HAMLET:Thomas
Original Air Date: 03/27/2010
Langrée; Keenlyside, Petersen, Larmore, Morris, Spence
MOD Video SID.18410209
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.
THE GHOSTS OF VERSAILLES:Corigliano
Original Air Date: 01/04/1992
Levine; Stratas, Hagegård, Quilico, Horne, Clark, Fleming
SID.18410210
This was a basically successful Met commission and beautifully cast and prepared. I think it is best experienced with the video from a telecast the next week), which is available from Levine’s 40th anniversary DVD package and in MOoD. The video really helps the work along.
From Sirius Website) December 19, 2016, marks the 25th anniversary of the premiere of John Corigliano’s The Ghosts of Versailles, and Met Opera Radio on SiriusXM celebrates the occasion with a broadcast of the opera originally recorded on January 4, 1992, during its premiere season. Commissioned by the Met and with a libretto by William M. Hoffman, the work imagines an opera put on by the ghost of Beaumarchais for the ghost of Marie Antoinette and the other spectral residents of Versailles. The sold-out, seven-performance premiere run featured an all-star cast that included Teresa Stratas, Håkan Hagegård, Renée Fleming, Graham Clark, Gino Quilico, and Marilyn Horne.
LA TRAVIATA:Verdi
Original Air Date: 03/06/2004
Gergiev; Fleming, Vargas, Hvorostovsky
SID.18410211
This is a very solid performance. Fleming’s LA and London DVDs are I think even better, but I prefer Hvorostovsky’s sound 8 years ago to his efforts in the Decker/Dessay production.
Violetta is a relatively late part for Fleming, but she ranks 11th in all-time Violettas (20) with more performances at the Met than Caballe (no broadcast, but opening night) Cotrubas, De Los Angeles, Dessay, Gheorghiu, Ponselle, Scotto, Sills, Steber, Sutherland.
The two huge totals are Albanese at 87, Moffo at 80, Bori at 58, and Sembrich at 47. Next down are Kirsten and Malfitano tied at 27. It’s one of Callas’ 4 roles at the Met so almost no one completely misses, but one who has is Netrebko (though originally announced for the Decker production.)
LULU:Berg
Original Air Date: 04/02/1988
Levine; Malfitano, Mazura, Troyanos, Hamilton, Foldi
SID.18410212
Lulu is not a regular item for me, but Mazura and Troyanos were specialists, and Leighton Kerner, the late Village Voice critic found her the most satisfying of 11 Lulus he had encountered. I don’t find Lulu a very good audio only encounter, and it’s sad that the Dexter production which was telecast with Migenes (replacing Stratas) has not made its way to Met OperaonDemand, but is on a Met issued DVD in the Levine 40th anniversary DVD box.
CARMEN:Bizet
Original Air Date: 03/24/1945
Pelletier; Djanel, Jobin, Albanese, Valentino
SID.18410315
I don’t remember this as well as Albanese’s earlier Micaela with Swarthout which is available on Met Player. We don’t get many broadcasts from the 1940s (this is not new to Sirius, but not played all that often). I wish that instead of the Micaela, MetRadio had programmed the 1941 Faust Beecham;Jobin, Albanese, Pinza, Thomas, Browning
GIULIO CESARE:Handel
Original Air Date: 04/21/2007
Bicket; Daniels, Swenson, Coote, Bardon, Zazzo
MOD Audio SID.18410316
Bicket knows this turf well, but a countertenor Caesar doesn’t work for me, but the whole of the work is tough going for me. I leave it for others to comment. I’m not good with Caesar in the hands of a countertenor. The cast is solid, but I’m not a Handelian so caveat auditor.
Handel is not my specialty, but Bicket gets consistently good notices for his handling of Baroque operas. Cesare is notable for a number of lovely arias for Cleopatra (and one of Sills’ calling card roles.)
DIE MEISTERSINGER VON NÜRNBERG:Wagner
Original Air Date: 01/23/1993
Levine; McIntyre, Mattila, Araiza, Prey, Rootering, Magnusson
SID.18410317
SR: With the exception of Levine’s masterful conducting and Prey’s Beckmesser, the 2001 broadcast with Mattila (in better voice), Heppner, Morris and (above all) Polenzani as David is to be preferred. Certainly nothing shameful happens here..and there is much to enjoy. Sadly we don’t find Araiza’s Walther or Magnusson’s David in that category. However, for Levine and Prey alone this is worth your time.
