Chaslin; Radvanovsky, Casanova, Nucci, Ramey
Media: MOD Audio SID.17520106 Tags: Archive; 2017, Verdi
Elena was a major breakout role for Radvanovsky, and she was the deserved star of this revival.
Nucci, who has appeared irregularly but continuously since his debut in 1980 last appeared at the Met in this 2004 broadcast where he is in fine voice as he was on the Nabucco broadcast six months earlier (prior season). His current engagements show him as busy as any Verdi baritone before the public with an appearance in January 2016 at La Scala as Rigoletto with Nadine Sierra, where they encored the Si, vendetta duet (!!!!).
Casanova has good style in arguably Verdi’s most challenging tenor part. This revival catches Ramey after the wobble had started to set in (I date at around 2002). He’s still very commanding, but it’s just a bit too late to be top quality. Procida is one of the greatest of Verdi bass roles right up there with Fiesco, if not quite at the level of Filippo II.
Chaslin conducts a well prepared performance, and so nice to have this performance in the Sirius rotation.
With Radvanovsky’s new status, this performance should be added to MOoD. This is true two years ago, and is still the case.
6/26/2012 – Ramey is a bit too late for Procida here, but Chaslin’s conducting and the other three principals are very good . Vespri is hard to sing, and never overwhelms me like Don Carlo, Ballo, Simon, or Forza, but there are still some Verdian moments to enjoy. The only competitive Met broadcast.
9/28/11 – Vespri has some great music but I find it the weakest of any of Verdi’s post Rigoletto operas. This revival was the big showcase for Radvanovsky who regularly featured some of the biggest E naturals ever heard at the Met (at the end of the Bolero). Nucci still had surprising sap left, but 2 or 3 years too late for Ramey, and Casanova will be ok on the radio, but he did not have an ideal stage appearance.
2/8/11 – It’s not Don Carlo or Simon Boccanegra, but one of the first exposures of major league Radvanovsky. Not quite enough panache for the dramatic sections, but some stirring singing. Casanova better heard than seen, and Nucci in fine shape, esp. for his age.
Just a little too late for Ramey. Much better at Scala under Muti.”
“COSÌ FAN TUTTE : Mozart
Original Air Date: 04/09/1988
Cast: Epstein; TeKanawa, Rendall, Montague, Hagegård, Hong, Cheek
Media: MOD Audio SID.17520208 Tags: Archive; 2017, Mozart
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).”
“SIEGFRIED : Wagner
Original Air Date: 01/30/1937
Cast: Bodanzky; Melchior, Flagstad, Schorr, Thorborg, Laufkötter, Habich
Media: MOD Audio SID.17520210 Tags: Archive; 2017, Wagner
Melchior is simply in a class by himself because no one has a voice like his. The supporting cast are of major stature. This also appears in the Sony Wagner CD box from the Met.
This writer fails to recall an occasion when they sang the final duet of the opera in such fashion, with such wealth of tone and heroic passion … It was the lyrical flight of eagles – New York Times, 1937
Melchior had learned the role under the composer’s son, Siegfried, and widow, Cosima, at Bayreuth in the 1920s. Quite simply, no other tenor has been able to sing Siegfried like this – how the role was meant to be sung.
Two other cast members stand out. Friedrich Schorr was the leading interpreter of Wotan / Wanderer in the inter-war years. Norwegian soprano Kirsten Flagstad as Brunnhilde was the dominant Wagnerian soprano at the Met between 1935 and 1941 and Melchior and Flagstad together were the hottest opera ticket in New York. Her voice is beautifully controlled, delivering golden tone with ease.
This is the only complete recording of Melchior in Siegfried, and it is the only recording of Melchior and Flagstad together in the opera.
by Andrew Rose May 26, 2017”
“SIEGFRIED : Wagner
Original Air Date: 01/30/1937
Cast: Bodanzky; Melchior, Flagstad, Schorr, Thorborg, Laufkötter, Habich
Media: MOD Audio SID.17520211 Tags: Archive; 2017, Wagner
Melchior is simply in a class by himself because no one has a voice like his. The supporting cast are of major stature. This also appears in the Sony Wagner CD box from the Met.
