L’ITALIANA IN ALGERI:Rossini
OAD: 02/17/2001
Campanella; Larmore, Polenzani, Ramey, Corbelli
MOD Audio SID.19190426
This is Ramey’s only Mustafa broadcast, and early appearances by Polenzani and Kwiecien who are Met regulars in star parts these days. My own favorite Isabella is Borodina whose performance with Florez and Furlanetto is also on MOoD.
L’ELISIR D’AMORE:Donizetti
OAD: 01/21/1995
Müller; Hadley, Swenson, Plishka, Oswald
SID.19190428
I did not write a review of this performance, and I’m not sure why. I have no memory of this performance, so I’d better take a listen. While this performance has not been played to death, I think L’elisir is getting played with the frequency of Puccini which I don’t think it can support.
MADAMA BUTTERFLY:Puccini
OAD: 03/18/1967
Molinari-Pradelli; Scotto, Shirley, Casei, Bottcher, Velis
SID.19190529
Scotto’s 38 Met Butterflys are exceeded only by Farrar (139!!!!), Albanese (72), and Kirsten (68). This performance features the very solid conducting of Molinari-Pradelli. She also has two studio recordings, the first with Bergonzi under Barbirolli being particularly notable. The Met’s continuing omissions of Antonietta Stella (1958) and Gabriella Tucci (1962 with Bergonzi) from their Sirius rebroadcasts are regrettable.
DIE WALKÜRE:Wagner
OAD: 12/06/1941 SID.19190530
Leinsdorf; Traubel, Schorr, Varnay, Melchior, Thorborg, Kipnis
This really is a broadcast of giants, and marks Varnay’s debut on an an operatic stage. Traubel has been recently discussed on Opera-L, and count me very much in the Traubel camp. Hearing the Todesverkundigung with her and Melchior is one of the absolute best, and the Walkure Brunnhilde is one of her best roles. The remainder of the cast is just as exceptional– esp. since i much prefer Kipnis’ voice to List. Paul Jackson notes with sadness this is Schorr’s final Wagner broadcast, and it finds him far from his two decade mastery of Wagner.
MANON:Massenet
OAD: 12/15/1951
Cleva; Albanese, Di Stefano, Singher
MOD Audio SID.19190531
If Singher is the only one to really be a master of the French style, Albanese and Di Stefano are not without interest.
LES CONTES D’HOFFMANN:Offenbach
OAD: 02/13/1993
Levine; Domingo, Vaness, Held, Mentzer
MOD Audio SID.19190532
One of the best performances I ever saw from Domingo was a NYCO in Philadelphia 1965 Hoffmann with Sills and Treigle. He premieres not one but two Met productions (1973 with Sutherland and Bacquier, and 1982 under Chailly with Morris). This 1993 broadcast follows opening the season in Hoffmann which had Ramey as the villains. The 1982 (which has been on Sirius but not on MOoD, is much better on all counts.
RIGOLETTO:Verdi
OAD: 01/15/2000
Jurowski; Nucci, Jo, Álvarez, Hawlata, Livengood
SID.19190533
Jurowski, a talented conductor returned to the Met recently conducting Die Frau ohne Schatten in a most successful revival. This is Jurowski’s debut season and the cast is reasonably strong. Nucci is a solid Rigoletto, and more to my taste more than most post 2000 baritones. Jo is helped a lot by the microphones, and Alvarez early in his Met career does an OK Duke.
TANNHÄUSER:Wagner
OAD: 01/09/1954
Szell; Vinay, Harshaw, Varnay, London, Hines
MOD Audio SID.19190534
You either love Vinay or you hate him (even as a tenor). As a tenor I like him very much. Wolfram is a particularly congenial part for London, and this was the third performance of a four performance run (at least with Szell who did the next performance after this one and left the Met forever). Szell is one of the prime attractions and this performance is available on Met Player. This performance is on MOoD and notable as Szell’s last Met broadcast and his penultimate appearance at the Met. Cast are well up to their roles, though Vinay is not to every taste– he is to mine. This performance is available also in MOoD as well as the Sony Box and has been on Sirius before. I’m sorry that they did not seek out the 1941 Flagstad Melchior broadcast which was at one time available from the Met in their historic LP series so a decent tape does exist. The Dresden version is used. I take nothing away from the distinction of Szell, but in Tannhauser, the title role is what makes or breaks the performance. Vinay is acceptable, but he is not prime Melchior either.
DER ROSENKAVALIER:Strauss
OAD: 02/23/1974
Böhm; Fassbaender, Lear, Jungwirth, Mathis, Dooley
SID.19190535
Evelyn Lear is a solid Marschallin, even if she is somewhat eclipsed by Fassbaender and Mathis, among the two best performers to ever do these roles. Bohm is in the pit, and Jungwirth is an excellent Ochs (as he is on the Solti Crespin commercial.)
FALSTAFF:Verdi
OAD: 12/16/1967
Amaducci; Flagello, Curtin, Guarrera, Barbieri, Raskin, Alva
MOD Audio SID.19190636
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.