DON GIOVANNI:Mozart
Original Air Date: 02/14/1959
Böhm; London, Steber, Flagello, Della Casa, Valletti, Hurley
MOD Audio SID.18410319
SR: This broadcast is especially notable as it was George London’s only broadcast outing as the Don. His Don was very different from Siepi’s, but just as impressive a portrayal. We also enjoy the two “Donna”s..sung by Steber and Della Casa, Ezio Flagello’s Leporello (often overshadowed by Corena’s more broadly comic portrayal) and the sweet tenor of Cesare Valletti. Dr. Karl Böhm leads a to-the-Viennese-manner-born performance.
RWW: This is a fine performance; my only cavil is I would have preferred a Siepi broadcast which is available (though not yet on Sirius) from 1957 with the original cast which includes Corena as Leporello. Still, this is one of Steber’s best parts in a treasurable performance and Della Casa is a major Elvira. Flagello is an excellent Leporello. And while I am mentioning lacunae. Bohm’s 1967 broadcast with Sutherland and Lorengar also with Siepi is still missing from the Sirius broadcast stable as well.
I LOMBARDI:Verdi
Original Air Date: 01/15/1994
Levine; Flanigan, Pavarotti, Beccaria, Plishka
MOD Audio SID.18410320
This is the Met’s only broadcast of Lombardi. Pavarotti is in both the December telecast and January broadcast and Ramey was in the premiere and telecast, Plishka in the audio broadcast. Neither Flanigan nor Beccaria are really up to this major assignment. Flanigan except for 2 Musettas the following fall, disappears from the Met roster. Her contributions to contemporary opera are signficant, and she has some excellent work at NYCO, including a fine Lady Macbeth.
Both this broadcast and the telecast a month earlier in December are on Met Opera on Demand (MOoD). The telecast was originally to have been Millo, but she left the production shortly after opening night. Ramey did the Met premiere (and telecast), but Plishka is on this broadcast. This broadcast is Beccaria’s Met farewell. Levine, the chorus, Pavarotti, and the bass deliver rather well some of Verdi’s lustiest music, but it’s far from the level of Ernani in terms of finish. In a week’s rotation, Lombardi is an interesting diversion.
I Lombardi alla Prima Crociata to use its full name only got to the Met stage with this series of performances. Millo who originated the production was mostly replaced by Flanigan after 2 performances. Beccaria in a major part really is lacking in the face you want. Pavarotti of course gets La mia letizia, one of the great Verdian tenor arias; there is also the unforgettable trio (with violin obbligato) which Levine did for Gniewek as much as for himself. It’s not as good as either Ernani or Macbeth in my view, but several of the choruses are stirring, and with the newly energized Palumbo leadership, the Met could well revive this. The distinctive Pavarotti aside, the soprano and tenor parts could be very reasonably cast today. This performance at hand is also on MetPlayer.
LA GIOCONDA:Ponchielli
Original Air Date: 01/05/1980
Patanè; Scotto, Mauro, Quilico, Nave, Giaiotti
SID.18410321
This role was simply too much for Scotto, and especially so by 1980. It’s not a question of hitting the notes, but being the completely wrong voice for the part. That she knows the style is without question; it is not enough. The saving grace is a number of fine performers in other big meaty roles under Patane’s solid guidance. Giaiotti is the only person really of the requisite voice size and quality for his role.
LA BOHÈME:Puccini
Original Air Date: 01/24/1970
Cleva; Tebaldi, Tucker, Carson, Walker, Siepi
SID.18410422
SR: Late Tebaldi and late Tucker..but still heads and above much of the competition in these roles. As an added bonus, we get Cesare Siepi’s Colline.
All of this conducted by Fausto Cleva – sometimes pooh-poohed as a “mere repetiteur.” There was no one who knew more about Italian opera style and who always transmitted it to his cast, his orchestra and the listeners.
RWW: This performance is not exactly a “youthful” special, but it is a memento of two veterans together in this opera. Siepi is a classy addition. A very special Colline.
IL TROVATORE:Verdi
Original Air Date: 02/06/1982
Conlon; Giacomini, Price, Cortez, Quilico, Cheek
SID.18410423
SR: Besides Price’s excellent “known quantity” Leonora, this broadcast offers the opportunity for Giacomini fans to relish his Manrico and to hear the very much in his prime Louis Quilico as di Luna. Some of the bloom had, by 1982, begun to depart from Viorica Cortez’ voice..but she still had much to offer. All-in-all an enjoyable outing.
This is a very young Conlon who still had 5 or 6 broadcasts already under his belt. I have no strong memory of this performance, but Giacomini’s certainly had the heft for Manrico if not necessarily easy upper register. Cortez is not one of my favorites. This is getting towards the end for Price. Listen to her in 1961 where her Leonora is stunning, and that is on Met Player as well as Sony CDs.
