“DIE WALKÜRE : Wagner
Original Air Date: 02/17/1940
Cast: Leinsdorf; Flagstad, Lawrence, Branzell, Melchior, Huehn, List
Media: MOD Audio SID.18010529 Tags: Archive; 2018, Wagner
This performance was issued on Sony CD as part of the Wagner at the Met box in honor of the composer’s bicentenary in 2013. Sirius postings didn’t see the need for adding Branzell or List to the listing, but Fricka and Hunding are both important roles.
In this performance Flagstad moves up to Brunnhilde with Lawrence as Sieglinde. There is a 1937 broadcast with Lawrence as Brunnhilde and Flagstad as Sieglinde; Schorr is the Wotan and Olszewska as Fricka, and Althouse as Siegmund. That performance has not been on Sirius either, but also has the distinction of being conducted by Bodanzky.
Several things are unusual about this 1940 broadcast. It is uncut, primarily championed by Leinsdorf, and is Flagstad’s only Walkure Brunnhilde broadcast until her return 11 years later in 1951 under Stiedry. Melchior is in particularly resplendent voice and his long-held Walse cries in the first act are as much a taunt to Leinsdorf as anything. Julius Huehn’s Wotan ( he was 30 at the time of this broadcast (!!!!) wins high praise from Paul Jackson in his Met broadcast review.
[I listened to the third act this morning, and the sound is unusually good for this period, and Flagstad is simply glorious in the third act as the warrior maid. Don’t miss it on the two later broadcasts this week]
5/20/13 – No special brief needs to be made for this cast. The most unfamiliar name is probably Julius Huehn who started spelling the Wagner baritones from Schorr. Branzell and List are left off the Met
listing, but they are a major part of the Wagner wing at the Met. The
Met Database does not show this as having been previously broadcast on Sirius.”
“DON CARLO : Verdi
Original Air Date: 11/11/1950
Cast: Stiedry; Bjorling, Rigal, Merrill, Barbieri, Siepi, Hines
Media: MOD Audio SID.18010534 Tags: Archive; 2018, Verdi
This is the production that opened the Bing regime in 1950, and re-introduces Don Carlo to New York audiences. The men are the equal or superior of just about anyone who has ever sung these roles.
Barbieri was new, and if Eboli was not quite her meat as much as her Amneris, Azucena, and Quickly, she was still the Eboli of choice when the sainted Covent Garden production of 1958 made the case in London for the opera 8 years later. New York was to see more sensational Ebolis in the 1960s with Bumbry, Cossotto, and Verrett delivering masterful portrayals of the Princess. Rigal would not have seemed quite so short of desirable had she had less outstanding colleagues.
Elisabetta remains a challenging role, and though never essayed by Milanov (then the queen of Verdi in New York) or Tebaldi (never did the part onstage), the part didn’t turn out to be a major success for either Steber or Rysanek, though both have their moments in the role. Caballe, Freni, Kabaiwanska and Millo all were notable exponents, but runs were very limited. Scotto is mostly very good (not too late, not too heavy, but still not quite the right voice, if still wonderful stylistically. A propos the discussion on Verdi sopranos, Leontyne Price never did the part, which is unsurprising as it does not play to her considerable Verdian strengths—but that’s another discussion.
Siepi’s contribution is particularly important in that he opens and closes the Bing regime as Filippo, and it is a shame that the April 1972 performance has not been rebroadcast. Three veterans of the 1950 broadcast, Merrill, Siepi, and Amara (Celestial Voice) as well as two new Verdian stars in Caballe and Milnes.
1/23/2012 – How can a week get off to a bad start with Bing’s first presentation as General Manager to the Met in 1950 and the debuts of Siepi and Barbieri? The addition of Bjorling, Merrill, and Hines didn’t hurt. Rigal was a less notable debuting commodity, but this was the Don Carlo production that started the revival of interest which moved to another level with the Giulini/Visconti production at Covent Garden. Bing entrusted Stiedry with a number of his marquee productions in Verdi, Wagner, and Mozart. The sound is a little cramped, but there is no Bjorling studio or other live performance that captures him in this role. Not quite at the level of his Romeo which is one of the great Met performances ever, but my only sadness is that nothing of the video survives of the TELECAST of opening night.
