HAMLET:Thomas
Langrée; Keenlyside, Petersen, Larmore, Morris, Spence
Original Air Date: 03/27/2010
MOD Video
SID.20140752
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.
TANNHÄUSER:Wagner
Rosenstock; Nuoti, Nilsson, Stewart, Macurdy
Original Air Date: 03/26/1966
SID.20140753
Originally the title role was to have been taken by Windgassen, but he cancelled his run a week before the performances. Nilsson does both Elisabeth and Venus (scheduled as such) and this 1966 revival is the last time the Dresden version of Tannhauser has been heard at the Met; the Dresden had only come in the 1954 new production under Szell. Another Hungarian, Georg Solti had brought the Paris version back to the Met in the 1960 revival, and when Levine did a new production in 1977, Paris became the house standard for choice of versions. Nuotio was not much more than a placeholder, and I think the Met had better repetiteurs than Rosenstock so overall this run doesn’t have much to recommend itself except Nilsson’s generous voicing of both roles, and Thomas Stewart’s Wolfram in his debut Met season.
NORMA:Bellini
Rizzi; Radvanovsky, DiDonato, Calleja, Rose
Original Air Date: 10/07/2017
Live in HD
SID.20140754
Norma……………….Sondra Radvanovsky
Pollione…………….Joseph Calleja
Adalgisa…………….Joyce DiDonato
Oroveso……………..Matthew Rose
Clotilde…………….Michelle Bradley
Flavio………………Adam Diegel
Child……………….Christopher Reynolds
Child……………….John Reynolds
Conductor……………Carlo Rizzi
Production…………..David McVicar
Set Designer…………Robert Jones
Costume Designer……..Moritz Junge
Lighting Designerr……Paule Constable
Movement Directo……..Leah Hausman
TV Director………….Gary Halvorson
CARMEN:Bizet
Pelletier; Djanel, Jobin, Albanese, Valentino
Original Air Date: 03/24/1945
SID.20140755
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
PETER GRIMES:Britten
Davis; Vickers, Amara, Evans, Madeira, Chookasian
Original Air Date: 02/11/1967
SID.20150101
HIghly recommended. This is the first of Vickers’ four broadcast Peter Grimes and the partnership with Colin Davis yields some first-rate music making. It is the first broadcast by Vickers in the new production from the Lincoln Center Met’s first season. Colin Davis only has four broadcasts from the Met (two Grimes, Wozzeck, Pelleas) and he and Vickers contributed memorable performances on both sides of the Atlantic. This is the third performance of the Vickers/Davis/Guthrie 1967 production which added a great role to Vickers’ gallery of overwhelming portrayals. While Britten was reportedly none too pleased with Vickers’ approach, the royalty coffers were greatly enriched by Vickers performances around the world which put Grimes solidly into mainstream repertory. There is a commercial video from Covent Garden (with Davis conducting as well) which is highly recommended in addition to this broadcast. Two years later the exact same cast broadcasts it again and this second broadcast of the Guthrie/Davis/Vickers Grimes is on MOoD.
MOSES UND ARON:Schoenberg
Levine; Tomlinson, Langridge
Original Air Date: 12/20/2003
SID.20150102
This performance was issued in Levine’s 40th anniversary CD box, and is also available in MOoD. This performance is well regarded.Both the MOoD and the CD issued in the Levine 40th anniversary CD box are from the first Met season of MuA in 1999. Both performances have been on Sirius, and here is the 2003 again.
DIE FLEDERMAUS:Strauss Jr.
Ormandy & Blatt; Resnik, Kullman, Munsel, Sullivan, Thebom, Brownlee
Original Air Date: 12/22/1951
SID.20150105
This is the second season of the hit Fledermaus production, and while I never cared much for Resnik’s soprano outings, she’s an improvement on Piazza. Ormandy comes back for this, but leaves the third act to a repetiteur as he had a Saturday night in Philadelphia with his Orchestra and his real bread and butter. Munsel is still the real star. Brownlee was in practically every Fledermaus until he left the Met.
