FIDELIO:Beethoven
Perick; Connell, Lakes, Welker, Moll, Donath, Kaasch
Original Air Date: 02/16/1991
SID.20020743
This revival comes in for some harsh words from Tim Page, and this broadcast marks the late Elizabeth Connell’s farewell to the Met. She has a more considerable overall career than her appearances at the Met show, but this Fidelio does not help much. Moll and Donath are the two members of the A team, but Rocco and Marzelline are not the essential casting for Fidelio, though I certainly appreciate good singers in the canon quartet.
JENUFA:Janácek
Belohlávek; Mattila, Silja, Silvasti, Morris, Dever
Original Air Date: 02/17/2007
SID.20020744
RWW was disappointed in this production when it was new in 2003, and had seen Silja recently in Barcelona and found her inferior to Marton who was almost as impressive as Rysanek had been as the Kostelnicka. This is Mattila’s second Jenufa broadcast, here first 4 years earlier was with Polaski under Jurowski. Now that we are more aware of Jay Hunter Morris, I will take another listen. Do love Jenufa, but not every performance automatically clicks. The Benackova/ Rysanek under Conlon in 1992 broadcast definitely clicks! Alas no Jenufa in MOoD. Belohlavek is a fine Janacek conductor, but both Mattila and Silja are too mature for my taste. The other interest is the first Met broadcast appearance of Jay Hunter Morris,now a Met Siegfried; he had debuted 3 days earlier as Steva. Wish the Met had telecast Mattila’s Jenufa either the first year of the production or with this revival.
LA GIOCONDA:Ponchielli
Cleva; Milanov, Poggi, Warren, Rankin, Siepi
Original Air Date: 04/20/1957
SID.20020745
Paul Jackson in his history of Met broadcasts only deals with 1953 and 1961 in his volume that covers post 1950 Milanov. Rankin, Warren and Siepi are all among the very best exponents of their roles, but I’ve never gotten Poggi’s message. So it’s all about Milanov, and generally always want her earlier (like 1939) rather than later. Milanov was definitely variable in the 50s for her Giocondas. She has 2 more going as last as 1961. Rankin, Warren and Siepi are fine support, and it all depends what kind of a day ZM is having. Her first (not yet broadcast by Sirius) is her best, though the 1946 is also very good (Tucker’s debut year, and he is leagues ahead of Poggi).
SIMON BOCCANEGRA:Verdi
Levine; Agache, Mattila, Sylvester, Scandiuzzi, Fu
Original Air Date: 02/06/1999
SID.20020746
This performance is very close to the same cast as the Covent Garden performance under Solti with te Kanawa for Mattila. Scandiuzzi did not turn out to be the successor to the lion Siepi. Sylvester is better with Solti ; his only remaining Met performances are a Radames the Fall of 1999, and 2 Calafs in the Fall of 2000. To me the best recent performance was from 2010 with Hvorostovsky, Frittoli, Vargas, and Furlanetto with Levine in particularly inspired form.This performance is very close to the same cast as the Covent Garden performance under Solti with te Kanawa for Mattila. Scandiuzzi did not turn out to be the successor to the lion Siepi. Sylvester is better with Solti ; his only remaining Met performances are a Radames the Fall of 1999, and 2 Calafs in the Fall of 2000. To me the best recent performance was from 2010 with Hvorostovsky, Frittoli, Vargas, and Furlanetto with Levine in particularly inspired form.
IL PIRATA:Bellini
Campanella; Fleming, Giordani, Croft
Original Air Date: 02/08/2003
MOD Audio
SID.20020748
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 . RWW 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.
LUISA MILLER:Verdi
Santi; Ricciarelli, Pavarotti, Nucci, Plishka, Cheek, Berini
Original Air Date: 01/23/1982
MOD Audio
SID.20020749
Luisa is probably Ricciarelli’s best role, and is well suited to the lyricism as well as technical skill for this part. This performance is also available in MOoD and one I highly recommend, even if Santi is rather lethargic at some critical points. Act 3 of Luisa Miller is among Verdi’s greatest inspirations.
THE FIRST EMPEROR:Dun
Dun; Domingo, Futral, Groves, Tian, DeYoung
Original Air Date: 01/13/2007
Live in HDMOD Video
SID.20030101
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).
DER ROSENKAVALIER:Strauss
Schippers; Della Casa, Schwarzkopf, Edelmann, Raskin, Dönch
Original Air Date: 12/19/1964
MOD Audio
SID.20030102
Della Casa, a famous Marschallin in her own right, does her first Octavian with the Met in this series of performances. It’s not quite an ideal fit even if very starry. Schwarzkopf was certainly the most famous postwar Marschallin and is here in one of her only two Met broadcast appearances– the latter an unintentional Met farewell in a most unsatisfactory Donna Elvira two years later.
