“THAÏS : Massenet
Original Air Date: 12/20/2008
Cast: López-Cobos; Fleming, Hampson, Schade
Media: Live in HDMOD Video SID.18150210 Tags: Archive; 2018
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.”
“THE FIRST EMPEROR : Dun
Original Air Date: 01/13/2007
Cast: Dun; Domingo, Futral, Groves, Tian, DeYoung
Media: Live in HDMOD Video SID.18150423 Tags: Archive; 2018, Domingo
This is Domingo’s vehicle and the broadcast and HD performance from its premiere season. Sony issued a commercial DVD. Better to watch than listen to.
***
I enjoyed seeing the production, and while it’s not on my weekly rotation, it held my interest more than Glass’ The Voyage. The simultaneous broadcast/HD moviecast is available on commercial DVD and MOoD (Metropolitan Opera on Demand).”
“THAÏS : Massenet
Original Air Date: 12/20/2008
Cast: López-Cobos; Fleming, Hampson, Schade
Media: Live in HDMOD Video SID.18150426 Tags: Archive; 2018
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.”
“LUISA MILLER : Verdi
Original Air Date: 04/14/2018
Cast: de Billy; Yoncheva, Beczala, Domingo, Vinogradov, Belosselskiy, Petrova
Media: Live in HD SID.18150640 Tags: LIVE; 2018, Domingo, Verdi
Plácido Domingo adds yet another role to his legendary Met career in this rarely performed Verdi gem, a heart-wrenching tragedy of fatherly love. Sonya Yoncheva sings the title role opposite Piotr Beczała in the first Met performances of the opera in more than ten years. Bertrand de Billy conducts.
Production a gift of Catherine and Ephraim Gildor
Revival a gift of Rolex and Mrs. Jayne Wrightsman
“
“THE FIRST EMPEROR : Dun
Original Air Date: 01/13/2007
Cast: Dun; Domingo, Futral, Groves, Tian, DeYoung
Media: Live in HDMOD Video SID.18150641 Tags: Archive; 2018, Domingo
This is Domingo’s vehicle and the broadcast and HD performance from its premiere season. Sony issued a commercial DVD. Better to watch than listen to.
***
I enjoyed seeing the production, and while it’s not on my weekly rotation, it held my interest more than Glass’ The Voyage. The simultaneous broadcast/HD moviecast is available on commercial DVD and MOoD (Metropolitan Opera on Demand).”
“THAÏS : Massenet
Original Air Date: 12/20/2008
Cast: López-Cobos; Fleming, Hampson, Schade
Media: Live in HDMOD Video SID.18150749 Tags: Archive; 2018
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.”
“CENDRILLON : Massenet
Original Air Date: 04/28/2018
Cast: de Billy; DiDonato, Coote, Kim, Blythe, Naouri
Media: Live Broadcast SID.18170640 Tags: LIVE; 2018
observer.com/2018/04/joyce-didonato-shines-in-luminous-cendrillon-at-met-opera-review/“
“BILLY BUDD : Britten
Original Air Date: 04/04/1992
Cast: Mackerras; Hampson, Clark, Morris, Held, Courtney
Media: MOD Audio SID.18180211 Tags: Archive; 2018
Morris has sung almost every Claggart in the production and it is one of his best parts. Hampson isn’t always ideal as an innocent, but he’s a fine musician and the cast under Mackerras is top drawer. There is also an excellent Met video of the production with Dwayne Croft on MOoD.”
“LA FORZA DEL DESTINO : Verdi
Original Air Date: 11/29/1952
Cast: Stiedry; Milanov, Tucker, Warren, Hines, Miller, Pechner
Media: MOD Audio SID.18180212 Tags: Archive; 2018, Verdi
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.”
“TRISTAN UND ISOLDE : Wagner
Original Air Date: 03/22/2008
Cast: Levine; Voigt, DeYoung, Smith, Schulte, Salminen
Media: Live in HDMOD Video SID.18180213 Tags: Archive; 2018, Levine
Celebrated Wagnerian conductor Daniel Barenboim made his Met debut with this production of one of opera’s greatest dramas. Gary Lehman and Katarina Dalayman are the legendary title characters in this searing story of love and destiny. Kwangchul Youn sings King Marke, the betrayed monarch whose understanding and forgiveness comes too late to save the lovers’ life. Michelle DeYoung is Isolde’s servant Brangäne and Gerd Grochowski sings Kurwenal, Tristan’s faithful companion.