L’ELISIR D’AMORE:Donizetti
OAD: 01/21/1995
Müller; Hadley, Swenson, Plishka, Oswald
SID.19190637
I did not write a review of this performance, and I’m not sure why. I have no memory of this performance, so I’d better take a listen. While this performance has not been played to death, I think L’elisir is getting played with the frequency of Puccini which I don’t think it can support.
DIALOGUES DES CARMÉLITES : Poulenc
OAD: 05/11/2019 SID.19190638
Nézet-Séguin; Leonard, Pieczonka, Morley, Cargill, Mattila, Portillo, LaPointe
VANESSA:Barber
OAD: 04/03/1965
Steinberg; Costa, Alexander, Elias, Thebom, Tozzi
MOD Audio SID.19190639
The Met does well by Samuel Barber, and regularly programs on Sirius the Steber world premiere season broadcast from 1958. Elias and Tozzi remain from the original cast under William Steinberg. The skating aria for Vanessa is gone by this revival, another reason to check out the Steber broadcast in MOoD.
RIGOLETTO:Verdi
OAD: 01/15/2000
Jurowski; Nucci, Jo, Álvarez, Hawlata, Livengood
SID.19190640
Jurowski, a talented conductor returned to the Met recently conducting Die Frau ohne Schatten in a most successful revival. This is Jurowski’s debut season and the cast is reasonably strong. Nucci is a solid Rigoletto, and more to my taste more than most post 2000 baritones. Jo is helped a lot by the microphones, and Alvarez early in his Met career does an OK Duke.
L’ITALIANA IN ALGERI:Rossini
OAD: 02/17/2001
Campanella; Larmore, Polenzani, Ramey, Corbelli
MOD Audio SID.191907
This is Ramey’s only Mustafa broadcast, and early appearances by Polenzani and Kwiecien who are Met regulars in star parts these days. My own favorite Isabella is Borodina whose performance with Florez and Furlanetto is also on MOoD.
MANON:Massenet
OAD: 12/15/1951
Cleva; Albanese, Di Stefano, Singher
MOD Audio SID.191907
If Singher is the only one to really be a master of the French style, Albanese and Di Stefano are not without interest.
DER ROSENKAVALIER:Strauss
OAD: 02/23/1974 SID.191907
Böhm; Fassbaender, Lear, Jungwirth, Mathis, Dooley
Evelyn Lear is a solid Marschallin, even if she is somewhat eclipsed by Fassbaender and Mathis, among the two best performers to ever do these roles. Bohm is in the pit, and Jungwirth is an excellent Ochs (as he is on the Solti Crespin commercial.)
MADAMA BUTTERFLY:Puccini
OAD: 03/18/1967 SID.191907
Molinari-Pradelli; Scotto, Shirley, Casei, Bottcher, Velis
Scotto’s 38 Met Butterflys are exceeded only by Farrar (139!!!!), Albanese (72), and Kirsten (68). This performance features the very solid conducting of Molinari-Pradelli. She also has two studio recordings, the first with Bergonzi under Barbirolli being particularly notable. The Met’s continuing omissions of Antonietta Stella (1958) and Gabriella Tucci (1962 with Bergonzi) from their Sirius rebroadcasts are regrettable.
DIE WALKÜRE:Wagner
OAD: 12/06/1941 SID.191907
Leinsdorf; Traubel, Schorr, Varnay, Melchior, Thorborg, Kipnis
This really is a broadcast of giants, and marks Varnay’s debut on an an operatic stage. Traubel has been recently discussed on Opera-L, and count me very much in the Traubel camp. Hearing the Todesverkundigung with her and Melchior is one of the absolute best, and the Walkure Brunnhilde is one of her best roles. The remainder of the cast is just as exceptional– esp. since i much prefer Kipnis’ voice to List. Paul Jackson notes with sadness this is Schorr’s final Wagner broadcast, and it finds him far from his two decade mastery of Wagner.
LA FORZA DEL DESTINO:Verdi
OAD: 11/29/1952 SID.191907
Stiedry; Milanov, Tucker, Warren, Hines, Miller, Pechner
MOD Audio
Here’s Milanov, Tucker, and Warren again and very well cast. This performance is available on Met Player and despite the odd (Bruno Walter) arrangement and cuts brings you a Forza you simply can’t hear today. two Leontyne Price Forzas (one from 1968 with Corelli, and the other from 1972 with Bergonzi whould be rebroadcast. She is very well represented in Sirius but the 1977 with Domingo and the 1984 video do not show her as well as the earlier broadcasts. This performance is available in MOoD, and with good reason. At pretty much close to their best, one of the strongest Forza casts in the postwar period. All four of Milanov’s Forza broadcasts (all with Sitedry conducting) have been on Sirius, and this, the earliest has also appeared in MOoD. Despite the cuts and re-arrangement, when this performance concludes you know you’ve heard Forza. Tucker and Warren make very challenging parts sound almost easy. Hines is not as impressive as Siepi, but he toweres over what passes for most bass singing today.
DIE FLEDERMAUS:Strauss Jr.
