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DIE MEISTERSINGER VON NÜRNBERG:Wagner
Original Air Date: 01/23/1993
Levine; McIntyre, Mattila, Araiza, Prey, Rootering, Magnusson
SID.19320636
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. [S Rich]
Strauss
Original Air Date: 02/17/1962
Rosenstock; Lewis, Vinay, Thebom, Cassel, Olvis
SID.19320637
Brenda Lewis has two Met Salomes, this broadcast, and an appearance three months later on tour in Dallas with Liebl for Vinay, and Morley Meredith for Cassel. Nilsson’s recording with Solti had appeared about a month before the Dallas performance, and I had fairly devoured the recording listening to its many felicities dozens of times ( and to be rewarded with three performances with Nilsson three years later in New York). Lewis had done yeoman work at NYCO, and premiered Blitzstein’s Regina and Beeson’s Lizzie Borden (which I did see years later). The broadcast mikes do not paint a pretty picture of Lewis’ efforts. If this is going to be offered in rotation (and I am glad it is), then we must bring on other notable afternoons like the Moffo Lucia, 2/1/69. Nilsson’s inimitable recording had come out only a few weeks before the Dallas performances, and it was like two worlds apart. Three years later Nilsson brought her live Salome to the Met. That is on Met Player, and cannot be recommended highly enough.
AIDA:Verdi
Original Air Date: 01/03/1970
Molinari-Pradelli; Price, Thomas, Dalis, Merrill, Macurdy
SID.19320638
This is far from the best of Price’s 6 audio broadcasts of Aida. Her first two from the old house were in 1963 – with Gorr, Bergonzi, Sereni, Siepi, under Solti in his farewell Met opera (his actual farewell is in the spring with a Verdi Requiem (also with Price, Bergonzi and Siepi and Good Friday spell from Parsifal) Price’s second broadcast is 1966 under Mehta with Tucker, Dalis, Merrill, Ghiuselev. The Solti has primacy, but would be good to hear the Mehta very much as well. Price’s other rebroadcasts are the 1967 with Bumbry, Bergonzi, Merrill, this 1970, the 1976 with Horne, Domingo, and MacNeil under Levine, and her farewell in 1985 with Cossotto, McCracken, and MacNeil under Levine. Though Price and Dalis were frequent partners in Aida, they only have 12 together and only 2 are broadcast, this and one in 1966 with Tucker under Mehta which according to Met data base has not been on Sirius at all. 1966 would generally be a better year for Price, so why not get that on the airwaves?
ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA:Barber
Original Air Date: 09/16/1966
Schippers; Díaz, Price, Thomas, Flagello, Elias
MOD Audio SID.19320639
This is the opening of the new Met at Lincoln Center and the world premiere of the opera. Leontyne never sang better than this night, and luckily it is well preserved for all to hear. Lady Bird Johnson and Imelda Marcos were among the dignitaries that night. From MOD: Expectations were high when the Metropolitan Opera announced that the world premiere of Samuel Barber’s Antony and Cleopatra would christen its new house at Lincoln Center in the fall of 1966—a suitably grand work based on Shakespeare’s tragedy and written specifically for Leontyne Price as Cleopatra. A singer himself, the composer knew Price’s voice and what it could do, shaping his conception of the opera’s heroine around this iconic American diva. The 26-year-old Puerto Rican–born bass Justino Díaz starred alongside Price as Antony while Ezio Flagello portrayed Antony’s friend Enobarbus. Tenor Jess Thomas brought his heroic presence to the role of Octavius Caesar, and the beloved mezzo-soprano Rosalind Elias, already a Met veteran in her 30s, sang the role of Cleopatra’s attendant Charmian. Thanks to a Texaco–Metropolitan Opera Radio Network broadcast from the opera’s world premiere, this indelible piece of Met history has been preserved for generations.
LA BOHÈME:Puccini
Original Air Date: 03/08/2003
Viotti; Evseeva, Vargas, Arteta, Gerello, Bernstein
SID.19320640
Not sure the reason for recycling this performance other than as a memorial to Viotti who died prematurely
DER ROSENKAVALIER:Strauss
Original Air Date: 12/22/1962
Maazel; Töpper, Crespin, Edelmann, Rothenberger, Herbert
SID.19320641
Crespin I saw for the first time in Dallas a month before the broadcast which introduced her to the USA at large. One either gets her or does not. She is not a perfect singer, though this Marschallin contains very few vocal flaws, and a monologue that ranks with the absolute best. She sounds and performs like no other singer, and that individuality showed up as Dido in the Boston Troyens, the Sieglinde on numerous occasions, her Met Walkure Brunnhildes, and her Madame de Croissy having moved up from Lidoine afforded Met operagoers a special interpretation. Edelmann and Rothenberger are very much up to their task, as Maazel’s interpretation is not exactly a Viennese dessert. A week with two Crespin performances is special indeed.