***
I’ve enjoyed Dalayman in other Wagner roles, and Barenboim in his Tristans from Bayreuth and La Scala, but my memories just didn’t show this hanging together as well. I’ll be listening again via MOoD as well.. We are finally starting to have Gelb era broadcasts in the rotation and it is good to be able to hear some new views
“
“TRISTAN UND ISOLDE : Wagner
Original Air Date: 03/22/2008
Cast: Levine; Voigt, DeYoung, Smith, Schulte, Salminen
Media: Live in HDMOD Video SID.18180214 Tags: Archive; 2018, Levine
Celebrated Wagnerian conductor Daniel Barenboim made his Met debut with this production of one of opera’s greatest dramas. Gary Lehman and Katarina Dalayman are the legendary title characters in this searing story of love and destiny. Kwangchul Youn sings King Marke, the betrayed monarch whose understanding and forgiveness comes too late to save the lovers’ life. Michelle DeYoung is Isolde’s servant Brangäne and Gerd Grochowski sings Kurwenal, Tristan’s faithful companion.
***
I’ve enjoyed Dalayman in other Wagner roles, and Barenboim in his Tristans from Bayreuth and La Scala, but my memories just didn’t show this hanging together as well. I’ll be listening again via MOoD as well.. We are finally starting to have Gelb era broadcasts in the rotation and it is good to be able to hear some new views
“
“LA FORZA DEL DESTINO : Verdi
Original Air Date: 11/29/1952
Cast: Stiedry; Milanov, Tucker, Warren, Hines, Miller, Pechner
Media: MOD Audio SID.18180424 Tags: Archive; 2018, Verdi
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.”
“BILLY BUDD : Britten
Original Air Date: 04/04/1992
Cast: Mackerras; Hampson, Clark, Morris, Held, Courtney
Media: MOD Audio SID.18180529 Tags: Archive; 2018
Morris has sung almost every Claggart in the production and it is one of his best parts. Hampson isn’t always ideal as an innocent, but he’s a fine musician and the cast under Mackerras is top drawer. There is also an excellent Met video of the production with Dwayne Croft on MOoD.”
“TRISTAN UND ISOLDE : Wagner
Original Air Date: 03/22/2008
Cast: Levine; Voigt, DeYoung, Smith, Schulte, Salminen
Media: Live in HDMOD Video SID.18180530 Tags: Archive; 2018, Levine
Celebrated Wagnerian conductor Daniel Barenboim made his Met debut with this production of one of opera’s greatest dramas. Gary Lehman and Katarina Dalayman are the legendary title characters in this searing story of love and destiny. Kwangchul Youn sings King Marke, the betrayed monarch whose understanding and forgiveness comes too late to save the lovers’ life. Michelle DeYoung is Isolde’s servant Brangäne and Gerd Grochowski sings Kurwenal, Tristan’s faithful companion.
***
I’ve enjoyed Dalayman in other Wagner roles, and Barenboim in his Tristans from Bayreuth and La Scala, but my memories just didn’t show this hanging together as well. I’ll be listening again via MOoD as well.. We are finally starting to have Gelb era broadcasts in the rotation and it is good to be able to hear some new views
“
“TRISTAN UND ISOLDE : Wagner
Original Air Date: 03/22/2008
Cast: Levine; Voigt, DeYoung, Smith, Schulte, Salminen
Media: Live in HDMOD Video SID.18180531 Tags: Archive; 2018, Levine
Celebrated Wagnerian conductor Daniel Barenboim made his Met debut with this production of one of opera’s greatest dramas. Gary Lehman and Katarina Dalayman are the legendary title characters in this searing story of love and destiny. Kwangchul Youn sings King Marke, the betrayed monarch whose understanding and forgiveness comes too late to save the lovers’ life. Michelle DeYoung is Isolde’s servant Brangäne and Gerd Grochowski sings Kurwenal, Tristan’s faithful companion.