UN BALLO IN MASCHERA:Verdi
Lewis; Morell, Ross, Merrill, Peters, Forrester
Original Air Date: 12/06/1975
SID.20150106
Merrill who had a virtual lock on Renato for two decades (one broadcast to Milnes) is still in decent form for his final season. The rest of the cast is not ideal. I saw Elinor Ross several times in Philadelphia, and while it was not an especially beautiful voice she could be a notable Gioconda and Turandot, and her video Norma from Germany with Del Monaco is well up to the task. Amelia is another matter, but paired with Morrell, this is not the afternoon for glorious Verdi. Forrester has a very distinguished concert career, but she’s wrong for Ulrica at the Met. It’s too late for Peters as Oscar — she’s very good in 1955. This is Merrill’s final broadcast (he has three farewell Germonts with Moffo which constitute the final operatic appearance for both at the Met. My memory of this performance is not especially positive. Elinor Ross was a fine singer. I saw her a decade earlier in Philadelphia with an excellent Gioconda, Aida, and Turandot. She also has on Youtube a mostly complete Norma with Del Monaco from Germany. She is well up to the competition there. This is I think a bit late. For Merrlll’s Renato I strongly recommend 2 of his earlier Renatos from 1963 (with Nilsson and Tucker) and 1966 (with Price and Bergonzi). Lewis is not an inspiring conductor for me.
FIDELIO:Beethoven
Haitink; Meier, Sooter, Roar, Macurdy, Blegen, Atherton
Original Air Date: 04/10/1982
SID.20150208
This is Haitink’s only Met season, and Meier is pinch-hitting for Verrett who was sick for two other performances (also sung by Johanna Meier) in the run as well. Hard to believe the original casting for Florestan was Sooter, but in any event he gets a fine review from Harriet Johnson of the NY Post. To my knowledge, Verrett’s 3 performances are her only times in the part.
LES CONTES D’HOFFMANN:Offenbach
Varviso; Alexander, Dooley, Scovotti, Cvejic, Amara, Martin
Original Air Date: 02/27/1965
SID.20150209
This performance goes back to the old house, and has the distinction of being John Alexander’s only broadcast Hoffmann. His career is distinguished by regularly being asked for by the biggest named sopranos in the world–Beverly Sills, Montserrat Caballe, Renata Tebaldi, Leontyne Price, and a repertory that was as comfortable in Mozart and the French, as he was in German (Walther and Bacchus among his roles) and Italian. He was a bit like Alberto Remedios, but with more coloratura flexibility; both with sweet voices that could cope with roles that often defeated less technically secure colleagues. Antonia is one of Amara’s best parts.
SUSANNAH:Floyd
Conlon; Fleming, Hadley, Ramey
Original Air Date: 04/03/1999
MOD Audio
SID.20150210
This is the Met’s only broadcast of Susannah, and finds all three principals on especially fine form. Even without the visual appeal, the opera makes an impact from the music alone. This was a highly successful Met repertory debut for the Carlisle Floyd opera and both Fleming and Ramey are extremely well cast. Conlon is very committed to the work, and it is a contemporary work that works almost as well in audio only as in the theatre with its sure-fire theatrics. One of the best efforts of the Met for both American and contemporary opera. This is one of Fleming’s very best outings, and Ramey and Hadley are well cast as well. One of the better 20th century American operas.
MANON LESCAUT:Puccini
Adler; Kirsten, Alexander, Walker, Michalski
Original Air Date: 03/08/1975
SID.20150211
Kirsten replaced Leontyne Price on this broadcast. She is thoroughly professional even if she is 65 years old!!!!! Her first broadcast is 26 years earlier when she was pushing 40. Better to hear that with Bjorling. Highly recommended but still omitted from the Sirius Manon Lescaut sweepstakes are the Tebaldi-Tucker from 1959 and the Kirsten Bergonzi from 1960 (Kirsten replacing Stella) This is a rare broadcast, but it IS possible to find
, 
I PURITANI:Bellini
Bonynge; Gruberova, Merritt, Gavanelli, Plishka
Original Air Date: 03/30/1991
MOD Audio
SID.20150212
This is primarily for Gruberova fans. She doesn’t sing in USA much so just as well since she only has two Met broadcasts, this Puritani and Zerbinetta in Ariadne auf Naxos. Of greater interest would be her Queen of the Night (Met debut) and the new production of Traviata with Kleiber and Shicoff (neither broadcast; in today’s world of live Sirius, we would likely be hearing both)
ELEKTRA:Strauss
Böhm; Nilsson, Rysanek, Madeira, Stewart, Nagy
Original Air Date: 02/27/1971
MOD Audio
SID.20150213
This performance marks Madeira’s Met farewell, and reveals some of the vocal weakness that is surely partly resultant from her illness and death a little more than a year later. The rest of the cast, and especially Bohm are white hot. For Madeira at her best, go to the Bohm studio with Inge Borkh as Elektra. A very satisfying recording on all counts.