1/30/2011 – A legendary performance and with good reason. Rigal not at the level of the others, but so grateful that it survives in as good a sound as it does. Also available on Met Player.
5/1/2008 – This performance has not been invisible, but for younger Sirius listeners this is a must have. Again, Bjorling did not record it commercially, and though never acclaimed as an actor, his live performances have a juice that his fine studio recordings never had. Exhibit A is the recent broadcast of the 1956 Manon Lescaut. “
“ELEKTRA : Strauss
Original Air Date: 02/23/1952
Cast: Reiner; Varnay, Wegner, Höngen, Schöffler, Svanholm
Media: MOD Audio SID.18010636 Tags: Archive; 2018, Strauss
The Met premiere of Elektra was broadcast in 1932 with Gertude Kappel making a memorable appearance in the title role. I have only heard parts of this, but the whole broadcast does survive. The remaining four performances that season had Rossini’s Il Signor Bruschino as a curtain raiser.
The 1938 revival with Rose Pauly was not broadcast and was paired with Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi (from Trittico) for the first four, and the fifth was with Menotti’s Amelia goes to the ball.
The 1952 broadcast featured this week is the first broadcast in 20 years and features Varnay at the ripe age of 34 in the title role. She went on to sing the role all over the world for two decades before moving on to Klytemnestra.
Reiner had conducted a groundbreaking Salome in 1949 with Welitsch, and conducted Varnay in the last two Salomes of the 1952 season after this run of 5 Elektras. I can’t think of a singer (all of 34) who did both title roles in the same season.
This is available in Met Opera on Demand (MOoD) as
well.
2/6/2012 – This is not a premiere on Sirius, but it is not played often enough. Reiner and Varnay are in tremendous form–one of her very best roles, and this revival was the first at the Met in more than a decade. Reiner was a supreme Straussian. He broadcast Salome with Welitsch, this Elektra, and 3 Rosenkavaliers, 2 with Steber (1 with Stevens, 1 with Novotna) and one with Varnay as Marie Therese. The only thing more interesting about that broadcast would have been to SEE her as Marie Therese. Let’s hear it for the unearthing of Varnay’s Rosenkavalier. Until then, enjoy the House of Mycenae from this February 1952 matinee.
3/11/2011 – Reiner is a great Straussian, and Varnay a great Elektra. That’s quite enough for me. The only broadcast Elektra to precede this is 1932 with Gertrude Kappel. Alas, I do not believe this 1952 performance survives. Certainly I’ve never heard it. The reviews are ecstatic.
The 1966 performance which features Resnik’s only Met broadcast Klytemnestra I would like to hear again (it hasn’t been on Sirius). Nilsson and Rysanek are well caught 5 years later with Bohm; Madeira is at the very end of her career and not well served. Ute Vinzing (with Christa Ludwig as Klytemnestra) and Penelope Daner (with Rysanek as Klytemnestra), both under Levine have not been on Sirius, and i would especially like to hear the Vinzing performance
again. Daner had replaced Behrens for all performances after the premiere of the new production.
Two years after the disastrous Behrens premiere (the Times gave a glowing review to her for a performance that I thought would be interrupted at any moment) , Behrens returned in much-restored voice, and that broadcast was captured in a video with Fassbander that is in the Levine 40th DVD box set as well as Sirius broadcasting.”
“ARABELLA : Strauss
Original Air Date: 12/15/2001
Cast: Eschenbach; Fleming; Ketelsen, Bonney, Very, Forst, Halfvarson
Media: MOD Audio SID.18010637 Tags: Archive; 2018, Strauss
This is Fleming’s only Met broadcast outing as Arabella. Eschenbach was the fly in the ointment when I saw the production prior to the broadcast, and so he remains.