***
I’ve enjoyed Dalayman in other Wagner roles, and Barenboim in his Tristans from Bayreuth and La Scala, but my memories just didn’t show this hanging together as well. I’ll be listening again via MOoD as well.. We are finally starting to have Gelb era broadcasts in the rotation and it is good to be able to hear some new views
“
“BILLY BUDD : Britten
Original Air Date: 04/04/1992
Cast: Mackerras; Hampson, Clark, Morris, Held, Courtney
Media: MOD Audio SID.18180744 Tags: Archive; 2018
Morris has sung almost every Claggart in the production and it is one of his best parts. Hampson isn’t always ideal as an innocent, but he’s a fine musician and the cast under Mackerras is top drawer. There is also an excellent Met video of the production with Dwayne Croft on MOoD.”
“TRISTAN UND ISOLDE : Wagner
Original Air Date: 03/22/2008
Cast: Levine; Voigt, DeYoung, Smith, Schulte, Salminen
Media: Live in HDMOD Video SID.18180746 Tags: Archive; 2018, Levine
Celebrated Wagnerian conductor Daniel Barenboim made his Met debut with this production of one of opera’s greatest dramas. Gary Lehman and Katarina Dalayman are the legendary title characters in this searing story of love and destiny. Kwangchul Youn sings King Marke, the betrayed monarch whose understanding and forgiveness comes too late to save the lovers’ life. Michelle DeYoung is Isolde’s servant Brangäne and Gerd Grochowski sings Kurwenal, Tristan’s faithful companion.
***
I’ve enjoyed Dalayman in other Wagner roles, and Barenboim in his Tristans from Bayreuth and La Scala, but my memories just didn’t show this hanging together as well. I’ll be listening again via MOoD as well.. We are finally starting to have Gelb era broadcasts in the rotation and it is good to be able to hear some new views
“
“TRISTAN UND ISOLDE : Wagner
Original Air Date: 03/22/2008
Cast: Levine; Voigt, DeYoung, Smith, Schulte, Salminen
Media: Live in HDMOD Video SID.18180747 Tags: Archive; 2018, Levine
Celebrated Wagnerian conductor Daniel Barenboim made his Met debut with this production of one of opera’s greatest dramas. Gary Lehman and Katarina Dalayman are the legendary title characters in this searing story of love and destiny. Kwangchul Youn sings King Marke, the betrayed monarch whose understanding and forgiveness comes too late to save the lovers’ life. Michelle DeYoung is Isolde’s servant Brangäne and Gerd Grochowski sings Kurwenal, Tristan’s faithful companion.
***
I’ve enjoyed Dalayman in other Wagner roles, and Barenboim in his Tristans from Bayreuth and La Scala, but my memories just didn’t show this hanging together as well. I’ll be listening again via MOoD as well.. We are finally starting to have Gelb era broadcasts in the rotation and it is good to be able to hear some new views
“
“DON PASQUALE : Donizetti
Original Air Date: 01/20/1979
Cast: Rescigno; Bacquier, Sills, Kraus, Hagegård
Media: MOD Audio SID.18190213 Tags: Archive; 2018
This is Beverly Sills’ farewell production and her company farewell comes at the end of the Met spring tour in Detroit. This is the audio broadcast that followed the national telecast by 9 days, and marks her Metropolitan Opera House farewell. Both performances are available in Met Opera on Demand (MOoD). I find Sills’ video a congenial interpretation even if I prefer the Netrebko video. For audio, I prefer the younger Kraus with Grist and Corena.”
“DON PASQUALE : Donizetti
Original Air Date: 01/20/1979
Cast: Rescigno; Bacquier, Sills, Kraus, Hagegård
Media: MOD Audio SID.18190529 Tags: Archive; 2018
This is Beverly Sills’ farewell production and her company farewell comes at the end of the Met spring tour in Detroit. This is the audio broadcast that followed the national telecast by 9 days, and marks her Metropolitan Opera House farewell. Both performances are available in Met Opera on Demand (MOoD). I find Sills’ video a congenial interpretation even if I prefer the Netrebko video. For audio, I prefer the younger Kraus with Grist and Corena.”
“DON PASQUALE : Donizetti
Original Air Date: 01/20/1979
Cast: Rescigno; Bacquier, Sills, Kraus, Hagegård
Media: MOD Audio SID.18190745 Tags: Archive; 2018
This is Beverly Sills’ farewell production and her company farewell comes at the end of the Met spring tour in Detroit. This is the audio broadcast that followed the national telecast by 9 days, and marks her Metropolitan Opera House farewell. Both performances are available in Met Opera on Demand (MOoD). I find Sills’ video a congenial interpretation even if I prefer the Netrebko video. For audio, I prefer the younger Kraus with Grist and Corena.”
