“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.”
“RIGOLETTO : Verdi
Original Air Date: 02/24/1990
Cast: Panni; Nucci, Anderson, Pavarotti, Furlanetto, Svendén
Media: MOD Audio SID.18030104 Tags: Archive; 2018, Pavarotti, Verdi
This performance was of the new Otto Schenk production, catching both Anderson and Pavarotti in particularly good voice. Held is a solid Monterone (Sirius does not list, but I find it a very important, if short role).
—————
10/17/11 This performance is Pavarotti’s 3d Duke broadcast (the first was from 17 years earlier). As I remember this 1990 performance, he was in very good voice ; this performance is also available on Met Player. Nucci was a highly dependable Rigoletto, if not the crowd favorite Warren or MacNeil were at their best.
I had forgotten that Furlanetto was the Sparafucile, and Alan Held the Monterone. Monterone is one of the shortest parts in opera, but a good one can really supercharge a Rigoletto. I would think Held would be well cast (I don’t remember his performance), but my two Monterones are Giaiotti and Morris (Giaiotti’s only broadcast is MacNeil’s first broadcast Rigoletto from 1960 and includes for further
bass clef plush Tozzi– we need to hear this on Sirius!!!; Morris is available on Met Player with Pavarotti from 1973).”
“DER FLIEGENDE HOLLÄNDER : Wagner
Original Air Date: 02/16/1963
Cast: Böhm; London, Rysanek, Kónya, Tozzi
Media: MOD Audio SID.18030209 Tags: Archive; 2018, Wagner
This is a legendary partnership of Bohm with London and Rysanek. Bohm and Rysanek are together for two later broadcasts in 1965 with David Ward, and 1970 with William Dooley. Neither of those have been on Sirius. This 1963 broadcast was swapped with Ariadne 2 weeks earlier when the Hollander cast could not be assembled. That swap denied the broadcast audience the chance to hear Della Casa’s Ariadne. For my money there is no Senta like Rysanek. Read the Opera-L archives for my appreciation (I saw a tour performance from the stage). Rysanek and London are certainly a remarkable pair, and the applause for their Act 2 duet (in the 3 act version) regularly seemed unending.
———-
10/10/11 This performance was originally scheduled 2 weeks earlier when Konya was sick and Ariadne was switched at the last minute (and effectively knocked Della Casa out of an Ariadne broadcast). The Met Hollander premiere 3 years earlier with Rysanek and London was with Schippers. Bohm takes command of 3 broadcasts all with Rysanek, but David Ward is on the second (I would love to hear this again– a fine singer almost forgotten), and the third in 1970 with Dooley. For me, Senta and Kaiserin are Rysanek’s two most singular creations. There is nothing like the finale and as I’ve noted in other Opera-L postings I once saw this creation from the stage with her first husband standing right behind me. Fortunately this performance is on Met Player, and is far more thrilling than the studio performance with much the same cast under Dorati.”
“FALSTAFF : Verdi
Original Air Date: 12/16/1967
Cast: Amaducci; Flagello, Curtin, Guarrera, Barbieri, Raskin, Alva
Media: MOD Audio SID.18030315 Tags: Archive; 2018, Verdi
Barbieri, Guarrera, and Alva are veterans of many Falstaffs, and Flagello features a lot of voice for a bass Falstaff. Amaducci, by memory, didn’t have much sparkle. High praise for Alva and Barbieri; she is a characterful Quickly, and he a perfect Fenton, but Amaducci is possibly the weakest Falstaff conductor in Met history(certainly on broadcasts).
The 1964 Bernstein has never been on Sirius, and though the Met Database records the 1972 as having been on Sirius with Gobbi, Tebaldi, and Paskalis under von Dohnanyi, it has not been on more than once, and should be heard again. Both of these performances belong in MOoD not this performance.
Flagello who had one of the great voices in a time when the Met’s bass cabinet was chock full sings the part very well, but for this work, you must have a conductor to work with you, and that he doesn’t have. Alas, Falstaff is about ensemble, not individual efforts.”
“SUSANNAH : Floyd
Original Air Date: 04/03/1999
Cast: Conlon; Fleming, Hadley, Ramey
Media: MOD Audio SID.18030316 Tags: Archive; 2018
This is the Met’s only broadcast of Susannah to date, and finds all three principals on especially fine form. I’ve seen the opera 4 times, and each time it is very successful and attention holding. Even without the visual appeal, the opera makes an impact from the music alone.
This was a highly successful Met repertory debut for the Carlisle Floyd opera and both Fleming and Ramey are extremely well cast. Conlon is very committed to the work, and it is a contemporary work that works almost as well in audio only as in the theatre with its sure-fire theatrics. One of the best efforts of the Met for both American and contemporary opera.
Very fine performances from both Fleming and Ramey under Conlon bring great credit to the Met and the artists. One of the most distinctive broadcasts of the week.
This is one of Fleming’s very best outings, and Ramey and Hadley are well cast as well. One of the better 20th century American operas.”