Because of the English translation used prior to the new production, Sirius listeners are regularly denied the glories of Steber under Kempe in the premiere season of 1955, and Della Casa from 1957-1965.
Della Casa has studio and stage Arabellas in German from other sources, but Kempe is a special Straussian, and Steber is in particularly stunning voice with London from the premiere year.
09/24/2012 – I thought Eschenbach was the real fly in the ointment when this revival came around. Fleming is in very beautiful voice, but the performance as a whole lacks magic. Arabella takes special handling and this doesn’t really get it.
03/27/2012 – I saw an earlier performance in the run, and while OK, Fleming did not have a great deal of personality. The singing was excellent. I prefer Steber or Della Casa.
8/2/2011 – For me, Eschenbach is a bit of the fly in the ointment, but this is still a solid Arabella cast. This does give me a chance to make a plea for the Met premiere broadcast of Arabella (in English — part of the delay I am sure) with Steber, Guden, London, under Rudolf Kempe. What a magnificent performance from all concerned”
“TRISTAN UND ISOLDE : Wagner
Original Air Date: 03/18/1961
Cast: Rosenstock; Nilsson, Dalis, Liebl, Cassel, Hines
Media: MOD Audio SID.18010641 Tags: Archive; 2018, Nilsson, Wagner
This is Nilsson’s second of four Isolde broadcasts from the Met, and is also available in MOoD as is the exact same cast but under Solti in one of his rare Met broadcasts two years later in 1963.
Rosenstock rarely thrills me, but the key question is how well Liebl holds up two years into his Tristan ventures. Nilsson’s first Isolde broadcast from 1960 features Bohm in the pit, but has never been on Sirius, an unfortunate omission.
5/24/2012 – This is Nilsson’s second Isolde broadcast, and Liebel is much helped by the microphones. Nilsson is also available in 1963 with much the same cast under Solti. Both this performance and the Solti are on MOoD.
What has not been on Sirius is Nilsson’s first Isolde from 1960 which features Bohm’s only season in the pit for Tristan and Vinay as her Tristan. The supporting cast is otherwise much the same. Could we dig that one out as well?
8/7/2011 – This performance has been available for some time on Met Player, and Met Player recently added the Nilsson Solti from 1963 with much the same supporting cast. My records show that Nilsson’s debut year Isolde under Bohm has still not been on Sirius.”
“TRISTAN UND ISOLDE : Wagner
Original Air Date: 03/18/1961
Cast: Rosenstock; Nilsson, Dalis, Liebl, Cassel, Hines
Media: MOD Audio SID.18010642 Tags: Archive; 2018, Nilsson, Wagner
This is Nilsson’s second of four Isolde broadcasts from the Met, and is also available in MOoD as is the exact same cast but under Solti in one of his rare Met broadcasts two years later in 1963.
Rosenstock rarely thrills me, but the key question is how well Liebl holds up two years into his Tristan ventures. Nilsson’s first Isolde broadcast from 1960 features Bohm in the pit, but has never been on Sirius, an unfortunate omission.
5/24/2012 – This is Nilsson’s second Isolde broadcast, and Liebel is much helped by the microphones. Nilsson is also available in 1963 with much the same cast under Solti. Both this performance and the Solti are on MOoD.
What has not been on Sirius is Nilsson’s first Isolde from 1960 which features Bohm’s only season in the pit for Tristan and Vinay as her Tristan. The supporting cast is otherwise much the same. Could we dig that one out as well?
8/7/2011 – This performance has been available for some time on Met Player, and Met Player recently added the Nilsson Solti from 1963 with much the same supporting cast. My records show that Nilsson’s debut year Isolde under Bohm has still not been on Sirius.”