“IL BARBIERE DI SIVIGLIA : Rossini
Original Air Date: 03/24/2007
Cast: Benini; Mattei, DiDonato, Flórez, Del Carlo, Relyea
Media: Live in HDMOD Video SID.18200106 Tags: Archive; 2018
This is a simulcast of the first season Live in HD videocast. It’s the only matinee broadcast appearance of Mattei, DiDonato and Florez together, and they are a splendid trio.”
“IL BARBIERE DI SIVIGLIA : Rossini
Original Air Date: 03/24/2007
Cast: Benini; Mattei, DiDonato, Flórez, Del Carlo, Relyea
Media: Live in HDMOD Video SID.18200422 Tags: Archive; 2018
This is a simulcast of the first season Live in HD videocast. It’s the only matinee broadcast appearance of Mattei, DiDonato and Florez together, and they are a splendid trio.”
“IL BARBIERE DI SIVIGLIA : Rossini
Original Air Date: 03/24/2007
Cast: Benini; Mattei, DiDonato, Flórez, Del Carlo, Relyea
Media: Live in HDMOD Video SID.18200639 Tags: Archive; 2018
This is a simulcast of the first season Live in HD videocast. It’s the only matinee broadcast appearance of Mattei, DiDonato and Florez together, and they are a splendid trio.”
“I PURITANI : Bellini
Original Air Date: 03/13/1976
Cast: Bonynge; Sutherland, Pavarotti, Milnes, Morris
Media: MOD Audio SID.18210103 Tags: Archive; 2018, Pavarotti
I was at this broadcast as well as the premiere, and while I did not see the historic concert Puritanis that Sutherland did 12 years earlier at Carnegie Hall (and Philadelphia and DC as well) with Gedda, Bing delivered a lovely production, and the 4 principals all were well suited to their roles. This was a big break-out part for Morris and the Suoni la tromba duet with Milnes almost stole the show from Pavarotti and Sutherland.
Sutherland is 50 for this performance, and amazingly is back ten years later for another Puritani broadcast. This 1976 is the preferred broadcast and deservingly is on Met Player. It’s just a shame it wasn’t videod as well (the first video of the modern series comes a year later).
This performance is also on MOoD and is a fitting document to one of the strongest Puritani quartets ever. While I didn’t
have the good luck to be in NYC or Philadelphia for the legendary 1963 concert performances Sutherland with Gedda (American Opera Society, not othe Met in both places) Sutherland was still in pretty triumpant voice 13 years later and I was in the Met audence for both the premiere of the production and this broadcast a few weeks later. I’m not the world’s biggest Milnes fan, but there is no arguing that Met casting was top tier, and this certainly lifted Morris up from being promising to being major.
This is one of the truly historic Met broadcasts. Sutherland may not be as overwhelming as she had been in the New York, Philadelphia, and Washington concert Puritanis with Gedda (American Opera Society) a dozen years before, but she still had plenty of star power to match the three robust voiced males. I was in the theatre for this broadcast and the excitement was tremendous.”
“I PURITANI : Bellini
Original Air Date: 03/13/1976
Cast: Bonynge; Sutherland, Pavarotti, Milnes, Morris
Media: MOD Audio SID.18210319 Tags: Archive; 2018, Pavarotti
I was at this broadcast as well as the premiere, and while I did not see the historic concert Puritanis that Sutherland did 12 years earlier at Carnegie Hall (and Philadelphia and DC as well) with Gedda, Bing delivered a lovely production, and the 4 principals all were well suited to their roles. This was a big break-out part for Morris and the Suoni la tromba duet with Milnes almost stole the show from Pavarotti and Sutherland.
Sutherland is 50 for this performance, and amazingly is back ten years later for another Puritani broadcast. This 1976 is the preferred broadcast and deservingly is on Met Player. It’s just a shame it wasn’t videod as well (the first video of the modern series comes a year later).
This performance is also on MOoD and is a fitting document to one of the strongest Puritani quartets ever. While I didn’t
have the good luck to be in NYC or Philadelphia for the legendary 1963 concert performances Sutherland with Gedda (American Opera Society, not othe Met in both places) Sutherland was still in pretty triumpant voice 13 years later and I was in the Met audence for both the premiere of the production and this broadcast a few weeks later. I’m not the world’s biggest Milnes fan, but there is no arguing that Met casting was top tier, and this certainly lifted Morris up from being promising to being major.