TANNHÄUSER:Wagner
Original Air Date: 02/15/1992
Perick; Johns, Evans, Troyanos, Schmidt, Rootering
SID.19320642
The only performer of special interest is William Johns. Jon Fredric West (later Tannhauser with Sharon Sweet) is the Walther. Johns has some good outings in his Wagnerian assignments, and I love Tannhauser but my memory of Anne Evans and Andreas Schmidt is limited. Tannhauser is an impossible role, Elisabeth and Wolfram are not. A shame Bryn Terfel never broadcast or recorded it, I saw a terrific matinee with him, Sharon Sweet, and JF West under a very hot Levine in 1997.
FAUST:Gounod
Original Air Date: 04/30/2005
Levine; Alagna, Isokoski, Pape, Hvorostovsky, Jepson
MOD Audio SID.19320743
I still don’t understand why this production had to be scrapped for the McAnuff . Isokoski while in no way effacing De Los Angeles or Steber (she’s on the Met recording, but she doesn’t have a broadcast) or Freni who did 6 Fausts first season at Lincoln Center, but none of them broadcast to me is still to be preferred to Poplavskaya. Alagna is a solid Faust, but unfortunately he and his then wife Gheorghiu left before the 2003 broadcast. This is Levine’s only year doing Faust. The continuing absence of the two Bjorling Fausts (1950 and 1959) both with Siepi is a major gap in the rebroadcast efforts on Sirius. I am also wondering why when the Fleming Leech Ramey Faust was on the air this past week, Faust as a work couldn’t have waited a week.
LA FORZA DEL DESTINO:Verdi
Original Air Date: 02/12/1972
Veltri; Price, Bergonzi, Paskalis, Siepi, Casei, Corena
SID.19320744
This is Bergonzi’s only broadcast of Alvaro, and it is one of his best roles. Paskalis had a notable career mostly based in Vienna, but his Macbeth got to many theatres (I saw him under the auspices of the Met in Newport in concert in 1967, though he does not have any Met stage performances. His Glyndebourne video of Macbeth with Barstow and a very young James Morris as Banquo is highly recommended. Siepi is simply the most important Verdi bass after Pinza, and Guardiano is one of his best roles. Price has several Met broadcasts, and generally the earlier the better. Corena is a top quality Melitone.
L’ELISIR D’AMORE:Donizetti
Original Air Date: 02/19/1972
Franci, Bergonzi, Scotto, Corena, Sereni
MOD Audio SID.19320745
This is as good as it gets. Bergonzi is just that scintilla more seductive than Kraus, and the other 3 Italians are close to perfection. I miss Sereni and Corena a lot when I hear the current crop of buffos. Don’t miss.
FIDELIO:Beethoven
Original Air Date: 01/07/1984
Tennstedt; Marton, Vickers, Mazura, Plishka, Peters, Atherton
SID.19320746
This is an outstanding performance form all concerned and should be on MOoD. Marton is a fine Leonore and Vickers is an unsurpassed partner. Tennstedt keeps the fire going in the orchestra.
LUISA MILLER:Verdi
Original Air Date: 02/17/1968
Schippers; Caballé, Tucker, Milnes, Tozzi, Flagello, Pearl
MOD Audio SID.19320747
This production brought Luisa Miller into the mainstream repertory. Caballe is caught at close to her very best, Tucker in tremendous Indian summer form, and Milnes a big breakthrough for him into the core Verdi parts. This is also available on Sony Historical CD as well and its regular appearance is well deserved.
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DIE MEISTERSINGER VON NÜRNBERG:Wagner
Original Air Date: 01/23/1993
Levine; McIntyre, Mattila, Araiza, Prey, Rootering, Magnusson
SID.19320748
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. [S Rich]
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DIE MEISTERSINGER VON NÜRNBERG:Wagner
Original Air Date: 01/23/1993
Levine; McIntyre, Mattila, Araiza, Prey, Rootering, Magnusson
SID.19320749
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. [S Rich]
OTELLO:Verdi
Original Air Date: 10/13/1995
Levine; Domingo, Fleming, Morris, Croft
MOD Video SID.19330101
This performance is also available as a DVD from Deutsche Grammophon. This was Fleming’s first big success at the Met, and she is a splendid Desdemona.This performance is also available as a DVD from Deutsche Grammophon. This was Fleming’s first big success at the Met, and she is a splendid Desdemona.