Verdi
Levine; Shicoff, Price, Weikl, Troyanos, Raimondi, Rootering
Original Air Date: 02/11/1989
SID.20030103
The Price here is Margaret Price and her only other Met broadcast is Otello with Domingo and Milnes from her debut year in 1985 which has so far eluded the airwaves. Shicoff is also under-represented so this performance is especially welcomed — this is only the third rotation since its first Sirius rebroadcast in 2014. The rest of the male cast are not my favorites in this very favorite opera of mine.
DIE ZAUBERFLÖTE:Mozart
Maag; Moffo, Alva, Gramm, Shane, Hines
Original Air Date: 12/15/1973
SID.20030104
This Zauberflote turns up as among the most commonly broadcast Flutes. I’m not sure why except that it is in generally good sound. Shane and Hines are the only two performers with 29 and 55 performances respectively who are major exponents of their roles. One thing that lowers the availability is that from 1941 until 1967, it was performed exclusively in English, and generally Sirius plays no performances performed in translation.
MANON:Massenet
Luisi; Netrebko, Beczala, Szot
Original Air Date: 04/07/2012
MOD Video
SID.20030105
This audio was the first time the Met has rebroadcast the audio track of a Live in HD. This was a bit of a breakout part for Beczala who had slimmed down and certainly made an effective foil for the Netrebko Manon. I enjoyed her in the theatre even if she were no Patricia Brooks , or Faith Esham (both at City Opera, Wagner broadcast, and for me both better than the very good and much more famous Manon it finds him far from his two decade mastery of Sills.) When I want to listen to Manon, I need go no further than the early 19250s recording on EMI with Victoria de los Angeles and Henri LeGay under Pierre Monteux. Sirius does play the 1954 Met performance with VDLA and Cesare Valletti also under Monteux (and is available on MOoD). Still unbroadcast is the 1959 with VDLA and Gedda under Jean Morel. Wagner.
Verdi
Cleva; Warren, Peters, Fernandi, Wilderman, Roggero
Original Air Date: 03/28/1959
SID.20030106
This is the the last of Warren’s 9 Rigoletto broadcasts. His 1945 broadcast with Sayao and Bjorling is on Met Player and while maybe not quite as deep dramatically has all the vocal goods in order. Fernandi is not what one is usually looking for as Duke beyond his native familiarity The performance is most notable for being Warren’s final Rigoletto broadcast. I never saw him live, but always loved his Rigoletto. Only Warren really impressed me.
GIULIO CESARE:Handel
Bicket; Daniels, Swenson, Coote, Bardon, Zazzo
Original Air Date: 04/21/2007
MOD Audio
SID.20030107
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.)
I VESPRI SICILIANI:Verdi
Levine; Scotto, Ochman, Elvira, Raimondi
Original Air Date: 03/20/1982
MOD Audio
SID.20030208
Scotto could be an interesting singer in this music, but not by 1982–simply too much Lady Macbeth and Gioconda, among other things. I didn’t see her in 1974 which many people still rave about. 1974’s Arrigo was Domingo who had opened the season with Deutekom. Domingo never does the part after that 1974 run (he’s not in the spring 1975 broadcast)– it is among Verdi’s most challenging tenor assignments. Ochman is best described as earnest. Pablo Elvira was too little heard at the Met, and died prematurely. The broadcast mikes probably give him an extra volume boost, but he has nice Verdian style. Raimondi is never a favorite of mine, but Procida is one of the great Verdian bass roles– listen to Christoff with Callas (not from the Met). Siepi never did Procida at the Met and his omission from the Met premiere was part of his departure from the Met in April 1973.
SAMSON ET DALILA:Saint-Saëns
de Billy; Cura, Graves, Lafont
Original Air Date: 03/05/2005
SID.20030209
This might be OK as a video, but not much aural delight in my view. Contrary to the Met Data base, the Dalis Thomas Bacquier 1964 performance has been on Sirius, but the 1972 with McCracken and Bumbry has not. It is Bumbry’s only Met broadcast of the role, and if Baudo is not as exciting as Pretre in this music (who is?) , it’s one of McCracken’s best parts as well.