LUCIA DI LAMMERMOOR:Donizetti
Original Air Date: 04/21/1973
Molinari-Pradelli; Scotto, Alexander, Sereni, Plishka
SID.18410208
This is Scotto’s only Met broadcast of Lucia, even though she has two 39th street (old house) performances. Alexander is well suited to Edgardo and his Lucias include Sutherland, Moffo, Sills, Robinson, and Negri (his last in a Bronx Parks assignment). Sereni was a regular Enrico and Molinari-Pradelli is a solid maestro.
I don’t know the exact condition of Scotto in this broadcast but the previous performance she cancelled after Act 1, and this broadcast is her final New York Lucia. She does do five tour Lucias after this broadcast. The male contingent is fairly standard B+ casting from the Met, not more, not less. This is the first Met broadcast of Lucia since the Moffo, Gedda performance (debut of Franci and Bruson) of 2/1/69 which is a performance not yet on Sirius, but Jackson spends some time on it (and I remember it like yesterday). I love Lucia, but this was a bad period at the Met for the Bride of Lammermoor.
BILLY BUDD:Britten
Original Air Date: 03/08/1997
Bedford; Croft, Langridge, Morris, Braun, Courtney
MOD AudioMOD Video SID.18410425
SR: Any opportunity to hear Billy Budd is not to be missed. This broadcast was also the “scratch” performance for the telecast taping on 3/11. A very strong conductor and cast really put the work over. Outstanding among many fine performances are James Morris’ unequalled Claggart, the late Philip Langridge’s haunting portrayal of Capt. Vere and Dwayne Croft’s Billy. The performance makes a good case for those who consider Billy Budd Britten’s strongest work.
RWW: 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.
THE GHOSTS OF VERSAILLES:Corigliano
Original Air Date: 01/04/1992
Levine; Stratas, Hagegård, Quilico, Horne, Clark, Fleming
SID.18410426
This was a basically successful Met commission and beautifully cast and prepared. I think it is best experienced with the video from a telecast the next week), which is available from Levine’s 40th anniversary DVD package and in MOoD. The video really helps the work along.
(From Sirius Website) December 19, 2016, marks the 25th anniversary of the premiere of John Corigliano’s The Ghosts of Versailles, and Met Opera Radio on SiriusXM celebrates the occasion with a broadcast of the opera originally recorded on January 4, 1992, during its premiere season. Commissioned by the Met and with a libretto by William M. Hoffman, the work imagines an opera put on by the ghost of Beaumarchais for the ghost of Marie Antoinette and the other spectral residents of Versailles. The sold-out, seven-performance premiere run featured an all-star cast that included Teresa Stratas, Håkan Hagegård, Renée Fleming, Graham Clark, Gino Quilico, and Marilyn Horne.
CARMEN:Bizet
Original Air Date: 03/24/1945
Pelletier; Djanel, Jobin, Albanese, Valentino
SID.18410427
I don’t remember this as well as Albanese’s earlier Micaela with Swarthout which is available on Met Player. We don’t get many broadcasts from the 1940s (this is not new to Sirius, but not played all that often). I wish that instead of the Micaela, MetRadio had programmed the 1941 Faust Beecham ;Jobin, Albanese, Pinza, Thomas,Browning
LULU:Berg
Original Air Date: 04/02/1988
Levine; Malfitano, Mazura, Troyanos, Hamilton, Foldi
SID.18410428
Lulu is not a regular item for me, but Mazura and Troyanos were specialists, and Leighton Kerner, the late Village Voice critic found her the most satisfying of 11 Lulus he had encountered. I don’t find Lulu a very good audio only encounter, and it’s sad that the Dexter production which was telecast with Migenes (replacing Stratas) has not made its way to Met OperaonDemand, but is on a Met issued DVD in the Levine 40th anniversary DVD box.
HAMLET:Thomas
Original Air Date: 03/27/2010
Langrée; Keenlyside, Petersen, Larmore, Morris, Spence
MOD Video SID.18410529
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.
LA TRAVIATA:Verdi
Original Air Date: 03/06/2004
Gergiev; Fleming, Vargas, Hvorostovsky
SID.18410530
This is a very solid performance. Fleming’s LA and London DVDs are I think even better, but I prefer Hvorostovsky’s sound 8 years ago to his efforts in the Decker/Dessay production.
Violetta is a relatively late part for Fleming, but she ranks 11th in all-time Violettas (20) with more performances at the Met than Caballe (no broadcast, but opening night) Cotrubas, De Los Angeles, Dessay, Gheorghiu, Ponselle, Scotto, Sills, Steber, Sutherland.