This is one of the truly historic Met broadcasts. Sutherland may not be as overwhelming as she had been in the New York, Philadelphia, and Washington concert Puritanis with Gedda (American Opera Society) a dozen years before, but she still had plenty of star power to match the three robust voiced males. I was in the theatre for this broadcast and the excitement was tremendous.”
“I PURITANI : Bellini
Original Air Date: 03/13/1976
Cast: Bonynge; Sutherland, Pavarotti, Milnes, Morris
Media: MOD Audio SID.18210743 Tags: Archive; 2018, Pavarotti
I was at this broadcast as well as the premiere, and while I did not see the historic concert Puritanis that Sutherland did 12 years earlier at Carnegie Hall (and Philadelphia and DC as well) with Gedda, Bing delivered a lovely production, and the 4 principals all were well suited to their roles. This was a big break-out part for Morris and the Suoni la tromba duet with Milnes almost stole the show from Pavarotti and Sutherland.
Sutherland is 50 for this performance, and amazingly is back ten years later for another Puritani broadcast. This 1976 is the preferred broadcast and deservingly is on Met Player. It’s just a shame it wasn’t videod as well (the first video of the modern series comes a year later).
This performance is also on MOoD and is a fitting document to one of the strongest Puritani quartets ever. While I didn’t
have the good luck to be in NYC or Philadelphia for the legendary 1963 concert performances Sutherland with Gedda (American Opera Society, not othe Met in both places) Sutherland was still in pretty triumpant voice 13 years later and I was in the Met audence for both the premiere of the production and this broadcast a few weeks later. I’m not the world’s biggest Milnes fan, but there is no arguing that Met casting was top tier, and this certainly lifted Morris up from being promising to being major.
This is one of the truly historic Met broadcasts. Sutherland may not be as overwhelming as she had been in the New York, Philadelphia, and Washington concert Puritanis with Gedda (American Opera Society) a dozen years before, but she still had plenty of star power to match the three robust voiced males. I was in the theatre for this broadcast and the excitement was tremendous.”
“ARIADNE AUF NAXOS : Strauss
Original Air Date: 03/20/1993
Cast: Marin; Norman, Moser, Swenson, Mentzer, Stewart, Oswald
Media: MOD Audio SID.18220103 Tags: Archive; 2018, Strauss
For my money Jessye Norman is much better in her two earlier broadcasts (the first with Andrew Davis conducting, the second with Levine and subsequently telecast). Moser is not my preferred Bacchus, but Swenson featuring more of a lyric Zerbinetta (a la Guden) is very fine. 11/21/16
***
This is Norman’s last Ariadne broadcast and in the new production for her. I prefer the 1988 video (which is on DVD from DG) with Troyanos and Battle under Levine. Swenson has her moments as well. 4/23/12
***
I’m not sure about the interest in this performance. Norman five years earlier under Levine has a sterling broadcast and telecast with King, Troyanos, and Battle. What has NOT been broadcast on Sirius is either Bohm Ariadne : the Met premiere season in 1963 with Rysanek (supposed to have been Della Casa, but with the opera switch from Dutchman, it went to LR). Seven years later features Bohm and Rysanek with King and a delectable performance from Reri Grist. 11 July 2011
“
“HAMLET : Thomas
Original Air Date: 03/27/2010
Cast: Langrée; Keenlyside, Petersen, Larmore, Morris, Spence
Media: MOD Video SID.18220107 Tags: Archive; 2018
This is the only Met broadcast of the Thomas work. Keenlyside has a commercial DVD in the same production with Dessay from Barcelona 2004. Petersen was a late substitute for Dessay for the whole run. Larmoreis especially vivid as Gertrude, part of her movement into dramatic mezzo/soprano parts.”
“HAMLET : Thomas
Original Air Date: 03/27/2010
Cast: Langrée; Keenlyside, Petersen, Larmore, Morris, Spence
Media: MOD Video SID.18220317 Tags: Archive; 2018
This is the only Met broadcast of the Thomas work. Keenlyside has a commercial DVD in the same production with Dessay from Barcelona 2004. Petersen was a late substitute for Dessay for the whole run. Larmoreis especially vivid as Gertrude, part of her movement into dramatic mezzo/soprano parts.”