LE NOZZE DI FIGARO:Mozart
Levine; Raimondi, Battle, Vaness, Allen, von Stade
Original Air Date: 12/14/1985
MOD VideoMOD Audio
SID.20030210
This performance surfaced in its video format both on MOoD, and in the Levine 40th anniversary DVD box. This is a Ponnelle production, and has its usual pluses and minuses. Vaness misses just a bit of superstar quality (her Fiordiligi and Donna Anna are more distinctive). Raimondi is not my favorite singer, but Levine is at his best in Mozart and the ensemble is very strong. I’ve enjoyed re-acquainting myself with this performance over the last year and have played it several times. This is his first season of Figaro at the Met, an opera he would conduct more than 77 times in 3 new productions (Ponnelle, Jonathan Miller, Richard Eyre.). Amazingly 3 of the matinee broadcasts have not been done again. For the record: March 21, 1992 features Upshaw , Schuman, Von Stade, Furlanetto, Hampson, Moll December 5, 1998 features Bonney/Guyer, Lott, Mentzer, Croft, Terfel Feb. 12, 2005 features Rost, Watson, Perez, Relyea, Kwiecien. One run of Nozze with Levine was not broadcast and that featured Dorothea Roschmann and Anja Harteros in their Met debuts. I remember these performances very well, and in the current Gelb/Sirius era, we would have had at least one if not a couple of these on the radio, The 1992 would be especially welcome for the Furlanetto/Hampson combination (which is also on their complete DG recording).
Giordano
Levine; Domingo, Arroyo, MacNeil, Kraft, Love, Chookasian
Original Air Date: 03/26/1977
MOD Audio
SID.20030211
This is an OK performance and Domingo’s only Met broadcast outing despite appearances in 3 seasons. There are at least three major broadcasts not yet on Sirius which should be heard, the 1954 with Del Monaco, Milanov, Warren when the production was premiered, the 1960 broadcast with Tebaldi, Tucker, and Bastianini,the greatest Gerard I’ve heard on broadcast or record, and 1966, Tebaldi, Corelli, Colzani, Corelli being the outstanding Chenier of the postwar period for my money. Now these are Cheniers!
THE BARTERED BRIDE:Smetana
Levine; Stratas, Gedda, Talvela, Vickers
Original Air Date: 12/02/1978
MOD Video
SID.20030212
This same cast telecast the opera 11 days earlier. The video of this performance is available in MOoD. Levine is very devoted to this score and did the joint production with Juilliard and the Met Young Artists in 2010. Vickers is cast very much against type and successful. To me one of the main downers is Talvela. My aural image of this opera is forever colored by the German language studio recording with Lorengar, Wunderlich, and Frick. Though in the “wrong” language, everything works there.
SIEGFRIED:Wagner
Stiedry; Windgassen, Mödl, Edelmann, Madeira, Kelley, Pechner
Original Air Date: 02/16/1957
SID.20030213
This is one of Windgassen’s two Met broadcasts (Gotterdammerung two weeks later is the other). The winter of 1957 is his only time at the Met (scheduled for Tannhauser in 1966 but did not appear) and did 7 Ring appearances over a two month period. He is arguably the best postwar Siegfried after Melchior. This is a brisk performance. Modl does the best she can, but New York wanted Flagstad, Traubel, or Nilsson. I’ve listened to large chunks of this performance several times on Sirius, and I enjoy it. It’s not one for the pantheon. This is on regularly, but not excessively. Edelmann is not ideal as the Wanderer, but this is Modl’s only appearance on the Met airwaves. In addition to the three Brunnhildes, she also did Isolde and Kundry in her three Met seasons. Almost everyone whoever saw her never forgot her. Audio only encounters are sometimes more of a mixed bag.
SIEGFRIED:Wagner
Stiedry; Windgassen, Mödl, Edelmann, Madeira, Kelley, Pechner
Original Air Date: 02/16/1957
SID.20030214
This is one of Windgassen’s two Met broadcasts (Gotterdammerung two weeks later is the other). The winter of 1957 is his only time at the Met (scheduled for Tannhauser in 1966 but did not appear) and did 7 Ring appearances over a two month period. He is arguably the best postwar Siegfried after Melchior. This is a brisk performance. Modl does the best she can, but New York wanted Flagstad, Traubel, or Nilsson. I’ve listened to large chunks of this performance several times on Sirius, and I enjoy it. It’s not one for the pantheon. This is on regularly, but not excessively. Edelmann is not ideal as the Wanderer, but this is Modl’s only appearance on the Met airwaves. In addition to the three Brunnhildes, she also did Isolde and Kundry in her three Met seasons. Almost everyone whoever saw her never forgot her. Audio only encounters are sometimes more of a mixed bag.
Bellini
Bonynge; Sutherland, Horne, Tagliavini, Plishka
Original Air Date: 12/19/1970
SID.20030315
This is Sutherland/Horne in their second season of Norma (but same calendar year) with the men instead of Bergonzi and Siepi. I prefer the excitement of the first season, but the ladies remain the gold standard in both.