This writer fails to recall an occasion when they sang the final duet of the opera in such fashion, with such wealth of tone and heroic passion … It was the lyrical flight of eagles – New York Times, 1937
Melchior had learned the role under the composer’s son, Siegfried, and widow, Cosima, at Bayreuth in the 1920s. Quite simply, no other tenor has been able to sing Siegfried like this – how the role was meant to be sung.
Two other cast members stand out. Friedrich Schorr was the leading interpreter of Wotan / Wanderer in the inter-war years. Norwegian soprano Kirsten Flagstad as Brunnhilde was the dominant Wagnerian soprano at the Met between 1935 and 1941 and Melchior and Flagstad together were the hottest opera ticket in New York. Her voice is beautifully controlled, delivering golden tone with ease.
This is the only complete recording of Melchior in Siegfried, and it is the only recording of Melchior and Flagstad together in the opera.
by Andrew Rose May 26, 2017”
“ERNANI : Verdi
Original Air Date: 04/10/1965
Cast: Schippers; Corelli, Price, Sereni, Siepi
Media: MOD Audio SID.17520315 Tags: Archive; 2017, Verdi
The Met has two outstanding Ernani broadcasts from the mid 1960s, both with Schippers and Leontyne Price.
The first is with Bergonzi and MacNeil, and the second features the special contributions of Corelli and Siepi.
Luckily both are on MOoD, with the first also issued on Sony Historical CD. I love Ernani, and both these performances belong in every Verdi lover’s playlist.
Ernani is back this season with Domingo in the baritone role; his only Met appearance in the title role was in 1971 (not broadcast).”
“NABUCCO : Verdi
Original Air Date: 12/03/1960
Cast: Schippers; MacNeil, Rysanek, Siepi, Fernandi
Media: MOD Audio SID.17520318 Tags: Archive; 2017, Verdi
MacNeil and Siepi are both excellent in the Met’s first Nabucco production. Rysanek gives her all, but really not the right match of voice and role for her.
One does not hear the lead male roles sung like this anymore.
This performance has also been reissued in the Met’s Verdi bicentennial CD box. In fact, this broadcast from a single season was Nabucco’s only presence in the Met repertoire until early 2000.”
“DON PASQUALE : Donizetti
Original Air Date: 12/05/1970
Cast: Franci; Corena, Grist, Kraus, Krause
Media: MOD Audio SID.17520319 Tags: Archive; 2017
This is a fine performance, but I would love to hear Corena from 1956 with Peters and Valletti in Schippers debut season. I also notice Pinza did a broadcast in 1935 which I think does not survive.
Love to hear Pinza and Donizetti, though for the patter duet Corena is absolutely the last word, closely followed by Baccaloni. Corena’s 1965 broadcast with Peters has been on Sirius and is on MOoD, but that’s with Alva, not Valletti.”
“IDOMENEO : Mozart
Original Air Date: 02/15/1986
Cast: Tate; Rendall, Valente, Behrens, von Stade, Alexander
Media: MOD Audio SID.17520321 Tags: Archive; 2017, Mozart
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.”
“COSÌ FAN TUTTE : Mozart
Original Air Date: 04/09/1988
Cast: Epstein; TeKanawa, Rendall, Montague, Hagegård, Hong, Cheek
Media: MOD Audio SID.17520423 Tags: Archive; 2017, Mozart
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).”
“SIEGFRIED : Wagner
Original Air Date: 01/30/1937
Cast: Bodanzky; Melchior, Flagstad, Schorr, Thorborg, Laufkötter, Habich
Media: MOD Audio SID.17520426 Tags: Archive; 2017, Wagner
Melchior is simply in a class by himself because no one has a voice like his. The supporting cast are of major stature. This also appears in the Sony Wagner CD box from the Met.
