SALOME:Strauss
Reiner; Welitsch, Svanholm, Hoengen, Hotter, Sullivan
Original Air Date: 01/19/1952
SID.20100743
The performance was issued on LP as an upper tier Guild fundraiser. Reiner and Welitsch had caused a sensation in 1949, but the magic was not the same 3 years later, primarily because Welitsch’s voice was well into a steep decline that she never recovered from. The sound is ostensibly better here than 1949, but that is the performance which should be heard on Sirius. This afternoon in 1952 also featured Gianni Schicci with Baccaloni (with Erede conducting, NOT Reiner) which is not being rebroadcast. From 1961-62 season on Salome has been performed without a companion work.
L’ELISIR D’AMORE:Donizetti
Panni; Pavarotti, Battle, Plishka, Quilico
Original Air Date: 04/29/1989
MOD Audio
SID.20100744
L’Elisir is arguably the most over broadcast repertory opera on Sirius. The opera is a charming confection with lovely vocal turns for both the soprano and tenor, and meaty traditional roles for the buffo bass and the lyric baritone. For superstars like Pavarotti, Florez, and Netrebko, these parts allow them to slide a little, but just because superstars find L’Elisir handy Met repertory selection in the house and on the radio have become very distorted. To be honest the best way to experience Pavarotti’s Nemorino is to hear the Decca studio version with Sutherland from 1970– JoS never did the part onstage, but the vocal gold of this studio recording is anything but hothouse. Second best way to experience Pavarotti’s Nemorino is his 1978 broadcast with Blegen, Corena, and Sereni. The presence of the two best bass clef singers for this opera and a Pavarotti 11 years younger make for a considerable improvement. It’s on MOoD. Also on MOoD and where you should listen to life beyond Pavarotti are the 1972 with Scotto, Bergonzi pairing with Corena and Sereni: 4 native Italians savoring the style to a fare-thee well. Bergonzi has an earlier broadcast with Peters and Guarrera in for Sereni, and Peters has a broadcast with Kraus with Corena and Sereni. All of these are on MOoD and while they’ve all been on Sirius, they are eschewed mostly in favor of more recent performances with less stylish casts.
NORMA:Bellini
Bonynge; Sutherland, Horne, Bergonzi, Siepi
Original Air Date: 04/04/1970
MOD Audio
SID.20100745
This is Sutherland/Horne’s first of two Met broadcasts of Norma (both in 1970 but different seasons). One will not find stronger support than Bergonzi and Siepi, and the ladies stand up very well to the competition. This performance is available in MOoD, and if the fall performances are even half this level we will be very lucky indeed. The only appearances I know for Bergonzi as Pollione. Siepi goes back to Milanov and Callas. This is available also on MOoD (Met Opera on Demand) so you can listen to it anytime you want. The ladies’ duet singing is remarkable.
LUISA MILLER:Verdi
Santi; Esperian, Pavarotti, Nucci, Plishka, Koptchak, White
Original Air Date: 03/02/1991
SID.20100746
Luisa Miller has done well on the air, although not entering the broadcast repertory of the Met until 1968. The title role has been taken on the airwaves by Caballe, Maliponte (not yet on Sirius!), Scotto, Ricciarelli, and Millo prior to this broadcast; for the tenor role, Tucker, Domingo, Pavarotti (in 1982 with Ricciarelli) led the way. The 1982 performance is also conducted by Santi and features Nucci and Plishka as well. The 1982 performance is on MOoD and I am listening to Tu puniscimi right now. The question is whether Esperian is to be preferred. For my money what I want to hear is either Caballe or Millo or Maliponte who simply have more of a measure of the music than Ricciarelli who has the right equipment, but not sure if she has the right technique. Esperian is even less gifted singer. Either way, Santi’s conducting is too lax for my taste as it was in the house. Levine is a far better Luisa conductor. For my money Act 3 of Luisa Miller is among the greatest acts in the Verdi canon This is the second of Pavarotti’s two broadcast Rodolfos. His 1982 also with Santi ( NO) and Nucci has Ricciarelli in the title role. It’s her most congenial role for a singer who had a short prime but not a short career. The 1982 version with KR is available on MOoD. It’s a good role for Pavarotti, but better to hear the earlier version; one of my favorite early Verdi works, and the last act is as good as anything he ever wrote. — Better to hear Pavarotti with Ricciarelli nine years earlier, also with Nucci and Santi and that is on Met Player.