“DIE WALKÜRE : Wagner
Original Air Date: 02/17/1940
Cast: Leinsdorf; Flagstad, Lawrence, Branzell, Melchior, Huehn, List
Media: MOD Audio SID.18010744 Tags: Archive; 2018, Wagner
This performance was issued on Sony CD as part of the Wagner at the Met box in honor of the composer’s bicentenary in 2013. Sirius postings didn’t see the need for adding Branzell or List to the listing, but Fricka and Hunding are both important roles.
In this performance Flagstad moves up to Brunnhilde with Lawrence as Sieglinde. There is a 1937 broadcast with Lawrence as Brunnhilde and Flagstad as Sieglinde; Schorr is the Wotan and Olszewska as Fricka, and Althouse as Siegmund. That performance has not been on Sirius either, but also has the distinction of being conducted by Bodanzky.
Several things are unusual about this 1940 broadcast. It is uncut, primarily championed by Leinsdorf, and is Flagstad’s only Walkure Brunnhilde broadcast until her return 11 years later in 1951 under Stiedry. Melchior is in particularly resplendent voice and his long-held Walse cries in the first act are as much a taunt to Leinsdorf as anything. Julius Huehn’s Wotan ( he was 30 at the time of this broadcast (!!!!) wins high praise from Paul Jackson in his Met broadcast review.
[I listened to the third act this morning, and the sound is unusually good for this period, and Flagstad is simply glorious in the third act as the warrior maid. Don’t miss it on the two later broadcasts this week]
5/20/13 – No special brief needs to be made for this cast. The most unfamiliar name is probably Julius Huehn who started spelling the Wagner baritones from Schorr. Branzell and List are left off the Met
listing, but they are a major part of the Wagner wing at the Met. The
Met Database does not show this as having been previously broadcast on Sirius.”
“DIE WALKÜRE : Wagner
Original Air Date: 02/17/1940
Cast: Leinsdorf; Flagstad, Lawrence, Branzell, Melchior, Huehn, List
Media: MOD Audio SID.18010745 Tags: Archive; 2018, Wagner
This performance was issued on Sony CD as part of the Wagner at the Met box in honor of the composer’s bicentenary in 2013. Sirius postings didn’t see the need for adding Branzell or List to the listing, but Fricka and Hunding are both important roles.
In this performance Flagstad moves up to Brunnhilde with Lawrence as Sieglinde. There is a 1937 broadcast with Lawrence as Brunnhilde and Flagstad as Sieglinde; Schorr is the Wotan and Olszewska as Fricka, and Althouse as Siegmund. That performance has not been on Sirius either, but also has the distinction of being conducted by Bodanzky.
Several things are unusual about this 1940 broadcast. It is uncut, primarily championed by Leinsdorf, and is Flagstad’s only Walkure Brunnhilde broadcast until her return 11 years later in 1951 under Stiedry. Melchior is in particularly resplendent voice and his long-held Walse cries in the first act are as much a taunt to Leinsdorf as anything. Julius Huehn’s Wotan ( he was 30 at the time of this broadcast (!!!!) wins high praise from Paul Jackson in his Met broadcast review.
[I listened to the third act this morning, and the sound is unusually good for this period, and Flagstad is simply glorious in the third act as the warrior maid. Don’t miss it on the two later broadcasts this week]
5/20/13 – No special brief needs to be made for this cast. The most unfamiliar name is probably Julius Huehn who started spelling the Wagner baritones from Schorr. Branzell and List are left off the Met
listing, but they are a major part of the Wagner wing at the Met. The
Met Database does not show this as having been previously broadcast on Sirius.”
“CAVALLERIA RUSTICANA / PAGLIACCI : Mascagni / Leoncavallo
Original Air Date: 03/03/1951
Cast: Erede; Milanov, Tucker, Harvuot / Rigal, Baum, Warren
Media: MOD Audio SID.18010746 Tags: Archive; 2018
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.”