This writer fails to recall an occasion when they sang the final duet of the opera in such fashion, with such wealth of tone and heroic passion … It was the lyrical flight of eagles – New York Times, 1937
Melchior had learned the role under the composer’s son, Siegfried, and widow, Cosima, at Bayreuth in the 1920s. Quite simply, no other tenor has been able to sing Siegfried like this – how the role was meant to be sung.
Two other cast members stand out. Friedrich Schorr was the leading interpreter of Wotan / Wanderer in the inter-war years. Norwegian soprano Kirsten Flagstad as Brunnhilde was the dominant Wagnerian soprano at the Met between 1935 and 1941 and Melchior and Flagstad together were the hottest opera ticket in New York. Her voice is beautifully controlled, delivering golden tone with ease.
This is the only complete recording of Melchior in Siegfried, and it is the only recording of Melchior and Flagstad together in the opera.
by Andrew Rose May 26, 2017”
“SIEGFRIED : Wagner
Original Air Date: 01/30/1937
Cast: Bodanzky; Melchior, Flagstad, Schorr, Thorborg, Laufkötter, Habich
Media: MOD Audio SID.17520427 Tags: Archive; 2017, Wagner
Melchior is simply in a class by himself because no one has a voice like his. The supporting cast are of major stature. This also appears in the Sony Wagner CD box from the Met.
This writer fails to recall an occasion when they sang the final duet of the opera in such fashion, with such wealth of tone and heroic passion … It was the lyrical flight of eagles – New York Times, 1937
Melchior had learned the role under the composer’s son, Siegfried, and widow, Cosima, at Bayreuth in the 1920s. Quite simply, no other tenor has been able to sing Siegfried like this – how the role was meant to be sung.
Two other cast members stand out. Friedrich Schorr was the leading interpreter of Wotan / Wanderer in the inter-war years. Norwegian soprano Kirsten Flagstad as Brunnhilde was the dominant Wagnerian soprano at the Met between 1935 and 1941 and Melchior and Flagstad together were the hottest opera ticket in New York. Her voice is beautifully controlled, delivering golden tone with ease.
This is the only complete recording of Melchior in Siegfried, and it is the only recording of Melchior and Flagstad together in the opera.
by Andrew Rose May 26, 2017”
“I VESPRI SICILIANI : Verdi
Original Air Date: 12/11/2004
Cast: Chaslin; Radvanovsky, Casanova, Nucci, Ramey
Media: MOD Audio SID.17520529 Tags: Archive; 2017, Verdi
Elena was a major breakout role for Radvanovsky, and she was the deserved star of this revival.
Nucci, who has appeared irregularly but continuously since his debut in 1980 last appeared at the Met in this 2004 broadcast where he is in fine voice as he was on the Nabucco broadcast six months earlier (prior season). His current engagements show him as busy as any Verdi baritone before the public with an appearance in January 2016 at La Scala as Rigoletto with Nadine Sierra, where they encored the Si, vendetta duet (!!!!).
Casanova has good style in arguably Verdi’s most challenging tenor part. This revival catches Ramey after the wobble had started to set in (I date at around 2002). He’s still very commanding, but it’s just a bit too late to be top quality. Procida is one of the greatest of Verdi bass roles right up there with Fiesco, if not quite at the level of Filippo II.
Chaslin conducts a well prepared performance, and so nice to have this performance in the Sirius rotation.
With Radvanovsky’s new status, this performance should be added to MOoD. This is true two years ago, and is still the case.
6/26/2012 – Ramey is a bit too late for Procida here, but Chaslin’s conducting and the other three principals are very good . Vespri is hard to sing, and never overwhelms me like Don Carlo, Ballo, Simon, or Forza, but there are still some Verdian moments to enjoy. The only competitive Met broadcast.
9/28/11 – Vespri has some great music but I find it the weakest of any of Verdi’s post Rigoletto operas. This revival was the big showcase for Radvanovsky who regularly featured some of the biggest E naturals ever heard at the Met (at the end of the Bolero). Nucci still had surprising sap left, but 2 or 3 years too late for Ramey, and Casanova will be ok on the radio, but he did not have an ideal stage appearance.