THE MAKROPULOS CASE:Janácek
Mackerras; Malfitano, Brubaker, Fox, West
Original Air Date: 04/18/1998
SID.20100747
This is Malfitano’s only broadcast of Emilia Marty, and this run was the first time at the Met in Czech (Norman premiered it 3 years earlier in English). Mackerras is a recognized authority on Janacek, and you might want to take a listen to get ready for the Mattila revival scheduled this season.
TOSCA:Puccini
Schick; Nilsson, Domingo, Dooley
Original Air Date: 02/15/1969
SID.20100748
This is Domingo’s Met broadcast debut. Check Nilsson five years earlier in a Met broadcast from Boston with Corelli and George London (interestingly also with Schick). Nilsson’s a great singer, she had premiered a new production five months earlier than this broadcast with Corelli and Bacquier. This is Nilsson’s first Met performance with Domingo; their total remaining Met are three Turandots culminating in the broadcast the following season. This is her second and last Met Tosca broadcast—her earlier one in 1964 was from Boston with Corelli, and has not been on Sirius. She premiered the 1968 production with Corelli the fall before this broadcast with Bacquier.
FIDELIO:Beethoven
Schneider; Meier, Botha, Fink, Salminen, Hong, Clarke
Original Air Date: 12/07/2002
MOD Audio
SID.20110102
Botha sings well enough, as does Fink with Meier and Schneider. Salminen does not appear often outside the Wagner repertory at the Met and this is a particularly congenial role for him. Schneider is not famous as an inspiring conductor. It’s not a weak cast. Available in MOoD
LE NOZZE DI FIGARO:Mozart
Levine; Van Dam, Battle, Söderström, Hynninen, von Stade
Original Air Date: 02/07/1987
SID.20110104
This is the second year of the Ponnelle production, and plenty of interesting casting with Battle and von Stade the only holdovers. This is Montarsolo’s farewell, the real star is Levine welding the whole ensemble together.
DEATH IN VENICE:Britten
Bedford; Pears, Shirley Quirk, Velis
Original Air Date: 12/14/1974
MOD Audio
SID.20110105
The Met saw the USA premiere of Britten’s Death in Venice and for the Met debut of Peter Pears. His only other role at the Met was Captain Vere in Billy Budd four years later; fortunately both of Pears’ roles are on MOoD. Death in Venice can be a hard sit despite all the talent involved.
RIGOLETTO:Verdi
Stivender; MacNeil, Blegen, Alexander, Hines, Jones
Original Air Date: 03/03/1979
SID.20110106
This is MacNeil’s final Met broadcast of the title role– he has the house record at 102 (5 broadcasts); Sirius should roll out MacNeil’s first Rigoletto broadcast from 1960, when he is really in super-baritone form or even 1964 with Bergonzi’s first Duke broadcast. Blegen is tied for fourth after Peters (88!!!!!! one for every piano key), Pons, and Swenson who are tied for second. Blegen’s earlier broadcast is on Met Opera on Demand (MOoD) and she is one of my favorite Gildas. Alexander is a dependable Duke, but he has some stiff competition . He was a fine musician, marvelous colleague, and sustained among the most-wide ranging Met repertoire (and without need of transpositions). A very favored colleague of Sutherland, Caballe, Sills, and Levine.
