“FIDELIO : Beethoven
Original Air Date: 01/06/2001
Cast: Levine; Mattila, Heppner, Leiferkus, Pape, Hong, Polenzani
Media: MOD Audio SID.17440315 Tags: Archive; 2017, Levine
This new production was telecast earlier in the season, but this audio (both audio and video are in MOoD) replaces Struckmann with Leiferkus, Welch-Babidge with Hong, and Lloyd with James Morris. Mattila and Heppner are both very good, but below the transcendant Fidelios I remember from Nilsson, Rysanek and Marton in the theater all with the inimitable Jon Vickers as Florestan. Flagstad makes her mark in two Met broadcasts as well.”
“ELEKTRA : Strauss
Original Air Date: 01/22/1994
Cast: Levine; Behrens, Voigt, Fassbaender, McIntyre, King
Media: MOD AudioMOD Video SID.17440316 Tags: Archive; 2017, Levine, Strauss
Behrens was not a natural Elektra voice, and her premiere of the production 2 years earlier was her last appearance in the part for close to 2 years. When she returned to the Met for this performance which was also videod and has been issued on DVD in the Levine 40th anniversary collection, she was able to do justice to the part, if not with the tonal reserves of a Nilsson, Varnay, or Jones. This is very early in Deborah Voigt’s career and one hears why she so impressed listeners in the early 90s. This broadcast/telecast is Fassbaender’s Met farewell, and vocally and dramatically she is a bit over the top. She still has her moments.”
“CARMEN : Bizet
Original Air Date: 04/20/1968
Cast: Lombard; Bumbry, Tucker, Freni, Díaz
Media: MOD Audio SID.17440319 Tags: Archive; 2017
Arguably three of the major voices of the 20th century, and whether you like their way with Carmen or not, they are not inexperienced. Bumbry, in particular, is the most notable LIVE Carmen I ever heard vocally. Though I wasn’t much of a fan of the Barrault production, she was splendid, and so she is here. Tucker premiered the previous production 18 years earlier with Stevens under Fritz Reiner with direction by Tyrone Guthrie. It’s not my favorite Tucker role, but he is exceeded in frequency only by Martinelli at the Met. Freni is caught in her youthful splendor. The French may not make for Academie Francaise, but Paris thought her their choice for Marguerite. I think her Micaela in this period is the one I always hear in my brain. Diaz looked fine as the Toreador (and even he ranks 4th in all-time at the Met) but he’s not in the same league as the others. I’m going to to take a 21st century listen.”
“IL TROVATORE : Verdi
Original Air Date: 12/19/1987
Cast: Bonynge; Pavarotti, Sutherland, Verrett, Nucci, De Grandis
Media: MOD Audio SID.17440320 Tags: Archive; 2017, Pavarotti, Verdi
This is Sutherland’s farewell Met operatic appearance (she and Bonynge do a piano recital 15 months later on the Met stage) and while none of her colleagues are in the first flush of youth either, with the exception of the always poor De Grandis, they still have enough pistons firing to make this Trovatore a stirring afternoon.
This is Verrett’s penultimate Met broadcast (her last is a late Samson in 1990 with Domingo) and shows that whatever the age, Azucena was a great part for her.”
“IL PIRATA : Bellini
Original Air Date: 02/08/2003
Cast: Campanella; Fleming, Giordani, Croft
Media: MOD Audio SID.17440423 Tags: Archive; 2017
This is the Met premiere of Pirata and to date its only broadcast season, but I don’t find either the soprano or tenor quite right for their parts. This was the performance that started me on my Giordani no listen zone. I was lucky enough to see Caballe do a stage Pirata (2x) in Philadelphia, and she was almost ideally cast. Fleming is a versatile, highly skilled singer, but this part was not for her.”