LES TROYENS:Berlioz
Original Air Date: 02/18/1984
Levine; Norman, Sooter, Monk, Taillon, Plishka, Ahlstedt
MOD Audio SID.19330103
Norman repeated Verrett’s double assumption on this broadcast (Verrett’s was for the opening of the production in 1973 when Ludwig was indisposed–I was there, quite an evening). I rather prefer Norman’s Didon to her Cassandre, but this broadcast now takes its place in MOoD. Enee is close to an impossible part, but Sooter is no worse than Ronald Dowd was in Boston for Caldwell.
ORFEO ED EURIDICE:Gluck
Original Air Date: 01/09/1971
Bonynge; Bumbry, Tucci, Peters
SID.19330317
Bumbry premiered this final Rolf Gerard designed production complete in Courreges boots. She is in luscious voice for this, but how Gluckian one finds it might leave some of the more scholarly oriented very disappointed. When Mackerras arrived for a revival with Marilyn Horne we were in a different, but not necessarily more successful one. For the record, Gerard was the designer for the Webster Don Carlo, the Alfred Lunt Cosi Fan Tutte, the Peter Brook Faust, the Tyrone Guthrie Carmen, and the Garson Kanin Fledermaus among 20 productions over a 20 year period (only 2 in the 2 house– Romeo and this Orfeo). These productions rank among the great successes of the Bing regime. This is the premiere cast in a Rolf Gerard production (so out of ideas), but Bumbry is in luscious voice, if not your standard issue Orfeo. Why oh why is her effort not in MOoD?
LES TROYENS:Berlioz
Original Air Date: 02/18/1984
Levine; Norman, Sooter, Monk, Taillon, Plishka, Ahlstedt
MOD Audio SID.19330318
Norman repeated Verrett’s double assumption on this broadcast (Verrett’s was for the opening of the production in 1973 when Ludwig was indisposed–I was there, quite an evening). I rather prefer Norman’s Didon to her Cassandre, but this broadcast now takes its place in MOoD. Enee is close to an impossible part, but Sooter is no worse than Ronald Dowd was in Boston for Caldwell.
LES TROYENS:Berlioz
Original Air Date: 02/18/1984
Levine; Norman, Sooter, Monk, Taillon, Plishka, Ahlstedt
MOD Audio SID.19330319
Norman repeated Verrett’s double assumption on this broadcast (Verrett’s was for the opening of the production in 1973 when Ludwig was indisposed–I was there, quite an evening). I rather prefer Norman’s Didon to her Cassandre, but this broadcast now takes its place in MOoD. Enee is close to an impossible part, but Sooter is no worse than Ronald Dowd was in Boston for Caldwell.
ARIADNE AUF NAXOS:Strauss
Original Air Date: 03/20/1993
Marin; Norman, Moser, Swenson, Mentzer, Stewart, Oswald
MOD Audio SID.19330320
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. This is Norman’s last Ariadne broadcast and in the new production for her. See the 1988 video (which is on DVD from DG) with Troyanos and Battle under Levine. Norman five years earlier under Levine has a sterling broadcast and telecast with King, Troyanos, and Battle.
DAS RHEINGOLD:Wagner
Original Air Date: 02/22/1969
von Karajan; Adam, Reynolds, Stolze, Kelemen, Talvela, Ridderbusch
MOD Audio SID.19330321
One of Karajan’s only 2 broadcasts. This performance is available in MOoD, and if Adam is far from my favorite Wotan, Reynolds, Kelemen and Stolze are wonderful as Fricka, Alberich, and Loge respectively. Reynolds replaced Veasey who was will, and also sing Flosshilde (her originally scheduled role) with Shirley Love picking up the Rhinemaiden in the final scene. Milnes is an excellent Donner. I was in the theatre for this very special performance and still have wonderful memories of it. Karajan’s Met farewell is the following Saturday with the Walkure broadcast.
