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.
BLUEBEARD’S CASTLE:Bartók
Original Air Date: 01/28/1989
Levine; Ramey, Norman
SID.19350208
What is defective about this is that in March of 2013 [and March 2015] the rebroadcast included the second work of the afternoon Schoenberg’s Erwartung with Norman. Rebroadcasting half the afternoon? I’ll try to be up and check and see if both works are actually on. Bluebeard with a much weaker cast is scheduled in a new production in 2014-2015 (the starrier fare of this season is Tchaikovsky’s Iolanta with Netrebko and Beczala. I find it a bit tone deaf to be honoring Norman’s 70th birthday with a broadcast that is incomplete and not yet honored in Met Opera on Demand or DVD for both the Bluebeard and the Erwartung. Although the Bartok is done in an English translation it was telecast as well. Norman is at her considerable best, and it would be nice if this performance could be issued somehow. Ramey is a very strong Bluebeard. It’s one of the few post 1977 videos not available in any form, either MOoD or DVD.
THE RAKE’S PROGRESS:Stravinsky
Original Air Date: 01/17/1998
Levine; Hadley, Upshaw, Ramey, Blythe
SID.19350316
This is a solid cast, but I find the Stravinsky work rather cold. We are not finished with the first quarter of 2016 and already we are on our second Rake’s Progress rotation for the year (different cast and performance) Is there a Stravinsky anniversary I’ve missed?
BLUEBEARD’S CASTLE:Bartók
Original Air Date: 01/28/1989
Levine; Ramey, Norman
SID.19350424
What is defective about this is that in March of 2013 [and March 2015] the rebroadcast included the second work of the afternoon Schoenberg’s Erwartung with Norman. Rebroadcasting half the afternoon? I’ll try to be up and check and see if both works are actually on. Bluebeard with a much weaker cast is scheduled in a new production in 2014-2015 (the starrier fare of this season is Tchaikovsky’s Iolanta with Netrebko and Beczala. I find it a bit tone deaf to be honoring Norman’s 70th birthday with a broadcast that is incomplete and not yet honored in Met Opera on Demand or DVD for both the Bluebeard and the Erwartung. Although the Bartok is done in an English translation it was telecast as well. Norman is at her considerable best, and it would be nice if this performance could be issued somehow. Ramey is a very strong Bluebeard. It’s one of the few post 1977 videos not available in any form, either MOoD or DVD.
THE RAKE’S PROGRESS:Stravinsky
Original Air Date: 01/17/1998
Levine; Hadley, Upshaw, Ramey, Blythe
SID.19350532
This is a solid cast, but I find the Stravinsky work rather cold. We are not finished with the first quarter of 2016 and already we are on our second Rake’s Progress rotation for the year (different cast and performance) Is there a Stravinsky anniversary I’ve missed?
BLUEBEARD’S CASTLE:Bartók
Original Air Date: 01/28/1989
Levine; Ramey, Norman
SID.19350640
What is defective about this is that in March of 2013 [and March 2015] the rebroadcast included the second work of the afternoon Schoenberg’s Erwartung with Norman. Rebroadcasting half the afternoon? I’ll try to be up and check and see if both works are actually on. Bluebeard with a much weaker cast is scheduled in a new production in 2014-2015 (the starrier fare of this season is Tchaikovsky’s Iolanta with Netrebko and Beczala. I find it a bit tone deaf to be honoring Norman’s 70th birthday with a broadcast that is incomplete and not yet honored in Met Opera on Demand or DVD for both the Bluebeard and the Erwartung. Although the Bartok is done in an English translation it was telecast as well. Norman is at her considerable best, and it would be nice if this performance could be issued somehow. Ramey is a very strong Bluebeard. It’s one of the few post 1977 videos not available in any form, either MOoD or DVD.
THE RAKE’S PROGRESS:Stravinsky
Original Air Date: 01/17/1998
Levine; Hadley, Upshaw, Ramey, Blythe
SID.19360101
RP had its American premiere on the Texaco Met broadcasts, and Fritz Reiner led the premiere in 1952-53, but Erede did the two performance revival the following year. It then is out of the Met repertory for 46 seasons until the 1997-1998 season when it came in for nine performances in a new Jonathan Miller production. All the singers in this broadcast were well reviewed, so if RP is your cup of tea… MIller’s production is chillier than anything in the Stravinsky score. A five performance revival in 2003 was its last time out at the Met, with Ramey, Blythe, and Levine repeating. This is a solid cast, but the Stravinsky work can seem rather cold. This is a nice memento of Jerry Hadley in one of his best roles.
SUSANNAH:Floyd
Conlon; Fleming, Hadley, Ramey
Original Air Date: 04/03/1999
MOD Audio
SID.19400315
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.
