2019 Summer HD Festival

In this 11th year, over ten nights performances from the Met’s Live in HD series will be shown starting with a screening of FUNNY FACE in a special co-presentation with Film at Lincoln Center.   Screenings run from August 23 through September 2.  There will be 3000 seats in the Plaza in front of the Opera House with an additional standing room area. Cancellations due to thunder/lighting or high wind will not be rescheduled. 

Sep
23
Mon
2019
LUCIA DI LAMMERMOOR
Sep 23 @ 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM


LUCIA DI LAMMERMOOR:Donizetti
Original Air Date: 12/11/1999
Müller; Swenson, Vargas, Nucci, Pertusi
SID.19390103
Vargas did some very nice early Edgardos at the Met (I remember one with Futral) and Nucci should also be a strong Enrico. This is the second season for Swenson in a Nicholas Joel production she premiered which replaced the disastrous Zambello production. Solid support from the male contingent for her. If they’re going to put Anderson in MOoD (with Leech and Fu), Swenson should be as well, and this is a stronger male cast.

Sep
26
Thu
2019
LUCIA DI LAMMERMOOR
Sep 26 @ 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM


LUCIA DI LAMMERMOOR:Donizetti
Original Air Date: 12/11/1999
Müller; Swenson, Vargas, Nucci, Pertusi
SID.19390424
Vargas did some very nice early Edgardos at the Met (I remember one with Futral) and Nucci should also be a strong Enrico. This is the second season for Swenson in a Nicholas Joel production she premiered which replaced the disastrous Zambello production. Solid support from the male contingent for her. If they’re going to put Anderson in MOoD (with Leech and Fu), Swenson should be as well, and this is a stronger male cast.

Sep
28
Sat
2019
LUCIA DI LAMMERMOOR
Sep 28 @ 9:00 PM – 11:55 PM


LUCIA DI LAMMERMOOR:Donizetti
Müller; Swenson, Vargas, Nucci, Pertusi
Original Air Date: 12/11/1999

SID.19390640
Vargas did some very nice early Edgardos at the Met (I remember one with Futral) and Nucci should also be a strong Enrico. This is the second season for Swenson in a Nicholas Joel production she premiered which replaced the disastrous Zambello production. Solid support from the male contingent for her. If they’re going to put Anderson in MOoD (with Leech and Fu), Swenson should be as well, and this is a stronger male cast.

Oct
1
Tue
2019
L’ELISIR D’AMORE
Oct 1 @ 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM


L’ELISIR D’AMORE:Donizetti
Benini; Pavarotti, Swenson, Plishka, de Candia
Original Air Date: 03/14/1998

SID.19400212
Swenson is a fruity Adina, but this is the last of Pavarotti’s Nemorino broadcasts. The part spans 24 years at the Met. Generally prefer earlier with him. There are two earlier telecasts and almost all of his Nemorinos (not this one) are on MOoD.

Oct
4
Fri
2019
L’ELISIR D’AMORE
Oct 4 @ 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM


L’ELISIR D’AMORE:Donizetti
Benini; Pavarotti, Swenson, Plishka, de Candia
Original Air Date: 03/14/1998

SID.19400530
Swenson is a fruity Adina, but this is the last of Pavarotti’s Nemorino broadcasts. The part spans 24 years at the Met. Generally prefer earlier with him. There are two earlier telecasts and almost all of his Nemorinos (not this one) are on MOoD.

Oct
6
Sun
2019
L’ELISIR D’AMORE
Oct 6 @ 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM


L’ELISIR D’AMORE:Donizetti
Benini; Pavarotti, Swenson, Plishka, de Candia
Original Air Date: 03/14/1998

SID.19400743
Swenson is a fruity Adina, but this is the last of Pavarotti’s Nemorino broadcasts. The part spans 24 years at the Met. Generally prefer earlier with him. There are two earlier telecasts and almost all of his Nemorinos (not this one) are on MOoD.

Oct
22
Tue
2019
I PURITANI
Oct 22 @ 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM


I PURITANI:Bellini
Müller; Swenson, Neill, Hampson, Miles
Original Air Date: 02/01/1997
MOD Audio
SID.19430213
The Netrebko video and the Gruberova and Sutherland Elviras are all available in MOoD as well as this one. Swenson has an attractive voice, but I don’t find her especially compelling, and the supporting cast is much better on the other performances. Cavalleria/ Pagliacci from 1988 and Idomeneo from 1991 are added into the schedule beginning Wednesday.