The two huge totals are Albanese at 87, Moffo at 80, Bori at 58, and Sembrich at 47. Next down are Kirsten and Malfitano tied at 27. It’s one of Callas’ 4 roles at the Met so almost no one completely misses, but one who has is Netrebko (though originally announced for the Decker production.)
LULU:Berg
Original Air Date: 04/02/1988
Levine; Malfitano, Mazura, Troyanos, Hamilton, Foldi
SID.18410531
Lulu is not a regular item for me, but Mazura and Troyanos were specialists, and Leighton Kerner, the late Village Voice critic found her the most satisfying of 11 Lulus he had encountered. I don’t find Lulu a very good audio only encounter, and it’s sad that the Dexter production which was telecast with Migenes (replacing Stratas) has not made its way to Met OperaonDemand, but is on a Met issued DVD in the Levine 40th anniversary DVD box.
I LOMBARDI:Verdi
Original Air Date: 01/15/1994
Levine; Flanigan, Pavarotti, Beccaria, Plishka
MOD Audio SID.18410320
This is the Met’s only broadcast of Lombardi. Pavarotti is in both the December telecast and January broadcast and Ramey was in the premiere and telecast, Plishka in the audio broadcast. Neither Flanigan nor Beccaria are really up to this major assignment. Flanigan except for 2 Musettas the following fall, disappears from the Met roster. Her contributions to contemporary opera are signficant, and she has some excellent work at NYCO, including a fine Lady Macbeth.
Both this broadcast and the telecast a month earlier in December are on Met Opera on Demand (MOoD). The telecast was originally to have been Millo, but she left the production shortly after opening night. Ramey did the Met premiere (and telecast), but Plishka is on this broadcast. This broadcast is Beccaria’s Met farewell. Levine, the chorus, Pavarotti, and the bass deliver rather well some of Verdi’s lustiest music, but it’s far from the level of Ernani in terms of finish. In a week’s rotation, Lombardi is an interesting diversion.
I Lombardi alla Prima Crociata to use its full name only got to the Met stage with this series of performances. Millo who originated the production was mostly replaced by Flanigan after 2 performances. Beccaria in a major part really is lacking in the face you want. Pavarotti of course gets La mia letizia, one of the great Verdian tenor arias; there is also the unforgettable trio (with violin obbligato) which Levine did for Gniewek as much as for himself. It’s not as good as either Ernani or Macbeth in my view, but several of the choruses are stirring, and with the newly energized Palumbo leadership, the Met could well revive this. The distinctive Pavarotti aside, the soprano and tenor parts could be very reasonably cast today. This performance at hand is also on MetPlayer.
LA GIOCONDA:Ponchielli
Original Air Date: 01/05/1980
Patanè; Scotto, Mauro, Quilico, Nave, Giaiotti
SID.18410533
This role was simply too much for Scotto, and especially so by 1980. It’s not a question of hitting the notes, but being the completely wrong voice for the part. That she knows the style is without question; it is not enough. The saving grace is a number of fine performers in other big meaty roles under Patane’s solid guidance. Giaiotti is the only person really of the requisite voice size and quality for his role.
GIULIO CESARE:Handel
Original Air Date: 04/21/2007
Bicket; Daniels, Swenson, Coote, Bardon, Zazzo
MOD Audio SID.18410316
Bicket knows this turf well, but a countertenor Caesar doesn’t work for me, but the whole of the work is tough going for me. I leave it for others to comment. I’m not good with Caesar in the hands of a countertenor. The cast is solid, but I’m not a Handelian so caveat auditor.
Handel is not my specialty, but Bicket gets consistently good notices for his handling of Baroque operas. Cesare is notable for a number of lovely arias for Cleopatra (and one of Sills’ calling card roles.)
DON GIOVANNI:Mozart
Original Air Date: 02/14/1959
Böhm; London, Steber, Flagello, Della Casa, Valletti, Hurley
MOD Audio SID.18410319
SR: This broadcast is especially notable as it was George London’s only broadcast outing as the Don. His Don was very different from Siepi’s, but just as impressive a portrayal. We also enjoy the two “Donna”s..sung by Steber and Della Casa, Ezio Flagello’s Leporello (often overshadowed by Corena’s more broadly comic portrayal) and the sweet tenor of Cesare Valletti. Dr. Karl Böhm leads a to-the-Viennese-manner-born performance.