UN BALLO IN MASCHERA:Verdi
Molinari, Pradelli, Bergonzi, Price, Merrill, Peters, Dunn
Original Air Date: 02/26/1966
SID.20030316
This is the first of Corelli’s four Don Carlo broadcasts and the 1964 performance which was issued in 2011 on Sony only retains Dalis and Uhde in their roles. Since Curtis-Verna is generally underrepresented, I am happy to have this on, but the missing broadcast which is earnestly called for is Bing’s final broadcast as general manager from 1972 with Siepi and Amara returning in their roles from Bing’s inaugural broadcast 22 years earlier. Curtis-Verna only has one other broadcast, that of Aida in 1957 replacing Tebaldi who had withdrawn the day before due to her mother’s death. Curtis-Verna has a very respectable 97 performances over 9 seasons all in leads, but does not make it past 1966 into the new House. She was interviewed in Opera News before her death in 2009 and finished off her career with a distinguished tenure at University of Washington for more than 3 decades in their voice department.
MANON:Massenet
Luisi; Netrebko, Beczala, Szot
Original Air Date: 04/07/2012
MOD Video
SID.20030317
This audio was the first time the Met has rebroadcast the audio track of a Live in HD. This was a bit of a breakout part for Beczala who had slimmed down and certainly made an effective foil for the Netrebko Manon. I enjoyed her in the theatre even if she were no Patricia Brooks , or Faith Esham (both at City Opera, Wagner broadcast, and for me both better than the very good and much more famous Manon it finds him far from his two decade mastery of Sills.) When I want to listen to Manon, I need go no further than the early 19250s recording on EMI with Victoria de los Angeles and Henri LeGay under Pierre Monteux. Sirius does play the 1954 Met performance with VDLA and Cesare Valletti also under Monteux (and is available on MOoD). Still unbroadcast is the 1959 with VDLA and Gedda under Jean Morel. Wagner.
Verdi
Cleva; Warren, Peters, Fernandi, Wilderman, Roggero
Original Air Date: 03/28/1959
SID.20030318
This is the the last of Warren’s 9 Rigoletto broadcasts. His 1945 broadcast with Sayao and Bjorling is on Met Player and while maybe not quite as deep dramatically has all the vocal goods in order. Fernandi is not what one is usually looking for as Duke beyond his native familiarity The performance is most notable for being Warren’s final Rigoletto broadcast. I never saw him live, but always loved his Rigoletto. Only Warren really impressed me.
GIULIO CESARE:Handel
Bicket; Daniels, Swenson, Coote, Bardon, Zazzo
Original Air Date: 04/21/2007
MOD Audio
SID.20030319
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.)
Various:Various
Various Artists
Original Air Date: 01/01/9999
SID.20030320
Verdi
Levine; Shicoff, Price, Weikl, Troyanos, Raimondi, Rootering
Original Air Date: 02/11/1989
SID.20030422
The Price here is Margaret Price and her only other Met broadcast is Otello with Domingo and Milnes from her debut year in 1985 which has so far eluded the airwaves. Shicoff is also under-represented so this performance is especially welcomed — this is only the third rotation since its first Sirius rebroadcast in 2014. The rest of the male cast are not my favorites in this very favorite opera of mine.
DIE ZAUBERFLÖTE:Mozart
Maag; Moffo, Alva, Gramm, Shane, Hines
Original Air Date: 12/15/1973
SID.20030423
This Zauberflote turns up as among the most commonly broadcast Flutes. I’m not sure why except that it is in generally good sound. Shane and Hines are the only two performers with 29 and 55 performances respectively who are major exponents of their roles. One thing that lowers the availability is that from 1941 until 1967, it was performed exclusively in English, and generally Sirius plays no performances performed in translation.
I VESPRI SICILIANI:Verdi
Levine; Scotto, Ochman, Elvira, Raimondi
Original Air Date: 03/20/1982
MOD Audio
SID.20030424
Scotto could be an interesting singer in this music, but not by 1982–simply too much Lady Macbeth and Gioconda, among other things. I didn’t see her in 1974 which many people still rave about. 1974’s Arrigo was Domingo who had opened the season with Deutekom. Domingo never does the part after that 1974 run (he’s not in the spring 1975 broadcast)– it is among Verdi’s most challenging tenor assignments. Ochman is best described as earnest. Pablo Elvira was too little heard at the Met, and died prematurely. The broadcast mikes probably give him an extra volume boost, but he has nice Verdian style. Raimondi is never a favorite of mine, but Procida is one of the great Verdian bass roles– listen to Christoff with Callas (not from the Met). Siepi never did Procida at the Met and his omission from the Met premiere was part of his departure from the Met in April 1973.