“UN BALLO IN MASCHERA : Verdi
Original Air Date: 02/26/1966
Cast: Molinari-Pradelli; Bergonzi, Price, Merrill, Peters, Dunn
Media: MOD Audio SID.18030317 Tags: Archive; 2018, Verdi
This is the first of Corelli’s four Don Carlo broadcasts and the 1964 performance which was issued in 2011 on Sony only retains Dalis and Uhde in their roles.
Since Curtis-Verna is generally underrepresented, I am happy to have this on, but the missing broadcast which is earnestly called for is Bing’s final broadcast as general manager from 1972 with Siepi and Amara returning in their roles from Bing’s inaugural broadcast 22 years earlier.
Curtis-Verna only has one other broadcast, that of Aida in 1957 replacing Tebaldi who had withdrawn the day before due to her mother’s death. Curtis-Verna has a very respectable 97 performances over 9 seasons all in leads, but does not make it past 1966 into the new House. She was interviewed in Opera News before her death in 2009 and finished off her career with a distinguished tenure at University of Washington for more than 3 decades in their voice department.”
“CARMEN : Bizet
Original Air Date: 01/12/1974
Cast: Lewis; Horne, McCracken, Amara, Reardon
Media: MOD Audio SID.18030318 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.18030319 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.”
“RIGOLETTO : Verdi
Original Air Date: 02/24/1990
Cast: Panni; Nucci, Anderson, Pavarotti, Furlanetto, Svendén
Media: MOD Audio SID.18030320 Tags: Archive; 2018, Pavarotti, Verdi
This performance was of the new Otto Schenk production, catching both Anderson and Pavarotti in particularly good voice. Held is a solid Monterone (Sirius does not list, but I find it a very important, if short role).
—————
10/17/11 This performance is Pavarotti’s 3d Duke broadcast (the first was from 17 years earlier). As I remember this 1990 performance, he was in very good voice ; this performance is also available on Met Player. Nucci was a highly dependable Rigoletto, if not the crowd favorite Warren or MacNeil were at their best.
I had forgotten that Furlanetto was the Sparafucile, and Alan Held the Monterone. Monterone is one of the shortest parts in opera, but a good one can really supercharge a Rigoletto. I would think Held would be well cast (I don’t remember his performance), but my two Monterones are Giaiotti and Morris (Giaiotti’s only broadcast is MacNeil’s first broadcast Rigoletto from 1960 and includes for further
bass clef plush Tozzi– we need to hear this on Sirius!!!; Morris is available on Met Player with Pavarotti from 1973).”
“CARMEN : Bizet
Original Air Date: 01/12/1974
Cast: Lewis; Horne, McCracken, Amara, Reardon
Media: MOD Audio SID.18030422 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.”
“FALSTAFF : Verdi
Original Air Date: 12/16/1967
Cast: Amaducci; Flagello, Curtin, Guarrera, Barbieri, Raskin, Alva
Media: MOD Audio SID.18030423 Tags: Archive; 2018, Verdi
Barbieri, Guarrera, and Alva are veterans of many Falstaffs, and Flagello features a lot of voice for a bass Falstaff. Amaducci, by memory, didn’t have much sparkle. High praise for Alva and Barbieri; she is a characterful Quickly, and he a perfect Fenton, but Amaducci is possibly the weakest Falstaff conductor in Met history(certainly on broadcasts).
The 1964 Bernstein has never been on Sirius, and though the Met Database records the 1972 as having been on Sirius with Gobbi, Tebaldi, and Paskalis under von Dohnanyi, it has not been on more than once, and should be heard again. Both of these performances belong in MOoD not this performance.
Flagello who had one of the great voices in a time when the Met’s bass cabinet was chock full sings the part very well, but for this work, you must have a conductor to work with you, and that he doesn’t have. Alas, Falstaff is about ensemble, not individual efforts.”
“DER FLIEGENDE HOLLÄNDER : Wagner
Original Air Date: 02/16/1963
Cast: Böhm; London, Rysanek, Kónya, Tozzi
Media: MOD Audio SID.18030425 Tags: Archive; 2018, Wagner
This is a legendary partnership of Bohm with London and Rysanek. Bohm and Rysanek are together for two later broadcasts in 1965 with David Ward, and 1970 with William Dooley. Neither of those have been on Sirius. This 1963 broadcast was swapped with Ariadne 2 weeks earlier when the Hollander cast could not be assembled. That swap denied the broadcast audience the chance to hear Della Casa’s Ariadne. For my money there is no Senta like Rysanek. Read the Opera-L archives for my appreciation (I saw a tour performance from the stage). Rysanek and London are certainly a remarkable pair, and the applause for their Act 2 duet (in the 3 act version) regularly seemed unending.