Oct
25
Fri
2019
I PURITANI
Oct 25 @ 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM


I PURITANI:Bellini
Müller; Swenson, Neill, Hampson, Miles
Original Air Date: 02/01/1997
MOD Audio
SID.19430532
The Netrebko video and the Gruberova and Sutherland Elviras are all available in MOoD as well as this one. Swenson has an attractive voice, but I don’t find her especially compelling, and the supporting cast is much better on the other performances. Cavalleria/ Pagliacci from 1988 and Idomeneo from 1991 are added into the schedule beginning Wednesday.

Dec
2
Mon
2019
DON GIOVANNI
Dec 2 @ 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM


DON GIOVANNI:Mozart
Levine; Hampson, James, Cheek, Schuman, Olsen, Swenson
Original Air Date: 01/13/1996

SID.19490105
I’m not a big fan of Hampson’s Giovanni, but in his three broadcasts (all with Levine) he has some interesting supporting casts in 1991 and 2004. I lean toward more encounters with the 2004 broadcast with the elusive (for the Met) Anja Harteros. This is an all-American cast FWIW.

Dec
4
Wed
2019
DON GIOVANNI
Dec 4 @ 12:00 AM – 3:00 AM


DON GIOVANNI:Mozart
Levine; Hampson, James, Cheek, Schuman, Olsen, Swenson
Original Air Date: 01/13/1996

SID.19490315
I’m not a big fan of Hampson’s Giovanni, but in his three broadcasts (all with Levine) he has some interesting supporting casts in 1991 and 2004. I lean toward more encounters with the 2004 broadcast with the elusive (for the Met) Anja Harteros. This is an all-American cast FWIW.

Dec
5
Thu
2019
DON GIOVANNI
Dec 5 @ 6:00 AM – 9:00 AM


DON GIOVANNI:Mozart
Levine; Hampson, James, Cheek, Schuman, Olsen, Swenson
Original Air Date: 01/13/1996

SID.19490423
I’m not a big fan of Hampson’s Giovanni, but in his three broadcasts (all with Levine) he has some interesting supporting casts in 1991 and 2004. I lean toward more encounters with the 2004 broadcast with the elusive (for the Met) Anja Harteros. This is an all-American cast FWIW.

Dec
8
Sun
2019
DON GIOVANNI
Dec 8 @ 9:00 PM – 11:55 PM


DON GIOVANNI:Mozart
Levine; Hampson, James, Cheek, Schuman, Olsen, Swenson
Original Air Date: 01/13/1996

SID.19490748
I’m not a big fan of Hampson’s Giovanni, but in his three broadcasts (all with Levine) he has some interesting supporting casts in 1991 and 2004. I lean toward more encounters with the 2004 broadcast with the elusive (for the Met) Anja Harteros. This is an all-American cast FWIW.

Jan
13
Mon
2020
GIULIO CESARE
Jan 13 @ 9:00 PM – 11:55 PM


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.)

Jan
15
Wed
2020
GIULIO CESARE
Jan 15 @ 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM


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.)

Jan
18
Sat
2020
GIULIO CESARE
Jan 18 @ 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM


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.)

Feb
10
Mon
2020
RIGOLETTO
Feb 10 @ 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM


RIGOLETTO:Verdi
Santi; Nucci, Swenson, Leech, Rootering, White
Original Air Date: 03/07/1992

SID.20070106
I have no specific memory of this performance, but it’s a reasonable time period for these singers who do have voices sufficient for the roles (not always true!!!!) What is not quite so understandable is the number of appearances in MOoD for Nucci compared to Bumbry.

Feb
14
Fri
2020
RIGOLETTO
Feb 14 @ 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM


RIGOLETTO:Verdi
Santi; Nucci, Swenson, Leech, Rootering, White
Original Air Date: 03/07/1992

SID.20070531
I have no specific memory of this performance, but it’s a reasonable time period for these singers who do have voices sufficient for the roles (not always true!!!!) What is not quite so understandable is the number of appearances in MOoD for Nucci compared to Bumbry.

Feb
16
Sun
2020
RIGOLETTO
Feb 16 @ 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM


RIGOLETTO:Verdi
Santi; Swenson, Philley, Uecker, Shaulis, White, Leech, Anthony, Nucci, Croft, Held, Bater, Tian, Rootering 
Original Air Date: 03/07/1992

SID.20070746
This is a reasonable time period for these singers who do have voices sufficient for the roles (not always true!!!!) What is not quite so understandable is the number of appearances in MOoD for Nucci compared to Bumbry.