RWW: This is a fine performance; my only cavil is I would have preferred a Siepi broadcast which is available (though not yet on Sirius) from 1957 with the original cast which includes Corena as Leporello. Still, this is one of Steber’s best parts in a treasurable performance and Della Casa is a major Elvira. Flagello is an excellent Leporello. And while I am mentioning lacunae. Bohm’s 1967 broadcast with Sutherland and Lorengar also with Siepi is still missing from the Sirius broadcast stable as well.
GIULIO CESARE:Handel
Original Air Date: 04/21/2007
Bicket; Daniels, Swenson, Coote, Bardon, Zazzo
MOD Audio SID.18410316
Bicket knows this turf well, but a countertenor Caesar doesn’t work for me, but the whole of the work is tough going for me. I leave it for others to comment. I’m not good with Caesar in the hands of a countertenor. The cast is solid, but I’m not a Handelian so caveat auditor.
Handel is not my specialty, but Bicket gets consistently good notices for his handling of Baroque operas. Cesare is notable for a number of lovely arias for Cleopatra (and one of Sills’ calling card roles.)
LA BOHÈME:Puccini
Original Air Date: 01/24/1970
Cleva; Tebaldi, Tucker, Carson, Walker, Siepi
SID.18410422
SR: Late Tebaldi and late Tucker..but still heads and above much of the competition in these roles. As an added bonus, we get Cesare Siepi’s Colline.
All of this conducted by Fausto Cleva – sometimes pooh-poohed as a “mere repetiteur.” There was no one who knew more about Italian opera style and who always transmitted it to his cast, his orchestra and the listeners.
RWW: This performance is not exactly a “youthful” special, but it is a memento of two veterans together in this opera. Siepi is a classy addition. A very special Colline.
HAMLET:Thomas
Original Air Date: 03/27/2010
Langrée; Keenlyside, Petersen, Larmore, Morris, Spence
MOD Video SID.18410640
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.
THE GHOSTS OF VERSAILLES:Corigliano
Original Air Date: 01/04/1992
Levine; Stratas, Hagegård, Quilico, Horne, Clark, Fleming
SID.18410641
This was a basically successful Met commission and beautifully cast and prepared. I think it is best experienced with the video from a telecast the next week), which is available from Levine’s 40th anniversary DVD package and in MOoD. The video really helps the work along.
(From Sirius Website) December 19, 2016, marks the 25th anniversary of the premiere of John Corigliano’s The Ghosts of Versailles, and Met Opera Radio on SiriusXM celebrates the occasion with a broadcast of the opera originally recorded on January 4, 1992, during its premiere season. Commissioned by the Met and with a libretto by William M. Hoffman, the work imagines an opera put on by the ghost of Beaumarchais for the ghost of Marie Antoinette and the other spectral residents of Versailles. The sold-out, seven-performance premiere run featured an all-star cast that included Teresa Stratas, Håkan Hagegård, Renée Fleming, Graham Clark, Gino Quilico, and Marilyn Horne.
IL TROVATORE:Verdi
Original Air Date: 02/06/1982
Conlon; Giacomini, Price, Cortez, Quilico, Cheek
SID.18410642
SR: Besides Price’s excellent “known quantity” Leonora, this broadcast offers the opportunity for Giacomini fans to relish his Manrico and to hear the very much in his prime Louis Quilico as di Luna. Some of the bloom had, by 1982, begun to depart from Viorica Cortez’ voice..but she still had much to offer. All-in-all an enjoyable outing.
This is a very young Conlon who still had 5 or 6 broadcasts already under his belt. I have no strong memory of this performance, but Giacomini’s certainly had the heft for Manrico if not necessarily easy upper register. Cortez is not one of my favorites. This is getting towards the end for Price. Listen to her in 1961 where her Leonora is stunning, and that is on Met Player as well as Sony CDs.
LA TRAVIATA:Verdi
Original Air Date: 03/06/2004
Gergiev; Fleming, Vargas, Hvorostovsky
SID.18410530
This is a very solid performance. Fleming’s LA and London DVDs are I think even better, but I prefer Hvorostovsky’s sound 8 years ago to his efforts in the Decker/Dessay production.
Violetta is a relatively late part for Fleming, but she ranks 11th in all-time Violettas (20) with more performances at the Met than Caballe (no broadcast, but opening night) Cotrubas, De Los Angeles, Dessay, Gheorghiu, Ponselle, Scotto, Sills, Steber, Sutherland.
The two huge totals are Albanese at 87, Moffo at 80, Bori at 58, and Sembrich at 47. Next down are Kirsten and Malfitano tied at 27. It’s one of Callas’ 4 roles at the Met so almost no one completely misses, but one who has is Netrebko (though originally announced for the Decker production.)