“HANSEL AND GRETEL : Humperdinck
Original Air Date: 01/06/2018
Cast: Runnicles; Oropesa, Erraught, Zajick, Siegel, Kelsey
Media: Live Broadcast SID.18010640 Tags: LIVE; 2018
A Met English-language holiday presentation, Richard Jones’s clever production of Humperdinck’s fairy-tale opera is based on the Brothers Grimm story. Donald Runnicles conducts the sweeping score and a delightful cast, including the legendary Dolora Zajick as the wayward siblings’ mother. Tara Erraught and Ingeborg Gillebo share the role of Hansel, and Lisette Oropesa and Maureen McKay share the role of Gretel.
The matinee performance on December 28 will feature a pre-curtain open house, at 11AM, where audiences can connect with some of the designers, singers, dancers, musicians, and technical wizards behind the production.
-metopera.org”
“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.”
“CAVALLERIA RUSTICANA / PAGLIACCI : Mascagni / Leoncavallo
Original Air Date: 01/13/2018
Cast: Luisotti; Semenchuk, Alagna, Gagnidze, Kurzak, Arduini
Media: Live Broadcast SID.18020640 Tags: LIVE; 2018
Roberto Alagna takes on the leading tenor roles in both parts of opera’s most popular double bill. In Cavalleria Rusticana, Ekaterina Semenchuk is the woebegone Santuzza, with Aleksandra Kurzak as the hot-blooded Nedda in Pagliacci. Baritone George Gagnidze sings Tonio in Pagliacci and shares the role of Alfio in Cavalleria Rusticana with Željko Lučić. Nicola Luisotti conducts Sir David McVicar’s production, which heightens the melodramatic action of this timeless verismo pairing.
Production a gift of M. Beverly and Robert G. Bartner, Mr. and Mrs. Paul M. Montrone, and the Estate of Anne Tallman
Major funding from Rolex Additional funding from John J. Noffo Kahn and Mark Addison, and Paul Underwood”
“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.”
“CARMEN : Bizet
Original Air Date: 01/12/1974
Cast: Lewis; Horne, McCracken, Amara, Reardon
Media: MOD Audio SID.18030102 Tags: Archive; 2018
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.”
“LUCIA DI LAMMERMOOR : Donizetti
Original Air Date: 12/08/1956
Cast: Cleva; Callas, Campora, Sordello, Moscona
Media: MOD Audio SID.18030103 Tags: Archive; 2018
This is Callas’ only broadcast in the Met matinee series, and is not notable for her cast or her performance. Lucia is one of her most famous parts, but by general consensus she is much better heard live in Berlin under Karajan.”