“ERNANI : Verdi
Original Air Date: 12/01/1962
Cast: Schippers; Bergonzi, Price, MacNeil, Tozzi
Media: MOD Audio SID.17440425 Tags: Archive; 2017, Verdi
This is one of the classic Met broadcasts, and on balance the best of the Ernani broadcasts. Corelli was more of an in-house Ernani, but for the broadcast mikes, Bergonzi is close to ideal.
MacNeil, one of the Met mainstay baritones on this occasion delivers an absolutely historic performance with a seemingly unending upper register, but also a command of the style that surpassed any modern baritone at the Met. Price is not ideal as Elvira, but she has many superb moments, especially as captured by the mikes.
Fortunately this performance as well as the 1965 with Corelli, Sereni, and Siepi joining Price are BOTH on MOoD, and both performances serve Verdi very well indeed. Available in a Sony historical CD and on MOoD.
As much as I love Bergonzi, the most remarkable performance of the afternoon is MacNeil in one of his greatest if not greatest broadcast appearance. Do not miss.”
“DEATH IN VENICE : Britten
Original Air Date: 02/26/1994
Cast: Atherton; Rolfe Johnson, Allen, Gall
Media: MOD Audio SID.17440529 Tags: Archive; 2017
I’ve given Britten’s final work several tries in the theatre and on record, and it just doesn’t make it for me. I’m always game for Peter Grimes and Billy Budd, and enjoy Albert Herring as well, so it’s not any antipathy to Britten. But I feel the inspiration as barren as Aschenbach’s view of life.
Both Met revivals, the original with Peter Pears from 1974 and this 1994 revival are available in MOoD.I’ve given Britten’s final work several tries in the theatre and on record, and it just doesn’t make it for me. I’m always game for Peter Grimes and Billy Budd, and enjoy Albert Herring as well, so it’s not any antipathy to Britten. But I feel the inspiration as barren as Aschenbach’s view of life. Both Met revivals, the original with Peter Pears from 1974 and this 1994 revival are available in MOoD.”
“IL TROVATORE : Verdi
Original Air Date: 12/19/1987
Cast: Bonynge; Pavarotti, Sutherland, Verrett, Nucci, De Grandis
Media: MOD Audio SID.17440530 Tags: Archive; 2017, Pavarotti, Verdi
This is Sutherland’s farewell Met operatic appearance (she and Bonynge do a piano recital 15 months later on the Met stage) and while none of her colleagues are in the first flush of youth either, with the exception of the always poor De Grandis, they still have enough pistons firing to make this Trovatore a stirring afternoon.
This is Verrett’s penultimate Met broadcast (her last is a late Samson in 1990 with Domingo) and shows that whatever the age, Azucena was a great part for her.”
“FIDELIO : Beethoven
Original Air Date: 01/06/2001
Cast: Levine; Mattila, Heppner, Leiferkus, Pape, Hong, Polenzani
Media: MOD Audio SID.17440635 Tags: Archive; 2017, Levine
This new production was telecast earlier in the season, but this audio (both audio and video are in MOoD) replaces Struckmann with Leiferkus, Welch-Babidge with Hong, and Lloyd with James Morris. Mattila and Heppner are both very good, but below the transcendant Fidelios I remember from Nilsson, Rysanek and Marton in the theater all with the inimitable Jon Vickers as Florestan. Flagstad makes her mark in two Met broadcasts as well.”
“FIDELIO : Beethoven
Original Air Date: 01/06/2001
Cast: Levine; Mattila, Heppner, Leiferkus, Pape, Hong, Polenzani
Media: MOD Audio SID.17440638 Tags: Archive; 2017, Levine
This new production was telecast earlier in the season, but this audio (both audio and video are in MOoD) replaces Struckmann with Leiferkus, Welch-Babidge with Hong, and Lloyd with James Morris. Mattila and Heppner are both very good, but below the transcendant Fidelios I remember from Nilsson, Rysanek and Marton in the theater all with the inimitable Jon Vickers as Florestan. Flagstad makes her mark in two Met broadcasts as well.”