“ARABELLA : Strauss
Original Air Date: 12/15/2001
Cast: Eschenbach; Fleming; Ketelsen, Bonney, Very, Forst, Halfvarson
Media: MOD Audio SID.18020101 Tags: Archive; 2018, Strauss
This is Fleming’s only Met broadcast outing as Arabella. Eschenbach was the fly in the ointment when I saw the production prior to the broadcast, and so he remains.
Because of the English translation used prior to the new production, Sirius listeners are regularly denied the glories of Steber under Kempe in the premiere season of 1955, and Della Casa from 1957-1965.
Della Casa has studio and stage Arabellas in German from other sources, but Kempe is a special Straussian, and Steber is in particularly stunning voice with London from the premiere year.
09/24/2012 – I thought Eschenbach was the real fly in the ointment when this revival came around. Fleming is in very beautiful voice, but the performance as a whole lacks magic. Arabella takes special handling and this doesn’t really get it.
03/27/2012 – I saw an earlier performance in the run, and while OK, Fleming did not have a great deal of personality. The singing was excellent. I prefer Steber or Della Casa.
8/2/2011 – For me, Eschenbach is a bit of the fly in the ointment, but this is still a solid Arabella cast. This does give me a chance to make a plea for the Met premiere broadcast of Arabella (in English — part of the delay I am sure) with Steber, Guden, London, under Rudolf Kempe. What a magnificent performance from all concerned”
“BILLY BUDD : Britten
Original Air Date: 03/08/1997
Cast: Bedford; Croft, Langridge, Morris, Braun, Courtney
Media: MOD AudioMOD Video SID.18020208 Tags: Archive; 2018
This broadcast precedes the telecast performance from 3 days later. The video was recently added to MOoD, and it’s an outstanding performance, starting with Dwayne Croft, and ably partnered by Philip Langridge as Vere and James Morris as Claggart.”
“MIGNON : Thomas
Original Air Date: 01/27/1945
Cast: Pelletier; Stevens, Melton, Benzell, Pinza
Media: MOD Audio SID.18020211 Tags: Archive; 2018
There are some great tunes in Mignon but I find the opera doesn’t hold up well — I saw it staged in Dallas with Horne (1974), and it was a LONG evening. Pinza is very fine here. Mignon’s last broadcast appearance is 3 years later with Marilyn Cotlow as Philine which is more than 6 decades ago. That Mignon farewell has not been on Sirius.”
“IL BARBIERE DI SIVIGLIA : Rossini
Original Air Date: 02/29/1992
Cast: Weikert; Hampson, von Stade, Olsen, Quilico, Ramey
Media: MOD Audio SID.18020212 Tags: Archive; 2018
Louis Quilico is not my ideal Bartolo. Von Stade’s first Rosina broadcast from 1976 with Stilwell, Corena, and Morris has been on Sirius, but not 1983 which features Pablo Elvira, Sesto Bruscantini (as Bartolo) and Paolo Montarsolo as Basilio. This 1992 performance is her last Met performance as Rosina. I love the opera, but they overwork it almost as much as Boheme.”
“LUISA MILLER : Verdi
Original Air Date: 01/23/1982
Cast: Santi; Ricciarelli, Pavarotti, Nucci, Plishka, Cheek, Berini
Media: MOD Audio SID.18020213 Tags: Archive; 2018, Pavarotti, Verdi
Luisa is probably Ricciarelli’s best role, and is well suited to the lyricism as well as technical skill for this part. This performance is also available in MOoD and one I highly recommend, even if Santi is rather lethargic at some critical points. Act 3 of Luisa Miller is among Verdi’s greatest inspirations.”