L’ITALIANA IN ALGERI:Rossini
Levine; Horne, Ahlstedt, Montarsolo, Monk
Original Air Date: 01/04/1986
MOD Video
SID.20110107
This performance precedes the telecast by one week and that telecast is available in MOoD. For me, the distinction of the performance is mostly Montarsolo. Isabella is Horne’s second most performed role at 37 (Carmen unsurprisingly is first at 49) Her 3d is Adalgisa in Norma (all with Sutherland). MOD is 1/11/86 performance with same cast.
LA TRAVIATA:Verdi
Armiliato; Gheorghiu, Kaufmann, Michaels-Moore
Original Air Date: 02/11/2006
MOD Audio
SID.20110208
This is Kaufmann’s debut year, and Michaels-Moore is below the standard of Gheorghiu. Kaufmann is still a bit green at this point interesting to compare vocally to his current very high performance standard. AG was still the star; it’s one of her best roles.
DIE MEISTERSINGER VON NÜRNBERG:Wagner
Ehrling; Stewart, Saunders, Cox, Leib, Macurdy, Riegel
Original Air Date: 04/17/1976
SID.20110209
Jackson in his execrably edited third volume of Met broadcast history makes Ehrling into a Swiss conductor, when of course he was a native Swede through and through. Stewart has a notable recording of Sachs for Bavarian Radio under Kubelik with Janowitz and Konya that can still be located on specialty labels (Fischer-Dieskau’s effort with Jochum on DG effectively blocked this from what would normally have been the logical label. Jean Cox recently passed on, and was the infamous Siegfried at my 1978 Chereau performance at Bayreuth– Kollo mimed and Cox sang from offstage as he did not know the complex staging. Arlene Saunders long a NYCO favorite finally gets to the Met towards the end of her career, but per Jackson is still quite a successful Eva. So lots of curiosity for this performance.
DIE MEISTERSINGER VON NÜRNBERG:Wagner
Ehrling; Stewart, Saunders, Cox, Leib, Macurdy, Riegel
Original Air Date: 04/17/1976
SID.20110210
Jackson in his execrably edited third volume of Met broadcast history makes Ehrling into a Swiss conductor, when of course he was a native Swede through and through. Stewart has a notable recording of Sachs for Bavarian Radio under Kubelik with Janowitz and Konya that can still be located on specialty labels (Fischer-Dieskau’s effort with Jochum on DG effectively blocked this from what would normally have been the logical label. Jean Cox recently passed on, and was the infamous Siegfried at my 1978 Chereau performance at Bayreuth– Kollo mimed and Cox sang from offstage as he did not know the complex staging. Arlene Saunders long a NYCO favorite finally gets to the Met towards the end of her career, but per Jackson is still quite a successful Eva. So lots of curiosity for this performance.
BILLY BUDD:Britten
Leppard; Stilwell, Pears, Morris, Glossop, Ward
Original Air Date: 03/31/1979
MOD Audio
SID.20110211
Pears created the role of Captain Vere three decades earlier, and James Morris’ Claggart is one of the great post-war assumptions. Luckily the Met has recently added the video of the 1997 telecast with the late Phillip Langridge as Vere, Dwayne Croft, and Morris once again being the evil anchor as Claggart. This 1979 performance is the first broadcast of the Met’s Budd production, and is Pears’ final Met appearance Much of this attention is surely coming because of the Britten centenary. One of the Met’s most distinguished productions.
CAVALLERIA RUSTICANA / PAGLIACCI:Mascagni / Leoncavallo
Cleva; Milanov, Tucker, Valentino / Amara, Baum, Merrill
Original Air Date: 04/13/1957
SID.20110212
The main feature here is Merrill’s Tonio which he only broadcast twice in his long Met career, this performance and in 1960 with a weaker Cavalleria cast. The Pagliacci is the same cast on both broadcasts. Warren really dominated Tonio during his lifetime, and MacNeil and Milnes in the latter part of Merrill’s career. Merrill is the voice for the prologue, and he also has an excellent commercial with Lorengar and McCracken.