“ERNANI : Verdi
Original Air Date: 12/01/1962
Cast: Schippers; Bergonzi, Price, MacNeil, Tozzi
Media: MOD Audio SID.17440641 Tags: Archive; 2017, Verdi
This is one of the classic Met broadcasts, and on balance the best of the Ernani broadcasts. Corelli was more of an in-house Ernani, but for the broadcast mikes, Bergonzi is close to ideal.
MacNeil, one of the Met mainstay baritones on this occasion delivers an absolutely historic performance with a seemingly unending upper register, but also a command of the style that surpassed any modern baritone at the Met. Price is not ideal as Elvira, but she has many superb moments, especially as captured by the mikes.
Fortunately this performance as well as the 1965 with Corelli, Sereni, and Siepi joining Price are BOTH on MOoD, and both performances serve Verdi very well indeed. Available in a Sony historical CD and on MOoD.
As much as I love Bergonzi, the most remarkable performance of the afternoon is MacNeil in one of his greatest if not greatest broadcast appearance. Do not miss.”
“CARMEN : Bizet
Original Air Date: 04/20/1968
Cast: Lombard; Bumbry, Tucker, Freni, Díaz
Media: MOD Audio SID.17440745 Tags: Archive; 2017
Arguably three of the major voices of the 20th century, and whether you like their way with Carmen or not, they are not inexperienced. Bumbry, in particular, is the most notable LIVE Carmen I ever heard vocally. Though I wasn’t much of a fan of the Barrault production, she was splendid, and so she is here. Tucker premiered the previous production 18 years earlier with Stevens under Fritz Reiner with direction by Tyrone Guthrie. It’s not my favorite Tucker role, but he is exceeded in frequency only by Martinelli at the Met. Freni is caught in her youthful splendor. The French may not make for Academie Francaise, but Paris thought her their choice for Marguerite. I think her Micaela in this period is the one I always hear in my brain. Diaz looked fine as the Toreador (and even he ranks 4th in all-time at the Met) but he’s not in the same league as the others. I’m going to to take a 21st century listen.”
“IL PIRATA : Bellini
Original Air Date: 02/08/2003
Cast: Campanella; Fleming, Giordani, Croft
Media: MOD Audio SID.17440746 Tags: Archive; 2017
This is the Met premiere of Pirata and to date its only broadcast season, but I don’t find either the soprano or tenor quite right for their parts. This was the performance that started me on my Giordani no listen zone. I was lucky enough to see Caballe do a stage Pirata (2x) in Philadelphia, and she was almost ideally cast. Fleming is a versatile, highly skilled singer, but this part was not for her.”
“DEATH IN VENICE : Britten
Original Air Date: 02/26/1994
Cast: Atherton; Rolfe Johnson, Allen, Gall
Media: MOD Audio SID.17450101 Tags: Archive; 2017
I’ve given Britten’s final work several tries in the theatre and on record, and it just doesn’t make it for me. I’m always game for Peter Grimes and Billy Budd, and enjoy Albert Herring as well, so it’s not any antipathy to Britten. But I feel the inspiration as barren as Aschenbach’s view of life.
Both Met revivals, the original with Peter Pears from 1974 and this 1994 revival are available in MOoD.I’ve given Britten’s final work several tries in the theatre and on record, and it just doesn’t make it for me. I’m always game for Peter Grimes and Billy Budd, and enjoy Albert Herring as well, so it’s not any antipathy to Britten. But I feel the inspiration as barren as Aschenbach’s view of life. Both Met revivals, the original with Peter Pears from 1974 and this 1994 revival are available in MOoD.”
