CAVALLERIA RUSTICANA / PAGLIACCI:Mascagni / Leoncavallo
Erede; Milanov, Tucker, Harvuot / Rigal, Baum, Warren
Original Air Date: 03/03/1951
MOD Audio
SID.20020211
The Cavalleria is strongly cast, and Warren was the major Tonio of the 1950s in Pagliacci. The two highlight vocal performances are Tucker in the Cavalleria and Warren in the Pagliacci. Milanov has a later broadcast on MetPlayer with Baum as Turiddu and Del Monaco as Canio. Representative Met performance, especially in Cavalleria, but Warren’s Prologue is something to hear as well.
LUISA MILLER:Verdi
Santi; Ricciarelli, Pavarotti, Nucci, Plishka, Cheek, Berini
Original Air Date: 01/23/1982
MOD Audio
SID.20020315
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.
IL PIRATA:Bellini
Campanella; Fleming, Giordani, Croft
Original Air Date: 02/08/2003
MOD Audio
SID.20020316
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.
DIE WALKÜRE:Wagner
Levine; Eaglen, Morris, Voigt, Domingo, Schwarz, Halfvarson
Original Air Date: 04/01/2000
MOD Audio
SID.20020319
RWW: This is also on MOoD and catches some erratic artists at their best. Schwarz who shines in the Chereau Ring is still a potent force 12 years later in this broadcast. Vocally, this is one of the better Levine Walkures even though Morris and Domingo are the only ones I am particularly interested in. SR: A solid Walkuere expertly paced by Levine. In the house, Eaglen struck me as a particularly ungenerous Bruennhilde, saving her resources for some eventuality. (She only really opened up in the Siegfried awakening scene). On broadcast, however, this isn’t as noticeable except in contrast to Voigt, who pours it on when called for. Domingo still has the goods as her brother. Morris shows why he was the Met’s Wotan of choice for so many years. Schwarz is dependable while not erasing memories of Ludwig, while Halfvarson was a delightful surprise as Hunding.
DIE WALKÜRE:Wagner
Levine; Eaglen, Morris, Voigt, Domingo, Schwarz, Halfvarson
Original Air Date: 04/01/2000
MOD Audio
SID.20020320
RWW: This is also on MOoD and catches some erratic artists at their best. Schwarz who shines in the Chereau Ring is still a potent force 12 years later in this broadcast. Vocally, this is one of the better Levine Walkures even though Morris and Domingo are the only ones I am particularly interested in. SR: A solid Walkuere expertly paced by Levine. In the house, Eaglen struck me as a particularly ungenerous Bruennhilde, saving her resources for some eventuality. (She only really opened up in the Siegfried awakening scene). On broadcast, however, this isn’t as noticeable except in contrast to Voigt, who pours it on when called for. Domingo still has the goods as her brother. Morris shows why he was the Met’s Wotan of choice for so many years. Schwarz is dependable while not erasing memories of Ludwig, while Halfvarson was a delightful surprise as Hunding.
CAVALLERIA RUSTICANA / PAGLIACCI:Mascagni / Leoncavallo
Erede; Milanov, Tucker, Harvuot / Rigal, Baum, Warren
Original Air Date: 03/03/1951
MOD Audio
SID.20020422
The Cavalleria is strongly cast, and Warren was the major Tonio of the 1950s in Pagliacci. The two highlight vocal performances are Tucker in the Cavalleria and Warren in the Pagliacci. Milanov has a later broadcast on MetPlayer with Baum as Turiddu and Del Monaco as Canio. Representative Met performance, especially in Cavalleria, but Warren’s Prologue is something to hear as well.
LUISA MILLER:Verdi
Santi; Ricciarelli, Pavarotti, Nucci, Plishka, Cheek, Berini
Original Air Date: 01/23/1982
MOD Audio
SID.20020423
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.