RIGOLETTO:Verdi
Cleva; Merrill, Peters, Tucker, Giaiotti, Dunn
Original Air Date: 02/22/1964
MOD Audio
SID.20150214
Amazingly Merrill (debut 1946) and Tucker (debut 1945) are also around eight years later in 1972 for them sharing their final Rigoletto broadcast. Peters who sang Gilda at the Met as late as 1985 did not broadcast it after 1967. Dunn,Giaiotti, and Macurdy are outstandingly strong support. 1/16/12 – This has recently been released in the Sony Historic Broadcasts. All of the singers are fine, and the technical command of these full voiced singers could teach some more lyric singers the art of bel canto. Giaiotti was a stalwart of the Met bass contingent in the 60s, 70s, 80s. Giaiotti also has one broadcast Monterone which also includes Dunn, and MacNeil in his first Rigoletto broadcast. This has not been on Sirius and I would love to hear it. The performance is also on MetPlayer.
LA FANCIULLA DEL WEST:Puccini
Nicola Luisotti: Deborah Voigt, Marcello Giordani, Lucio Gallo
Original Air Date: 01/08/2011
Live in HD
SID.20150215
ALCESTE:Gluck
Panizza; Bamptom, Maison, Warren
Original Air Date: 03/08/1941
SID.20150216
This is one of the few 1940s broadcasts that gets to Sirius, but neither the 1952 with Flagstad, nor the 1961 with Farrell (both in English) have made it to Sirius. Again, it seems the translation is inhibiting their inclusion. Review of Pitts Sanborn in the World-Telegraph, Mme. Bampton Sings Role of Alceste – Following the present method of frequently changing the allotment of prominent roles, the Metropolitan management offered its third Alceste last evening with a new representative of the name part. After the fiery magnificence of Marjorie Lawrence as Alcestis came the lyric charm of Rose Bampton. Comely, tall and statuesque, Mme. Bampton showed in her carefully studied poses and gestures what pains she had taken to portray the self-sacrificing heroine persuasively to the eye. And in her singing tenderness and pathos found touching expression. Since this was only Mme. Bampton’s first assumption of an inexorably exacting role, we may look for further development later on of its more cogently dramatic aspects. Her voice seems now, under sympathetic guidance, to have found a congenial lyric field. Her tones were often of delightful quality last evening, her phrasing was marked by grace and fine taste and there was always the thought of the accomplished musician. Altogether, Mme. Bampton may be congratulated cordially on her present achievement, which holds the promise of even better things to come. Once more Rene Maison supplied an admirable Admetus. Francesco Valentino replaced the indisposed Leonard Warren as the High Priest of Apollo, singing well apart from an excessive vibrato. The beauty of the tableau at the end of Act II made up in part for the pinchbeck naiveties that met the eye.
DIE ZAUBERFLÖTE:Mozart
Levine; Battle, Araiza, Hemm, Serra, Moll
Original Air Date: 02/09/1991
SID.20150317
This is the simultaneous broadcast/telecast of the new David Hockney production (based on a Glyndebourne original). The video has been on DVD also. Serra’s tone is a bit white, but very accurate, and the overall casting is of high quality.
LE SACRE DU PRINTEMPS / LE ROSSIGNOL / OEDIPUS REX:Stravinsky
Gergiev; Trifonova, Banks, Zifchak / Forbis, Blythe, Nikitin
Original Air Date: 02/21/2004
SID.20150318
The Stravinsky evening as originally done by Levine with Hockney designs and Dexter direction was not as big a hit as the French evening, Parade, from Dexter and Hockney, but I prefer this to Rake’s Progress. Gergiev has a distinctive take on Stravinsky and always worth a listen in the Russian repertoire.