“LA CENERENTOLA : Rossini
Original Air Date: 03/11/2000
Cast: Campanella; Larmore, Giménez, Alaimo, Corbelli
Media: MOD Audio SID.17450107 Tags: Archive; 2017
This is Larmore’s second Angelina broadcast (the first was 1998 with Levine conducting). Corbelli is the Dandini, and Alaimo the Magnifico. 8 years later Corbelli moves down to Magnifico. A little of this opera goes a long way with me.This is Larmore’s second Angelina broadcast (the first was 1998 with Levine conducting). Corbelli is the Dandini, and Alaimo the Magnifico. 8 years later Corbelli moves down to Magnifico. A little of this opera goes a long way with me,”
“CAVALLERIA RUSTICANA / PAGLIACCI : Mascagni / Leoncavallo
Original Air Date: 04/11/1964
Cast: Santi; Farrell, Tucker, Bardelli / Corelli, Amara, Colzani
Media: MOD Audio SID.17450211 Tags: Archive; 2017
These performances have also been issued in the Sony Historical CD series from the Met. Corelli only has 7 Canios and 3 of those were on tour done before this 4 performance series in the spring of 1964.
Lucky for me as a 17 year old, Dallas was one of those tour stops, and Stratas was his Nedda, but Colzani was again the Tonio. The Metropolitan line of great Turiddus is at least as distinguished as for the far more famous role of Canio. Armiliato (the singing brother), Bergonzi, Bjorling, Corelli, Del Monaco,Domingo, Peerce,and Tucker all take on Turiddu in addition to the three early legends of Caruso, Gigli, and Lauri-Volpi.
Tucker is tied for Jagel in 2nd place with 32; Tokatyan has 50. Farrell did not impress me when I saw her Santuzza, but on this broadcast she delivers one of the most blood-curdling curses in the history of the opera. Mala Pasqua indeed.”
“DIE FLEDERMAUS : Strauss Jr.
Original Air Date: 01/20/1951
Cast: Ormandy; Piazza, Kullman, Munsel, Tucker, Stevens, Brownlee
Media: MOD Audio SID.17450314 Tags: Archive; 2017, Strauss
This is the broadcast of arguably the biggest hit of Bing’s opening season. Welitsch, who had done the premiere gives way to Piazza, for whom this is her sole broadcast and her only role at the Met, though she has a good long run after the broadcast and a Met tour for a total of 14 performances. Piazza would turn up on early 1950s TV show where an attractive (not so much to me) but generic soprano was called for. Tucker is a sonorous Alfred he almost turns the part into a plum. There are some enjoyable moments, and others that leave me cold. Sirius leaves Gilford off the listing, but he has some of the funniest bits.”
“BILLY BUDD : Britten
Original Air Date: 03/31/1979
Cast: Leppard; Stilwell, Pears, Morris, Glossop, Ward
Media: MOD Audio SID.17450315 Tags: Archive; 2017
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.”
“LA CENERENTOLA : Rossini
Original Air Date: 03/11/2000
Cast: Campanella; Larmore, Giménez, Alaimo, Corbelli
Media: MOD Audio SID.17450318 Tags: Archive; 2017
This is Larmore’s second Angelina broadcast (the first was 1998 with Levine conducting). Corbelli is the Dandini, and Alaimo the Magnifico. 8 years later Corbelli moves down to Magnifico. A little of this opera goes a long way with me.This is Larmore’s second Angelina broadcast (the first was 1998 with Levine conducting). Corbelli is the Dandini, and Alaimo the Magnifico. 8 years later Corbelli moves down to Magnifico. A little of this opera goes a long way with me,”
“DIE FLEDERMAUS : Strauss Jr.
Original Air Date: 01/20/1951
Cast: Ormandy; Piazza, Kullman, Munsel, Tucker, Stevens, Brownlee
Media: MOD Audio SID.17450425 Tags: Archive; 2017, Strauss
This is the broadcast of arguably the biggest hit of Bing’s opening season. Welitsch, who had done the premiere gives way to Piazza, for whom this is her sole broadcast and her only role at the Met, though she has a good long run after the broadcast and a Met tour for a total of 14 performances. Piazza would turn up on early 1950s TV show where an attractive (not so much to me) but generic soprano was called for. Tucker is a sonorous Alfred he almost turns the part into a plum. There are some enjoyable moments, and others that leave me cold. Sirius leaves Gilford off the listing, but he has some of the funniest bits.”