“DIE FRAU OHNE SCHATTEN : Strauss
Original Air Date: 04/01/1978
Cast: Böhm; Rysanek, King, Schröder-Feinen, Berry, Dunn
Media: MOD Audio SID.18020315 Tags: Archive; 2018, Strauss
This is the last of the 4 Bohm broadcasts starting in 1966 all with Rysanek and Berry; 3 of the 4 are with King, but the first three feature Ludwig and Dalis in their parts; Schroder-Feinen and Dunn are first rate presences as well. It is a shame that the 1966 premiere season and 1971 performances which have been on Sirius with some regularity have not made their way to MOoD. The 1969 broadcast is reported in the MetDatabase as having been on Sirius, but according to my records it has not been broadcast in the last four years. as has the 1971 Unfortunately Bohm never came close to the near completeness of his 1955 Decca recording at the Met, and a steady increase of cuts came with each revival. NEVERTHELESS, one could do much worse than hear one of the great Straussian ensembles he held together for over 2 decades in New York. Frau’s best moments are right up there with Ariadne, Elektra, and Rosenkavalier, and the weaker stuff is better than the weaker Rosenkavalier pages.”
“TOSCA : Puccini
Original Air Date: 03/20/1999
Cast: Santi; Vaness, Pavarotti, Morris
Media: MOD Audio SID.18020317 Tags: Archive; 2018, Pavarotti, Puccini
This is Pavarotti’s fifth and final Cavaradossi broadcast. I always find his voice a tad light for the role, but no one exceeds him in his honeyed delivery of the text. Vaness is a low wattage Tosca.
***
This is Pavarotti’s final Cavaradossi broadcast. I don’t have strong
memories of this performance, and available on MOoD there is a 1995
performance of the Pav with Holleque and Pons. Best of all, at least for
him is the 1978 telecast (on MOoD) and DVD with Verrett and MacNeil under Conlon. My favorite broadcast Tosca remains Tucker-Tebaldi-Warren under Mitropoulos from 1956. I’ve never heard the 1958 Tosca with Stella instead of Tebaldi, but otherwise same forces.”
“OTELLO : Verdi
Original Air Date: 03/08/1958
Cast: Cleva; Del Monaco, de los Angeles, Warren, Franke
Media: MOD Audio SID.18020318 Tags: Archive; 2018, Verdi
This is a splendid performance, and should also note the number of fine Otellos which have not been on Sirius, including but not limited to the the 3 1940s Otellos with Stella Roman, Tebaldi’s two Desdemonas from 1955 and 1958 (the 1955 is uncommon on the private market, and the 1958 never seen, even the 1958 from La Scala with the same trio– Tebaldi, Del Monaco, Warren is not that common and the 1963 Tucci, McCracken , Merrill with Solti have all been missed by Sirius. Really too many omissions for relatively recent performances. Also the Bohm (his only Verdi at the Met) from April 1972”
“BILLY BUDD : Britten
Original Air Date: 03/08/1997
Cast: Bedford; Croft, Langridge, Morris, Braun, Courtney
Media: MOD AudioMOD Video SID.18020425 Tags: Archive; 2018
This broadcast precedes the telecast performance from 3 days later. The video was recently added to MOoD, and it’s an outstanding performance, starting with Dwayne Croft, and ably partnered by Philip Langridge as Vere and James Morris as Claggart.”
“MIGNON : Thomas
Original Air Date: 01/27/1945
Cast: Pelletier; Stevens, Melton, Benzell, Pinza
Media: MOD Audio SID.18020428 Tags: Archive; 2018
There are some great tunes in Mignon but I find the opera doesn’t hold up well — I saw it staged in Dallas with Horne (1974), and it was a LONG evening. Pinza is very fine here. Mignon’s last broadcast appearance is 3 years later with Marilyn Cotlow as Philine which is more than 6 decades ago. That Mignon farewell has not been on Sirius.”
“IL BARBIERE DI SIVIGLIA : Rossini
Original Air Date: 02/29/1992
Cast: Weikert; Hampson, von Stade, Olsen, Quilico, Ramey
Media: MOD Audio SID.18020529 Tags: Archive; 2018
Louis Quilico is not my ideal Bartolo. Von Stade’s first Rosina broadcast from 1976 with Stilwell, Corena, and Morris has been on Sirius, but not 1983 which features Pablo Elvira, Sesto Bruscantini (as Bartolo) and Paolo Montarsolo as Basilio. This 1992 performance is her last Met performance as Rosina. I love the opera, but they overwork it almost as much as Boheme.”