FIDELIO:Beethoven
Haitink; Meier, Sooter, Roar, Macurdy, Blegen, Atherton
Original Air Date: 04/10/1982
SID.20150319
This is Haitink’s only Met season, and Meier is pinch-hitting for Verrett who was sick for two other performances (also sung by Johanna Meier) in the run as well. Hard to believe the original casting for Florestan was Sooter, but in any event he gets a fine review from Harriet Johnson of the NY Post. To my knowledge, Verrett’s 3 performances are her only times in the part.
MOSES UND ARON:Schoenberg
Levine; Tomlinson, Langridge
Original Air Date: 12/20/2003
SID.20150320
This performance was issued in Levine’s 40th anniversary CD box, and is also available in MOoD. This performance is well regarded.Both the MOoD and the CD issued in the Levine 40th anniversary CD box are from the first Met season of MuA in 1999. Both performances have been on Sirius, and here is the 2003 again.
FALSTAFF:Verdi
James Levine: Ambrogio Maestri, Angela Meade, Stephanie Blythe
Original Air Date: 12/14/2013
Live in HD
SID.20150323
RWW Review: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1RMiPKOgCMMZcpJOyf4zIeCwiMaNWIjI3Wx7i1Z7etM4
DIE FLEDERMAUS:Strauss Jr.
Ormandy & Blatt; Resnik, Kullman, Munsel, Sullivan, Thebom, Brownlee
Original Air Date: 12/22/1951
SID.20150324
This is the second season of the hit Fledermaus production, and while I never cared much for Resnik’s soprano outings, she’s an improvement on Piazza. Ormandy comes back for this, but leaves the third act to a repetiteur as he had a Saturday night in Philadelphia with his Orchestra and his real bread and butter. Munsel is still the real star. Brownlee was in practically every Fledermaus until he left the Met.
UN BALLO IN MASCHERA:Verdi
Lewis; Morell, Ross, Merrill, Peters, Forrester
Original Air Date: 12/06/1975
SID.20150425
Merrill who had a virtual lock on Renato for two decades (one broadcast to Milnes) is still in decent form for his final season. The rest of the cast is not ideal. I saw Elinor Ross several times in Philadelphia, and while it was not an especially beautiful voice she could be a notable Gioconda and Turandot, and her video Norma from Germany with Del Monaco is well up to the task. Amelia is another matter, but paired with Morrell, this is not the afternoon for glorious Verdi. Forrester has a very distinguished concert career, but she’s wrong for Ulrica at the Met. It’s too late for Peters as Oscar — she’s very good in 1955. This is Merrill’s final broadcast (he has three farewell Germonts with Moffo which constitute the final operatic appearance for both at the Met. My memory of this performance is not especially positive. Elinor Ross was a fine singer. I saw her a decade earlier in Philadelphia with an excellent Gioconda, Aida, and Turandot. She also has on Youtube a mostly complete Norma with Del Monaco from Germany. She is well up to the competition there. This is I think a bit late. For Merrlll’s Renato I strongly recommend 2 of his earlier Renatos from 1963 (with Nilsson and Tucker) and 1966 (with Price and Bergonzi). Lewis is not an inspiring conductor for me.
ALCESTE:Gluck
Panizza; Bamptom, Maison, Warren
Original Air Date: 03/08/1941
SID.20150426
This is one of the few 1940s broadcasts that gets to Sirius, but neither the 1952 with Flagstad, nor the 1961 with Farrell (both in English) have made it to Sirius. Again, it seems the translation is inhibiting their inclusion. Review of Pitts Sanborn in the World-Telegraph, Mme. Bampton Sings Role of Alceste – Following the present method of frequently changing the allotment of prominent roles, the Metropolitan management offered its third Alceste last evening with a new representative of the name part. After the fiery magnificence of Marjorie Lawrence as Alcestis came the lyric charm of Rose Bampton. Comely, tall and statuesque, Mme. Bampton showed in her carefully studied poses and gestures what pains she had taken to portray the self-sacrificing heroine persuasively to the eye. And in her singing tenderness and pathos found touching expression. Since this was only Mme. Bampton’s first assumption of an inexorably exacting role, we may look for further development later on of its more cogently dramatic aspects. Her voice seems now, under sympathetic guidance, to have found a congenial lyric field. Her tones were often of delightful quality last evening, her phrasing was marked by grace and fine taste and there was always the thought of the accomplished musician. Altogether, Mme. Bampton may be congratulated cordially on her present achievement, which holds the promise of even better things to come. Once more Rene Maison supplied an admirable Admetus. Francesco Valentino replaced the indisposed Leonard Warren as the High Priest of Apollo, singing well apart from an excessive vibrato. The beauty of the tableau at the end of Act II made up in part for the pinchbeck naiveties that met the eye.