“CAVALLERIA RUSTICANA / PAGLIACCI : Mascagni / Leoncavallo
Original Air Date: 04/11/1964
Cast: Santi; Farrell, Tucker, Bardelli / Corelli, Amara, Colzani
Media: MOD Audio SID.17450528 Tags: Archive; 2017
These performances have also been issued in the Sony Historical CD series from the Met. Corelli only has 7 Canios and 3 of those were on tour done before this 4 performance series in the spring of 1964.
Lucky for me as a 17 year old, Dallas was one of those tour stops, and Stratas was his Nedda, but Colzani was again the Tonio. The Metropolitan line of great Turiddus is at least as distinguished as for the far more famous role of Canio. Armiliato (the singing brother), Bergonzi, Bjorling, Corelli, Del Monaco,Domingo, Peerce,and Tucker all take on Turiddu in addition to the three early legends of Caruso, Gigli, and Lauri-Volpi.
Tucker is tied for Jagel in 2nd place with 32; Tokatyan has 50. Farrell did not impress me when I saw her Santuzza, but on this broadcast she delivers one of the most blood-curdling curses in the history of the opera. Mala Pasqua indeed.”
“BILLY BUDD : Britten
Original Air Date: 03/31/1979
Cast: Leppard; Stilwell, Pears, Morris, Glossop, Ward
Media: MOD Audio SID.17450634 Tags: Archive; 2017
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.”
“LA CENERENTOLA : Rossini
Original Air Date: 03/11/2000
Cast: Campanella; Larmore, Giménez, Alaimo, Corbelli
Media: MOD Audio SID.17450636 Tags: Archive; 2017
This is Larmore’s second Angelina broadcast (the first was 1998 with Levine conducting). Corbelli is the Dandini, and Alaimo the Magnifico. 8 years later Corbelli moves down to Magnifico. A little of this opera goes a long way with me.This is Larmore’s second Angelina broadcast (the first was 1998 with Levine conducting). Corbelli is the Dandini, and Alaimo the Magnifico. 8 years later Corbelli moves down to Magnifico. A little of this opera goes a long way with me,”
“DIE FLEDERMAUS : Strauss Jr.
Original Air Date: 01/20/1951
Cast: Ormandy; Piazza, Kullman, Munsel, Tucker, Stevens, Brownlee
Media: MOD Audio SID.17450744 Tags: Archive; 2017, Strauss
This is the broadcast of arguably the biggest hit of Bing’s opening season. Welitsch, who had done the premiere gives way to Piazza, for whom this is her sole broadcast and her only role at the Met, though she has a good long run after the broadcast and a Met tour for a total of 14 performances. Piazza would turn up on early 1950s TV show where an attractive (not so much to me) but generic soprano was called for. Tucker is a sonorous Alfred he almost turns the part into a plum. There are some enjoyable moments, and others that leave me cold. Sirius leaves Gilford off the listing, but he has some of the funniest bits.”
“ADRIANA LECOUVREUR : Cilea
Original Air Date: 02/11/1978
Cast: López-Cobos; Caballé, Carreras, Cossotto, Quilico
Media: MOD Audio SID.17460102 Tags: Archive; 2017
I’m not a special fan of Adriana, and like it best when the title role is a specialist like Olivero whom I saw in Hartford and Newark; the aircheck from Naples is the one to get with Simionato, Corelli, and Bastianini. There are 3 MOoD versions starting with the Caballe above, very solid, but a bit bland, a Scotto/Shicoff/Cortez performance from 1983 is a good late career effort from her (her commercial under Levine with Domingo and Obratzsova is better) but the most recent MOoD features 2009 Domingo in his only Met matinee broadcast with Guleghina,and Borodina.