“LUISA MILLER : Verdi
Original Air Date: 01/23/1982
Cast: Santi; Ricciarelli, Pavarotti, Nucci, Plishka, Cheek, Berini
Media: MOD Audio SID.18020530 Tags: Archive; 2018, Pavarotti, Verdi
Luisa is probably Ricciarelli’s best role, and is well suited to the lyricism as well as technical skill for this part. This performance is also available in MOoD and one I highly recommend, even if Santi is rather lethargic at some critical points. Act 3 of Luisa Miller is among Verdi’s greatest inspirations.”
“DIE FRAU OHNE SCHATTEN : Strauss
Original Air Date: 04/01/1978
Cast: Böhm; Rysanek, King, Schröder-Feinen, Berry, Dunn
Media: MOD Audio SID.18020532 Tags: Archive; 2018, Strauss
This is the last of the 4 Bohm broadcasts starting in 1966 all with Rysanek and Berry; 3 of the 4 are with King, but the first three feature Ludwig and Dalis in their parts; Schroder-Feinen and Dunn are first rate presences as well. It is a shame that the 1966 premiere season and 1971 performances which have been on Sirius with some regularity have not made their way to MOoD. The 1969 broadcast is reported in the MetDatabase as having been on Sirius, but according to my records it has not been broadcast in the last four years. as has the 1971 Unfortunately Bohm never came close to the near completeness of his 1955 Decca recording at the Met, and a steady increase of cuts came with each revival. NEVERTHELESS, one could do much worse than hear one of the great Straussian ensembles he held together for over 2 decades in New York. Frau’s best moments are right up there with Ariadne, Elektra, and Rosenkavalier, and the weaker stuff is better than the weaker Rosenkavalier pages.”
“TOSCA : Puccini
Original Air Date: 03/20/1999
Cast: Santi; Vaness, Pavarotti, Morris
Media: MOD Audio SID.18020534 Tags: Archive; 2018, Pavarotti, Puccini
This is Pavarotti’s fifth and final Cavaradossi broadcast. I always find his voice a tad light for the role, but no one exceeds him in his honeyed delivery of the text. Vaness is a low wattage Tosca.
***
This is Pavarotti’s final Cavaradossi broadcast. I don’t have strong
memories of this performance, and available on MOoD there is a 1995
performance of the Pav with Holleque and Pons. Best of all, at least for
him is the 1978 telecast (on MOoD) and DVD with Verrett and MacNeil under Conlon. My favorite broadcast Tosca remains Tucker-Tebaldi-Warren under Mitropoulos from 1956. I’ve never heard the 1958 Tosca with Stella instead of Tebaldi, but otherwise same forces.”
“OTELLO : Verdi
Original Air Date: 03/08/1958
Cast: Cleva; Del Monaco, de los Angeles, Warren, Franke
Media: MOD Audio SID.18020535 Tags: Archive; 2018, Verdi
This is a splendid performance, and should also note the number of fine Otellos which have not been on Sirius, including but not limited to the the 3 1940s Otellos with Stella Roman, Tebaldi’s two Desdemonas from 1955 and 1958 (the 1955 is uncommon on the private market, and the 1958 never seen, even the 1958 from La Scala with the same trio– Tebaldi, Del Monaco, Warren is not that common and the 1963 Tucci, McCracken , Merrill with Solti have all been missed by Sirius. Really too many omissions for relatively recent performances. Also the Bohm (his only Verdi at the Met) from April 1972”
“BILLY BUDD : Britten
Original Air Date: 03/08/1997
Cast: Bedford; Croft, Langridge, Morris, Braun, Courtney
Media: MOD AudioMOD Video SID.18020637 Tags: Archive; 2018
This broadcast precedes the telecast performance from 3 days later. The video was recently added to MOoD, and it’s an outstanding performance, starting with Dwayne Croft, and ably partnered by Philip Langridge as Vere and James Morris as Claggart.”