LES CONTES D’HOFFMANN:Offenbach
Varviso; Alexander, Dooley, Scovotti, Cvejic, Amara, Martin
Original Air Date: 02/27/1965
SID.20150427
This performance goes back to the old house, and has the distinction of being John Alexander’s only broadcast Hoffmann. His career is distinguished by regularly being asked for by the biggest named sopranos in the world–Beverly Sills, Montserrat Caballe, Renata Tebaldi, Leontyne Price, and a repertory that was as comfortable in Mozart and the French, as he was in German (Walther and Bacchus among his roles) and Italian. He was a bit like Alberto Remedios, but with more coloratura flexibility; both with sweet voices that could cope with roles that often defeated less technically secure colleagues. Antonia is one of Amara’s best parts.
SUSANNAH:Floyd
Conlon; Fleming, Hadley, Ramey
Original Air Date: 04/03/1999
MOD Audio
SID.20150428
This is the Met’s only broadcast of Susannah, and finds all three principals on especially fine form. Even without the visual appeal, the opera makes an impact from the music alone. This was a highly successful Met repertory debut for the Carlisle Floyd opera and both Fleming and Ramey are extremely well cast. Conlon is very committed to the work, and it is a contemporary work that works almost as well in audio only as in the theatre with its sure-fire theatrics. One of the best efforts of the Met for both American and contemporary opera. This is one of Fleming’s very best outings, and Ramey and Hadley are well cast as well. One of the better 20th century American operas.
MANON LESCAUT:Puccini
Adler; Kirsten, Alexander, Walker, Michalski
Original Air Date: 03/08/1975
SID.20150429
Kirsten replaced Leontyne Price on this broadcast. She is thoroughly professional even if she is 65 years old!!!!! Her first broadcast is 26 years earlier when she was pushing 40. Better to hear that with Bjorling. Highly recommended but still omitted from the Sirius Manon Lescaut sweepstakes are the Tebaldi-Tucker from 1959 and the Kirsten Bergonzi from 1960 (Kirsten replacing Stella) This is a rare broadcast, but it IS possible to find
,
I PURITANI:Bellini
Bonynge; Gruberova, Merritt, Gavanelli, Plishka
Original Air Date: 03/30/1991
MOD Audio
SID.20150430
This is primarily for Gruberova fans. She doesn’t sing in USA much so just as well since she only has two Met broadcasts, this Puritani and Zerbinetta in Ariadne auf Naxos. Of greater interest would be her Queen of the Night (Met debut) and the new production of Traviata with Kleiber and Shicoff (neither broadcast; in today’s world of live Sirius, we would likely be hearing both)
PARSIFAL:Wagner
Original Air Date: 03/02/2013 Live in HD SID.20150431
Conductor……………Daniele Gatti
Parsifal…………….Jonas Kaufmann
Kundry………………Katarina Dalayman
Amfortas…………….Peter Mattei
Gurnemanz……………René Pape
Klingsor…………….Evgeny Nikitin
Titurel……………..Rúni Brattaberg
Voice……………….Maria Zifchak
First Esquire………..Jennifer Forni
Second Esquire……….Lauren McNeese
Third Esquire………..Andrew Stenson
Fourth Esquire……….Mario Chang
First Knight…………Mark Schowalter
Second Knight………..Ryan Speedo Green
Flower Maidens: Kiera Duffy, Lei Xu, Irene Roberts, Haeran Hong, Katherine Whyte, Heather Johnson
Production…………..François Girard
Set Designer…………Michael Levine
Costume Designer……..Thibault Vancraenenbroeck
Lighting Designer…….David Finn
Video Designer……….Peter Flaherty
Choreographer………..Carolyn Choa
Dramaturg……………Serge Lamothe
TV Director………….Barbara Willis Sweete