———-
10/10/11 This performance was originally scheduled 2 weeks earlier when Konya was sick and Ariadne was switched at the last minute (and effectively knocked Della Casa out of an Ariadne broadcast). The Met Hollander premiere 3 years earlier with Rysanek and London was with Schippers. Bohm takes command of 3 broadcasts all with Rysanek, but David Ward is on the second (I would love to hear this again– a fine singer almost forgotten), and the third in 1970 with Dooley. For me, Senta and Kaiserin are Rysanek’s two most singular creations. There is nothing like the finale and as I’ve noted in other Opera-L postings I once saw this creation from the stage with her first husband standing right behind me. Fortunately this performance is on Met Player, and is far more thrilling than the studio performance with much the same cast under Dorati.”
“SUSANNAH : Floyd
Original Air Date: 04/03/1999
Cast: Conlon; Fleming, Hadley, Ramey
Media: MOD Audio SID.18030529 Tags: Archive; 2018
This is the Met’s only broadcast of Susannah to date, and finds all three principals on especially fine form. I’ve seen the opera 4 times, and each time it is very successful and attention holding. Even without the visual appeal, the opera makes an impact from the music alone.
This was a highly successful Met repertory debut for the Carlisle Floyd opera and both Fleming and Ramey are extremely well cast. Conlon is very committed to the work, and it is a contemporary work that works almost as well in audio only as in the theatre with its sure-fire theatrics. One of the best efforts of the Met for both American and contemporary opera.
Very fine performances from both Fleming and Ramey under Conlon bring great credit to the Met and the artists. One of the most distinctive broadcasts of the week.
This is one of Fleming’s very best outings, and Ramey and Hadley are well cast as well. One of the better 20th century American operas.”
“UN BALLO IN MASCHERA : Verdi
Original Air Date: 02/26/1966
Cast: Molinari-Pradelli; Bergonzi, Price, Merrill, Peters, Dunn
Media: MOD Audio SID.18030533 Tags: Archive; 2018, Verdi
This is the first of Corelli’s four Don Carlo broadcasts and the 1964 performance which was issued in 2011 on Sony only retains Dalis and Uhde in their roles.
Since Curtis-Verna is generally underrepresented, I am happy to have this on, but the missing broadcast which is earnestly called for is Bing’s final broadcast as general manager from 1972 with Siepi and Amara returning in their roles from Bing’s inaugural broadcast 22 years earlier.
Curtis-Verna only has one other broadcast, that of Aida in 1957 replacing Tebaldi who had withdrawn the day before due to her mother’s death. Curtis-Verna has a very respectable 97 performances over 9 seasons all in leads, but does not make it past 1966 into the new House. She was interviewed in Opera News before her death in 2009 and finished off her career with a distinguished tenure at University of Washington for more than 3 decades in their voice department.”
“CARMEN : Bizet
Original Air Date: 01/12/1974
Cast: Lewis; Horne, McCracken, Amara, Reardon
Media: MOD Audio SID.18030534 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.18030535 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.”
“RIGOLETTO : Verdi
Original Air Date: 02/24/1990
Cast: Panni; Nucci, Anderson, Pavarotti, Furlanetto, Svendén
Media: MOD Audio SID.18030636 Tags: Archive; 2018, Pavarotti, Verdi
This performance was of the new Otto Schenk production, catching both Anderson and Pavarotti in particularly good voice. Held is a solid Monterone (Sirius does not list, but I find it a very important, if short role).
—————
10/17/11 This performance is Pavarotti’s 3d Duke broadcast (the first was from 17 years earlier). As I remember this 1990 performance, he was in very good voice ; this performance is also available on Met Player. Nucci was a highly dependable Rigoletto, if not the crowd favorite Warren or MacNeil were at their best.
I had forgotten that Furlanetto was the Sparafucile, and Alan Held the Monterone. Monterone is one of the shortest parts in opera, but a good one can really supercharge a Rigoletto. I would think Held would be well cast (I don’t remember his performance), but my two Monterones are Giaiotti and Morris (Giaiotti’s only broadcast is MacNeil’s first broadcast Rigoletto from 1960 and includes for further
bass clef plush Tozzi– we need to hear this on Sirius!!!; Morris is available on Met Player with Pavarotti from 1973).”
“SUSANNAH : Floyd
Original Air Date: 04/03/1999
Cast: Conlon; Fleming, Hadley, Ramey
Media: MOD Audio SID.18030638 Tags: Archive; 2018
This is the Met’s only broadcast of Susannah to date, and finds all three principals on especially fine form. I’ve seen the opera 4 times, and each time it is very successful and attention holding. Even without the visual appeal, the opera makes an impact from the music alone.
This was a highly successful Met repertory debut for the Carlisle Floyd opera and both Fleming and Ramey are extremely well cast. Conlon is very committed to the work, and it is a contemporary work that works almost as well in audio only as in the theatre with its sure-fire theatrics. One of the best efforts of the Met for both American and contemporary opera.
Very fine performances from both Fleming and Ramey under Conlon bring great credit to the Met and the artists. One of the most distinctive broadcasts of the week.
This is one of Fleming’s very best outings, and Ramey and Hadley are well cast as well. One of the better 20th century American operas.”