DON GIOVANNI:Mozart
Bonynge; Morris, Sutherland, Bacquier, Varady, Brecknock, Tourangeau
Original Air Date: 03/25/1978
MOD Audio
SID.20020424
This is Julia Varady’s only season and broadcast from the Met, and earns a well-deserved place in MOoD. The missing piece is that 9 days earlier the Met telecast this, and it operatic stage. Traubel has never appeared in any form. There is so little Sutherland video from the Met. Of particular interest is Bacquier in his only season as Leporello and Morris makes a youthful but powerful Don. It also captures the last of the Berman production. The video please! Also Sutherland’s only other Donna Anna from the Met is from opening season of the new house at Lincoln Center under Karl Bohm with Siepi, Flagello, and Giaiotti with Lorengar as the Elvira. This has not been recently discussed on SIrius in 5 years and should be in MOoD.
CAVALLERIA RUSTICANA / PAGLIACCI:Mascagni / Leoncavallo
Erede; Milanov, Tucker, Harvuot / Rigal, Baum, Warren
Original Air Date: 03/03/1951
MOD Audio
SID.20020428
The Cavalleria is strongly cast, and Warren was the major Tonio of the 1950s in Pagliacci. The two highlight vocal performances are Tucker in the Cavalleria and Warren in the Pagliacci. Milanov has a later broadcast on MetPlayer with Baum as Turiddu and Del Monaco as Canio. Representative Met performance, especially in Cavalleria, but Warren’s Prologue is something to hear as well.
DIE WALKÜRE:Wagner
Levine; Eaglen, Morris, Voigt, Domingo, Schwarz, Halfvarson
Original Air Date: 04/01/2000
MOD Audio
SID.20020636
RWW: This is also on MOoD and catches some erratic artists at their best. Schwarz who shines in the Chereau Ring is still a potent force 12 years later in this broadcast. Vocally, this is one of the better Levine Walkures even though Morris and Domingo are the only ones I am particularly interested in. SR: A solid Walkuere expertly paced by Levine. In the house, Eaglen struck me as a particularly ungenerous Bruennhilde, saving her resources for some eventuality. (She only really opened up in the Siegfried awakening scene). On broadcast, however, this isn’t as noticeable except in contrast to Voigt, who pours it on when called for. Domingo still has the goods as her brother. Morris shows why he was the Met’s Wotan of choice for so many years. Schwarz is dependable while not erasing memories of Ludwig, while Halfvarson was a delightful surprise as Hunding.
CAVALLERIA RUSTICANA / PAGLIACCI:Mascagni / Leoncavallo
Erede; Milanov, Tucker, Harvuot / Rigal, Baum, Warren
Original Air Date: 03/03/1951
MOD Audio
SID.20020637
The Cavalleria is strongly cast, and Warren was the major Tonio of the 1950s in Pagliacci. The two highlight vocal performances are Tucker in the Cavalleria and Warren in the Pagliacci. Milanov has a later broadcast on MetPlayer with Baum as Turiddu and Del Monaco as Canio. Representative Met performance, especially in Cavalleria, but Warren’s Prologue is something to hear as well.
DON GIOVANNI:Mozart
Bonynge; Morris, Sutherland, Bacquier, Varady, Brecknock, Tourangeau
Original Air Date: 03/25/1978
MOD Audio
SID.20020641
This is Julia Varady’s only season and broadcast from the Met, and earns a well-deserved place in MOoD. The missing piece is that 9 days earlier the Met telecast this, and it operatic stage. Traubel has never appeared in any form. There is so little Sutherland video from the Met. Of particular interest is Bacquier in his only season as Leporello and Morris makes a youthful but powerful Don. It also captures the last of the Berman production. The video please! Also Sutherland’s only other Donna Anna from the Met is from opening season of the new house at Lincoln Center under Karl Bohm with Siepi, Flagello, and Giaiotti with Lorengar as the Elvira. This has not been recently discussed on SIrius in 5 years and should be in MOoD.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.)
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.
DER ROSENKAVALIER:Strauss
Schippers; Della Casa, Schwarzkopf, Edelmann, Raskin, Dönch
Original Air Date: 12/19/1964
MOD Audio
SID.20030425
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.