ARABELLA:Strauss
Leinsdorf; Te Kanawa, Weikl, Battle, Rendall, Dunn, Gramm
Original Air Date: 03/05/1983
MOD Audio
SID.20110214
This new production was the first time in German at the Met. Te Kanawa sings beautifully but for anyone who has heard the prior broadcasts from Steber and Della Casa, it’s just not in the same league. Battle and Weikl are strong vocal support.
DEATH IN VENICE:Britten
Bedford; Pears, Shirley Quirk, Velis
Original Air Date: 12/14/1974
MOD Audio
SID.20110315
The Met saw the USA premiere of Britten’s Death in Venice and for the Met debut of Peter Pears. His only other role at the Met was Captain Vere in Billy Budd four years later; fortunately both of Pears’ roles are on MOoD. Death in Venice can be a hard sit despite all the talent involved.
L’ITALIANA IN ALGERI:Rossini
Levine; Horne, Ahlstedt, Montarsolo, Monk
Original Air Date: 01/04/1986
MOD Video
SID.20110316
This performance precedes the telecast by one week and that telecast is available in MOoD. For me, the distinction of the performance is mostly Montarsolo. Isabella is Horne’s second most performed role at 37 (Carmen unsurprisingly is first at 49) Her 3d is Adalgisa in Norma (all with Sutherland). MOD is 1/11/86 performance with same cast.
RIGOLETTO:Verdi
Stivender; MacNeil, Blegen, Alexander, Hines, Jones
Original Air Date: 03/03/1979
SID.20110317
This is MacNeil’s final Met broadcast of the title role– he has the house record at 102 (5 broadcasts); Sirius should roll out MacNeil’s first Rigoletto broadcast from 1960, when he is really in super-baritone form or even 1964 with Bergonzi’s first Duke broadcast. Blegen is tied for fourth after Peters (88!!!!!! one for every piano key), Pons, and Swenson who are tied for second. Blegen’s earlier broadcast is on Met Opera on Demand (MOoD) and she is one of my favorite Gildas. Alexander is a dependable Duke, but he has some stiff competition . He was a fine musician, marvelous colleague, and sustained among the most-wide ranging Met repertoire (and without need of transpositions). A very favored colleague of Sutherland, Caballe, Sills, and Levine.
FIDELIO:Beethoven
Schneider; Meier, Botha, Fink, Salminen, Hong, Clarke
Original Air Date: 12/07/2002
MOD Audio
SID.20110318
Botha sings well enough, as does Fink with Meier and Schneider. Salminen does not appear often outside the Wagner repertory at the Met and this is a particularly congenial role for him. Schneider is not famous as an inspiring conductor. It’s not a weak cast. Available in MOoD
LE NOZZE DI FIGARO:Mozart
Levine; Van Dam, Battle, Söderström, Hynninen, von Stade
Original Air Date: 02/07/1987
SID.20110320
This is the second year of the Ponnelle production, and plenty of interesting casting with Battle and von Stade the only holdovers. This is Montarsolo’s farewell, the real star is Levine welding the whole ensemble together.
UN BALLO IN MASCHERA:Verdi
Levine; Pavarotti, Voigt, Pons, Shin, Dever
Original Air Date: 02/15/1997
SID.20110321
Except for Pavarotti, there is nothing of special distinction. Both of Pavarotti’s Met videos (1980 and 1991) of Ballo have more interest and they are both on MOoD. Levine only has three matinee broadcasts, 1991 (with Millo and Pavarotti), this broadcast, and a 2015 with Radvanovsky, Tamura (replacing Beczala) and Hvorostovsky. Better to add that one to the rotation.