“IL BARBIERE DI SIVIGLIA : Rossini
Original Air Date: 02/29/1992
Cast: Weikert; Hampson, von Stade, Olsen, Quilico, Ramey
Media: MOD Audio SID.18020638 Tags: Archive; 2018
Louis Quilico is not my ideal Bartolo. Von Stade’s first Rosina broadcast from 1976 with Stilwell, Corena, and Morris has been on Sirius, but not 1983 which features Pablo Elvira, Sesto Bruscantini (as Bartolo) and Paolo Montarsolo as Basilio. This 1992 performance is her last Met performance as Rosina. I love the opera, but they overwork it almost as much as Boheme.”
“OTELLO : Verdi
Original Air Date: 03/08/1958
Cast: Cleva; Del Monaco, de los Angeles, Warren, Franke
Media: MOD Audio SID.18020744 Tags: Archive; 2018, Verdi
This is a splendid performance, and should also note the number of fine Otellos which have not been on Sirius, including but not limited to the the 3 1940s Otellos with Stella Roman, Tebaldi’s two Desdemonas from 1955 and 1958 (the 1955 is uncommon on the private market, and the 1958 never seen, even the 1958 from La Scala with the same trio– Tebaldi, Del Monaco, Warren is not that common and the 1963 Tucci, McCracken , Merrill with Solti have all been missed by Sirius. Really too many omissions for relatively recent performances. Also the Bohm (his only Verdi at the Met) from April 1972”
“MIGNON : Thomas
Original Air Date: 01/27/1945
Cast: Pelletier; Stevens, Melton, Benzell, Pinza
Media: MOD Audio SID.18020745 Tags: Archive; 2018
There are some great tunes in Mignon but I find the opera doesn’t hold up well — I saw it staged in Dallas with Horne (1974), and it was a LONG evening. Pinza is very fine here. Mignon’s last broadcast appearance is 3 years later with Marilyn Cotlow as Philine which is more than 6 decades ago. That Mignon farewell has not been on Sirius.”
“LUISA MILLER : Verdi
Original Air Date: 01/23/1982
Cast: Santi; Ricciarelli, Pavarotti, Nucci, Plishka, Cheek, Berini
Media: MOD Audio SID.18020746 Tags: Archive; 2018, Pavarotti, Verdi
Luisa is probably Ricciarelli’s best role, and is well suited to the lyricism as well as technical skill for this part. This performance is also available in MOoD and one I highly recommend, even if Santi is rather lethargic at some critical points. Act 3 of Luisa Miller is among Verdi’s greatest inspirations.”
“DIE FRAU OHNE SCHATTEN : Strauss
Original Air Date: 04/01/1978
Cast: Böhm; Rysanek, King, Schröder-Feinen, Berry, Dunn
Media: MOD Audio SID.18020748 Tags: Archive; 2018, Strauss
This is the last of the 4 Bohm broadcasts starting in 1966 all with Rysanek and Berry; 3 of the 4 are with King, but the first three feature Ludwig and Dalis in their parts; Schroder-Feinen and Dunn are first rate presences as well. It is a shame that the 1966 premiere season and 1971 performances which have been on Sirius with some regularity have not made their way to MOoD. The 1969 broadcast is reported in the MetDatabase as having been on Sirius, but according to my records it has not been broadcast in the last four years. as has the 1971 Unfortunately Bohm never came close to the near completeness of his 1955 Decca recording at the Met, and a steady increase of cuts came with each revival. NEVERTHELESS, one could do much worse than hear one of the great Straussian ensembles he held together for over 2 decades in New York. Frau’s best moments are right up there with Ariadne, Elektra, and Rosenkavalier, and the weaker stuff is better than the weaker Rosenkavalier pages.”