Giordano
Levine; Domingo, Arroyo, MacNeil, Kraft, Love, Chookasian
Original Air Date: 03/26/1977
MOD Audio
SID.20030530
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!
GIULIO CESARE:Handel
Bicket; Daniels, Swenson, Coote, Bardon, Zazzo
Original Air Date: 04/21/2007
MOD Audio
SID.20030638
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.)
DER ROSENKAVALIER:Strauss
Schippers; Della Casa, Schwarzkopf, Edelmann, Raskin, Dönch
Original Air Date: 12/19/1964
MOD Audio
SID.20030641
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.
I VESPRI SICILIANI:Verdi
Levine; Scotto, Ochman, Elvira, Raimondi
Original Air Date: 03/20/1982
MOD Audio
SID.20030746
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.
Giordano
Levine; Domingo, Arroyo, MacNeil, Kraft, Love, Chookasian
Original Air Date: 03/26/1977
MOD Audio
SID.20040101
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!
MANON LESCAUT:Puccini
Antonicelli; Kirsten, Björling, Valdengo, Baccaloni
Original Air Date: 12/10/1949
MOD Audio
SID.20040107
One of the all-time great Met broadcasts. Sound is not perfect, but it is a thrilling performance. Bjorling is also great in 1956 with Albanese, and luckily both are in MOoD. No better way to pass the time. This is one of the earliest broadcasts regularly in Sirius rotation and also in MOoD. The 1956 (also in MOoD) with Albenese under Mitropoulos is a more dramatic performance, but BJorling is fantastic on both. Valdengo is a fine Lescaut. This would be THE Manon Lescaut if Bjorling’s 1956 Met broadcast with Albanese had not been broadcast. If ever there were a candidate for the Sony reissue list, the 1956 performance is it. Still, Kirsten and Bjorling are plenty fine, and nothing like it to be heard today.
AIDA:Verdi
Levine; Price, Domingo, Horne, MacNeil, Giaiotti
Original Air Date: 03/06/1976
MOD Audio
SID.20040208
Three of Domingo’s 14 Met Radames were over the airwaves, and this is the first. In the Sirius listing, James Morris is left off as King. This is the kind of Aida bass tandem we were used to until the last two decades. Giaiotti is one of the best Ramfis around. I’m not a fan of Horne’s Amneris, and this is her only Met season in the role. She’s a major artist, but not a Verdi mezzo. Price is heard to better advantage in earlier performances, especially 1963 and 1965.
LUCIA DI LAMMERMOOR:Donizetti
Panni; Anderson, Leech, Fu, Plishka
Original Air Date: 12/12/1992
MOD Audio
SID.20040209
Nothing really saves this afternoon as can be read in the Met database listing for the second performance of this new production by Francesca Zambello which comes in for some pretty harsh treatment from Martin Mayer– far from my favorite critic, but I think he has the right bead on this performance if not the musical excellence of Lucia as a great musical achievement. A Volpe miscue of large proportions (18 performances this season). 9/3/2013 – From my comments then: This is the newly preferred Sirius Lucia which I don’t think is very good. It does feature the conducting of Marcello Panni, who died shortly after his run of La Juive at the Met.
FAUST:Gounod
Rudel; Leech, Fleming, Ramey, Croft, Bunnell
Original Air Date: 04/05/1997
MOD Audio
SID.20040210
This is a fine performance with all performers at full throttle. Rudel has conducted his share of Fausts (many more at the NYCO than the Met), and I reacted most positively to the last time it was on. Fleming is in especially fine form. It’s one of her best roles –her best predecessor as Marguerite was Freni, who only did the part with the Met in the fall of 1966 and thus never broadcast it. Mention should be made of two other fine Marguerites Diania Soviero whose 1991 broacast has been picked up by Sirius and Pilar Lorengar’s 1969 broadcast with Gedda, Siepi, and Merrill under Silvio Varviso which has not been on Sirius and certainly deserves coverage.