CARMEN:Bizet
Original Air Date: 03/23/1996
Levine; Graves, Margison, Vallarroel, Leiferkus
SID.19330422
While Levine had done the fall series of performances (which includes Graves’ debut), Fiore did the whole spring series culminating in this broadcast. I double checked against the Archives. Graves was an especially attractive Carmen visually, but musically I felt she played too many of her trumps in the early acts. This is not the cast I would create were I the casting director despite Graves’ considerable physical appeal. I don’t understand the appeal of this performance. Levine is not my favorite Carmen conductor, and this cast does not have much to recommend it.
LA JUIVE:Halévy
Original Air Date: 12/13/2003
Viotti; Isokoski, Shicoff, Futral, Cutler, Furlanetto
MOD Audio SID.19330423
Viotti died only a year or so after premiering the Juive. He was a real talent, and Shicoff, Isokoski and Furlanetto all bring their considerable talents in a production transferred from Vienna. This is the Met’s first season since the mid 1930s and its only broadcast to date. Some early 1930s operas were broadcast but don’t exist. La Juive was never broadcast until 2003.
somewhat better performance which is available on MOoD and on Sony Historical CD. [1/6/14]
COSÌ FAN TUTTE:Mozart
Original Air Date: 01/20/1990
Levine; Mims, Hadley, Troyanos, Hampson, Hong, Van Allan
MOD Audio SID.19330425
This performance is notable as Troyanos’ only Met season as Dorabella, and the same holds true for Hampson’s Guglielmo. She has a well regarded RCA recording from 1968 (!!!) very early in her career. I find Levine at his most inspired in Mozart, and especially so in Cosi. It will be his return opera to the Met next season and is scheduled for Live in HD. The ensemble is well drilled. Worth a listen. Updated note : Sirius subscribers have heard Levine’s return in Cosi already with the matinee broadcast and Live in HD to come in March 2014. I thought Levine lived up to his considerable reputation in the fall Cosis.
SIMON BOCCANEGRA:Verdi
Original Air Date: 01/30/1965
Cleva; Colzani, Tebaldi, Shirley, Hines, Díaz
SID.19330426
This is Tebaldi’s final Met Amelia, but the Met still has not broadcast her 1961 effort nor the 1974 performance with Wixell as the Doge along with Tucker, Maliponte, Tozzi under Ehrling. For her final outing in this role Tebaldi still brings a lot of her vocal sheen.
MADAMA BUTTERFLY:Puccini
Original Air Date: 12/15/1956
Mitropoulos; Albanese, Barioni, Elias, Brownlee, De Paolis
SID.19330427
No one surpasses Farrar’s 139 Cio Cio Sans (!!!!!!), and Dorothy Kirsten makes for a close third behind Albanese with 68, but Licia’s 72 firmly puts her at number 2. Generally I like her Butterfly more than her Violetta, and Mitropoulos gives excellent direction from the pit. Her last Butterfly broadcast is 2 years later under Leinsdorf.
DIE FRAU OHNE SCHATTEN:Strauss
Original Air Date: 04/01/1978
Böhm; Rysanek, King, Schröder-Feinen, Berry, Dunn
MOD Audio SID.19330428
This is the last of the 4 Bohm broadcasts starting in 1966 all with Rysanek and Berry; 3 of the 4 are with King, but the first three feature Ludwig and Dalis in their parts; Schroder-Feinen and Dunn are first rate presences as well. It is a shame that the 1966 premiere season and 1971 performances which have been on Sirius with some regularity have not made their way to MOoD. The 1969 broadcast is reported in the MetDatabase as having been on Sirius, but according to my records it has not been broadcast in the last four years. as has the 1971 Unfortunately Bohm never came close to the near completeness of his 1955 Decca recording at the Met, and a steady increase of cuts came with each revival. NEVERTHELESS, one could do much worse than hear one of the great Straussian ensembles he held together for over 2 decades in New York. Frau’s best moments are right up there with Ariadne, Elektra, and Rosenkavalier, and the weaker stuff is better than the weaker Rosenkavalier pages.
Featured,
ARIADNE AUF NAXOS:Strauss
Original Air Date: 03/20/1993
Marin; Norman, Moser, Swenson, Mentzer, Stewart, Oswald
MOD Audio SID.19330530
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. This is Norman’s last Ariadne broadcast and in the new production for her. See the 1988 video (which is on DVD from DG) with Troyanos and Battle under Levine. Norman five years earlier under Levine has a sterling broadcast and telecast with King, Troyanos, and Battle.