BILLY BUDD:Britten
Leppard; Stilwell, Pears, Morris, Glossop, Ward
Original Air Date: 03/31/1979
MOD Audio
SID.20110422
Pears created the role of Captain Vere three decades earlier, and James Morris’ Claggart is one of the great post-war assumptions. Luckily the Met has recently added the video of the 1997 telecast with the late Phillip Langridge as Vere, Dwayne Croft, and Morris once again being the evil anchor as Claggart. This 1979 performance is the first broadcast of the Met’s Budd production, and is Pears’ final Met appearance Much of this attention is surely coming because of the Britten centenary. One of the Met’s most distinguished productions.
DEATH IN VENICE:Britten
Bedford; Pears, Shirley Quirk, Velis
Original Air Date: 12/14/1974
MOD Audio
SID.20110423
The Met saw the USA premiere of Britten’s Death in Venice and for the Met debut of Peter Pears. His only other role at the Met was Captain Vere in Billy Budd four years later; fortunately both of Pears’ roles are on MOoD. Death in Venice can be a hard sit despite all the talent involved.
LA TRAVIATA:Verdi
Armiliato; Gheorghiu, Kaufmann, Michaels-Moore
Original Air Date: 02/11/2006
MOD Audio
SID.20110424
This is Kaufmann’s debut year, and Michaels-Moore is below the standard of Gheorghiu. Kaufmann is still a bit green at this point interesting to compare vocally to his current very high performance standard. AG was still the star; it’s one of her best roles.
DIE MEISTERSINGER VON NÜRNBERG:Wagner
Ehrling; Stewart, Saunders, Cox, Leib, Macurdy, Riegel
Original Air Date: 04/17/1976
SID.20110425
Jackson in his execrably edited third volume of Met broadcast history makes Ehrling into a Swiss conductor, when of course he was a native Swede through and through. Stewart has a notable recording of Sachs for Bavarian Radio under Kubelik with Janowitz and Konya that can still be located on specialty labels (Fischer-Dieskau’s effort with Jochum on DG effectively blocked this from what would normally have been the logical label. Jean Cox recently passed on, and was the infamous Siegfried at my 1978 Chereau performance at Bayreuth– Kollo mimed and Cox sang from offstage as he did not know the complex staging. Arlene Saunders long a NYCO favorite finally gets to the Met towards the end of her career, but per Jackson is still quite a successful Eva. So lots of curiosity for this performance.
DIE MEISTERSINGER VON NÜRNBERG:Wagner
Ehrling; Stewart, Saunders, Cox, Leib, Macurdy, Riegel
Original Air Date: 04/17/1976
SID.20110426
Jackson in his execrably edited third volume of Met broadcast history makes Ehrling into a Swiss conductor, when of course he was a native Swede through and through. Stewart has a notable recording of Sachs for Bavarian Radio under Kubelik with Janowitz and Konya that can still be located on specialty labels (Fischer-Dieskau’s effort with Jochum on DG effectively blocked this from what would normally have been the logical label. Jean Cox recently passed on, and was the infamous Siegfried at my 1978 Chereau performance at Bayreuth– Kollo mimed and Cox sang from offstage as he did not know the complex staging. Arlene Saunders long a NYCO favorite finally gets to the Met towards the end of her career, but per Jackson is still quite a successful Eva. So lots of curiosity for this performance.
VARIOUS:Various
Various Artists
Original Air Date: 01/01/9999
SID.20110427
CAVALLERIA RUSTICANA / PAGLIACCI:Mascagni / Leoncavallo
Cleva; Milanov, Tucker, Valentino / Amara, Baum, Merrill
Original Air Date: 04/13/1957
SID.20110529
The main feature here is Merrill’s Tonio which he only broadcast twice in his long Met career, this performance and in 1960 with a weaker Cavalleria cast. The Pagliacci is the same cast on both broadcasts. Warren really dominated Tonio during his lifetime, and MacNeil and Milnes in the latter part of Merrill’s career. Merrill is the voice for the prologue, and he also has an excellent commercial with Lorengar and McCracken.