Much too late for Domingo who debuted at the Met 4 decades earlier. Unlike Adriana, Maurizio is not a mid-range role. (RWW)
The great Renata Scotto gives a spellbinding performance as the legendary actress of the title. With all of France at her feet, she has doubts about the faithfulness of her lover, the handsome military hero Maurizio (Neil Shicoff). To aid his claim for the Saxon throne, Maurizio has been paying court to the Princess di Bouillon (Viorica Cortez). Emotions erupt at a party given by the Princess when Adriana publicly accuses her of adultery. But the Princess gets even by sending Adriana a bouquet of poisoned flowers… The great baritone Mario Sereni is Michonnet, the faithful friend and theater director who is hopelessly in love with Adriana. (metopera.org)”
“DIE MEISTERSINGER VON NÜRNBERG : Wagner
Original Air Date: 12/08/2001
Cast: Levine; Morris, Mattila, Heppner, Allen, Pape, Polenzani
Media: MOD Video SID.17460104 Tags: Archive; 2017, Levine, Wagner
A little late for Heppner, but still a fine Walther. An excellent
overall performance.”
“DIE MEISTERSINGER VON NÜRNBERG : Wagner
Original Air Date: 12/08/2001
Cast: Levine; Morris, Mattila, Heppner, Allen, Pape, Polenzani
Media: MOD Video SID.17460105 Tags: Archive; 2017, Levine, Wagner
A little late for Heppner, but still a fine Walther. An excellent
overall performance.”
“LA FORZA DEL DESTINO : Verdi
Original Air Date: 03/17/1956
Cast: Stiedry; Milanov, Tucker, Warren, Siepi, Elias, Corena
Media: MOD Audio SID.17460208 Tags: Archive; 2017, Verdi
For me, the A list male casting for this opera in the 1950s at the Met was Tucker, Warren, and Siepi. This is the only broadcast where all three gentlemen (who premiered the new production on opening night of the 1952 season. Milanov certainly had the voice for the Forza Leonora, but as others have noted she is not a young woman in the 1950s, and she could be uneven in a single afternoon. Her current competition is non-existent. I checked the Paul Jackson broadcast reviews on this performance, but he is silent (he is particularly strong on singers he heard often). Though this has been on before, this is a must listen.”
“OTELLO : Verdi
Original Air Date: 10/13/1995
Cast: Levine; Domingo, Fleming, Morris, Croft
Media: MOD Video SID.17460209 Tags: Archive; 2017, Levine, Domingo, Verdi
This performance is also available as a DVD from Deutsche Grammophon. This was Fleming’s first big success at the Met, and she is a splendid Desdemona.This performance is also available as a DVD from Deutsche Grammophon. This was Fleming’s first big success at the Met, and she is a splendid Desdemona.”
“FAUST : Gounod
Original Air Date: 02/26/1972
Cast: Rich; Domingo, Zylis-Gara, Tozzi, Sereni, von Stade
Media: MOD Audio SID.17460316 Tags: Archive; 2017, Domingo
This over-programmed Faust is on again, but there are so many better Fausts on the shelf. Domingo is better than expected in one of his early broadcasts, but Tozzi, a Met stalwart, is in poor form. Mercifully, the rotation has slowed down on this performance.
There are a number of excellent Fausts, 2 with Bjorling (and Siepi) which Sirius has never played, and there are several much better Fausts in the Sirius rotation. This one does not deserve such airplay.
Nicolai Gedda is third in all-time performances (42) as Faust surpassed only by Jean de Reszke at 71 and Giovanni Martinelli at 56, and yet is represented by only one Faust broadcast in MOoD and Sirius reports replay of the 1972, but neither his 1966 or 1969 with interesting casts have been heard on either. Nicolai Gedda is still with us, A little more attention on him please. He was a Met star tenor for two decades, and we mostly hear him in Vanessa (where he is remarkable), but he was the leading Faust in the world with the passing of Bjorling his Swedish countryman.”