2/8/11 – It’s not Don Carlo or Simon Boccanegra, but one of the first exposures of major league Radvanovsky. Not quite enough panache for the dramatic sections, but some stirring singing. Casanova better heard than seen, and Nucci in fine shape, esp. for his age.
Just a little too late for Ramey. Much better at Scala under Muti.”
“ERNANI : Verdi
Original Air Date: 04/10/1965
Cast: Schippers; Corelli, Price, Sereni, Siepi
Media: MOD Audio SID.17520531 Tags: Archive; 2017, Verdi
The Met has two outstanding Ernani broadcasts from the mid 1960s, both with Schippers and Leontyne Price.
The first is with Bergonzi and MacNeil, and the second features the special contributions of Corelli and Siepi.
Luckily both are on MOoD, with the first also issued on Sony Historical CD. I love Ernani, and both these performances belong in every Verdi lover’s playlist.
Ernani is back this season with Domingo in the baritone role; his only Met appearance in the title role was in 1971 (not broadcast).”
“NABUCCO : Verdi
Original Air Date: 12/03/1960
Cast: Schippers; MacNeil, Rysanek, Siepi, Fernandi
Media: MOD Audio SID.17520534 Tags: Archive; 2017, Verdi
MacNeil and Siepi are both excellent in the Met’s first Nabucco production. Rysanek gives her all, but really not the right match of voice and role for her.
One does not hear the lead male roles sung like this anymore.
This performance has also been reissued in the Met’s Verdi bicentennial CD box. In fact, this broadcast from a single season was Nabucco’s only presence in the Met repertoire until early 2000.”
“DON PASQUALE : Donizetti
Original Air Date: 12/05/1970
Cast: Franci; Corena, Grist, Kraus, Krause
Media: MOD Audio SID.17520535 Tags: Archive; 2017
This is a fine performance, but I would love to hear Corena from 1956 with Peters and Valletti in Schippers debut season. I also notice Pinza did a broadcast in 1935 which I think does not survive.
Love to hear Pinza and Donizetti, though for the patter duet Corena is absolutely the last word, closely followed by Baccaloni. Corena’s 1965 broadcast with Peters has been on Sirius and is on MOoD, but that’s with Alva, not Valletti.”
“IDOMENEO : Mozart
Original Air Date: 02/15/1986
Cast: Tate; Rendall, Valente, Behrens, von Stade, Alexander
Media: MOD Audio SID.17520637 Tags: Archive; 2017, Mozart
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.”
“SIEGFRIED : Wagner
Original Air Date: 01/30/1937
Cast: Bodanzky; Melchior, Flagstad, Schorr, Thorborg, Laufkötter, Habich
Media: MOD Audio SID.17520642 Tags: Archive; 2017, Wagner
Melchior is simply in a class by himself because no one has a voice like his. The supporting cast are of major stature. This also appears in the Sony Wagner CD box from the Met.
This writer fails to recall an occasion when they sang the final duet of the opera in such fashion, with such wealth of tone and heroic passion … It was the lyrical flight of eagles – New York Times, 1937
Melchior had learned the role under the composer’s son, Siegfried, and widow, Cosima, at Bayreuth in the 1920s. Quite simply, no other tenor has been able to sing Siegfried like this – how the role was meant to be sung.
Two other cast members stand out. Friedrich Schorr was the leading interpreter of Wotan / Wanderer in the inter-war years. Norwegian soprano Kirsten Flagstad as Brunnhilde was the dominant Wagnerian soprano at the Met between 1935 and 1941 and Melchior and Flagstad together were the hottest opera ticket in New York. Her voice is beautifully controlled, delivering golden tone with ease.
This is the only complete recording of Melchior in Siegfried, and it is the only recording of Melchior and Flagstad together in the opera.
by Andrew Rose May 26, 2017”