OAD: 01/23/1954 SID.191907
Kozma; Steber, Kullman, Munsel, Hayward, Novotná, Brownlee
Steber lets the end of the Czardas get away from her, and John Brownlee is never a voice I want to hear, but Munsel is quite a trouper in this role; Novotna is a stylish Orlofsky. Why is the Fledermaus translation not a problem for the Met, but their Arabella is? This is Steber’s only broadcast Rosalinde, and she makes a meal of it. This is getting toward the end of Munsel’s reign at the Met with mostly Perichole and some Depinas ahead of her. My problem is with Brownlee, one of the driest voices ever .
LES CONTES D’HOFFMANN:Offenbach
Original Air Date: 02/13/1993
Levine; Domingo, Vaness, Held, Mentzer
MOD Audio SID.19200101
One of the best performances I ever saw from Domingo was a NYCO in Philadelphia 1965 Hoffmann with Sills and Treigle. He premieres not one but two Met productions (1973 with Sutherland and Bacquier, and 1982 under Chailly with Morris). This 1993 broadcast follows opening the season in Hoffmann which had Ramey as the villains. The 1982 (which has been on Sirius but not on MOoD, is much better on all counts.
LOHENGRIN:Wagner
Original Air Date: 12/24/1955
Stiedry; Sullivan, Steber, Harshaw, Uhde, Edelmann
SID.19200317
This performance is also available on MOoD, and is the second of Steber’s two Elsa broadcasts from the Met. The only singer not much to my taste on this broadcast is Edelmann, Pape and Giaoitti have spoiled us for how good this part can sound. Steber after her season in Bayreuth is in her element especially the second and third acts . The AM sound cannot disguise the fact that the orchestra is on much stronger footing in Wagner now than in the 1950s. It’s always grand to experience Steber in one of her best roles. I generally prefer Steber in the Bayreuth performance, but this is a solid cast and Uhde is a strong Telramund as well.
THE RAKES PROGRESS:Stravinsky
Original Air Date: 02/14/1953
Reiner; Conley, Güden, Harrell, Thebom
SID.19200318
This is the American premiere with the composer in attendance. Worth noting is the director for this production is George Balanchine. It’s still a chilly work for me Not my cup of tea, but a distinguished afternoon, and the U.S. premiere occurs with this broadcast. Reiner is major in every way.
LE NOZZE DI FIGARO:Mozart
Original Air Date: 12/09/1967
Rosenstock; Siepi, Freni, Della Casa, Krause, Stratas
SID.19200319
This broadcast has estimable servants of Siepi and Freni with Stratas a fine Cherubino, but it is burdened with Rosenstock’s conducting and Della Casa makes her final Met appearance. Earlier in the season the Countess was taken by Lorengar and Berganza was the Cherubino, alas still with Rosenstock. You can hear Della Casa coughing audibly on this broadcast. Miraculously, Mme Della Casa was still with us until Dec. 2012, living into her 90s.
WOZZECK:Berg
Original Air Date: 01/06/1990
Levine; Hornik, Behrens, Clark, McIntyre, King
SID.19200320
Behrens had done Marie in 1985 with Christian Boesch also under Levine. King is luxury casting as the Drum Major, but I think Cassilly’s rougher voice in 1985 is more appropriate. Still well worth a listen.
HÄNSEL UND GRETEL:Humperdinck
Original Air Date: 12/29/2001
Mackerras; Larmore, Upshaw, Forst, Blythe, Josephson
MOD Audio SID.19200321
This performance is indeed in German and yet is performed by a 100% Anglophone cast. Irony indeed. Mackerras is the most distinctive contributor to a work whose orchestral passages are among its most interesting. Also worth noting is there is a separate listing in MOoD for the English language versions and the German version. But though the language was German it was the same production as premiered in English in 1967-1968 by O’Hearn and Merrill and concluded with these performances in 2001-2. Hansel returned in a new also English language production by Richard Jones in 2007-2008.
LA BOHÈME:Puccini
Original Air Date: 03/30/1957
Kozma; Kirsten, Tucker, Hurley, Bastianini, Siepi
SID.19200422
Last on Sirius: Before 2011 (I searched my archives 3 ways, and though the Met says it has been rebroadcast on Sirius, my answer is not recently; the Tucker Columbia recording with Sayao was on in December 2012, and his Sirius rebroadcast Boheme with Tebaldi was in November 2012) The special pleasure are Bastianini and Siepi who only did one other Met performance together in Boheme (not broadcast) a year earlier.
BILLY BUDD:Britten
Original Air Date: 03/31/1979
Leppard; Stilwell, Pears, Morris, Glossop, Ward
MOD Audio SID.19200423
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.
THAÏS:Massenet
Original Air Date: 12/20/2008
López-Cobos; Fleming, Hampson, Schade
Live in HDMOD Video SID.19200424
Although the video has been available almost continuously on MOoD, I find this performance preferable to the Sills Milnes, which was massively overplayed in the first years of Sirius Radio. I rather like Thais as a break from other titles in the repertory.Although the video has been available almost continuously on MOoD, I find this performance preferable to the Sills Milnes, which was massively overplayed in the first years of Sirius Radio. I rather like Thais as a break from other titles in the repertory.