SUSANNAH:Floyd
Conlon; Fleming, Hadley, Ramey
Original Air Date: 04/03/1999
MOD Audio
SID.19400534
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.
SUSANNAH:Floyd
Conlon; Fleming, Hadley, Ramey
Original Air Date: 04/03/1999
MOD Audio
SID.19400636
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.
IL BARBIERE DI SIVIGLIA:Rossini
Weikert; Hampson, von Stade, Olsen, Quilico, Ramey
Original Air Date: 02/29/1992
MOD Audio
SID.19430103
Louis Quilico is not my ideal Bartolo. Von Stade’s first Rosina broadcast from 1976 with Stilwell, Corena, and Morris has been on Sirius, but not 1983 which features Pablo Elvira, Sesto Bruscantini (as Bartolo) and Paolo Montarsolo as Basilio. This 1992 performance is her last Met performance as Rosina. Appears almost as much as BOHEME
IL BARBIERE DI SIVIGLIA:Rossini
Weikert; Hampson, von Stade, Olsen, Quilico, Ramey
Original Air Date: 02/29/1992
MOD Audio
SID.19430422
Louis Quilico is not my ideal Bartolo. Von Stade’s first Rosina broadcast from 1976 with Stilwell, Corena, and Morris has been on Sirius, but not 1983 which features Pablo Elvira, Sesto Bruscantini (as Bartolo) and Paolo Montarsolo as Basilio. This 1992 performance is her last Met performance as Rosina. Appears almost as much as BOHEME
IL BARBIERE DI SIVIGLIA:Rossini
Weikert; Hampson, von Stade, Olsen, Quilico, Ramey
Original Air Date: 02/29/1992
MOD Audio
SID.19430639
Louis Quilico is not my ideal Bartolo. Von Stade’s first Rosina broadcast from 1976 with Stilwell, Corena, and Morris has been on Sirius, but not 1983 which features Pablo Elvira, Sesto Bruscantini (as Bartolo) and Paolo Montarsolo as Basilio. This 1992 performance is her last Met performance as Rosina. Appears almost as much as BOHEME
I VESPRI SICILIANI:Verdi
Chaslin; Radvanovsky, Casanova, Nucci, Ramey
Original Air Date: 12/11/2004
MOD Audio
SID.19450102
Elena was a major breakout role for Radvanovsky, and she was the deserved star of this revival. Nucci, who has appeared irregularly but continuously since his debut in 1980 last appeared at the Met in this 2004 broadcast where he is in fine voice as he was on the Nabucco broadcast six months earlier (prior season). His current engagements show him as busy as any Verdi baritone before the public with an appearance in January 2016 at La Scala as Rigoletto with Nadine Sierra, where they encored the Si, vendetta duet (!!!!). Casanova has good style in arguably Verdi’s most challenging tenor part. This revival catches Ramey after the wobble had started to set in (I date at around 2002). He’s still very commanding, but it’s just a bit too late to be top quality. Procida is one of the greatest of Verdi bass roles right up there with Fiesco, if not quite at the level of Filippo II. Chaslin conducts a well prepared performance, and so nice to have this performance in the Sirius rotation. With Radvanovsky’s new status, this performance should be added to MOoD. This is true two years ago, and is still the case.
I VESPRI SICILIANI:Verdi
Chaslin; Radvanovsky, Casanova, Nucci, Ramey
Original Air Date: 12/11/2004
MOD Audio
SID.19450425
Elena was a major breakout role for Radvanovsky, and she was the deserved star of this revival. Nucci, who has appeared irregularly but continuously since his debut in 1980 last appeared at the Met in this 2004 broadcast where he is in fine voice as he was on the Nabucco broadcast six months earlier (prior season). His current engagements show him as busy as any Verdi baritone before the public with an appearance in January 2016 at La Scala as Rigoletto with Nadine Sierra, where they encored the Si, vendetta duet (!!!!). Casanova has good style in arguably Verdi’s most challenging tenor part. This revival catches Ramey after the wobble had started to set in (I date at around 2002). He’s still very commanding, but it’s just a bit too late to be top quality. Procida is one of the greatest of Verdi bass roles right up there with Fiesco, if not quite at the level of Filippo II. Chaslin conducts a well prepared performance, and so nice to have this performance in the Sirius rotation. With Radvanovsky’s new status, this performance should be added to MOoD. This is true two years ago, and is still the case.
I VESPRI SICILIANI:Verdi
Chaslin; Radvanovsky, Casanova, Nucci, Ramey
Original Air Date: 12/11/2004
MOD Audio
SID.19450748
Elena was a major breakout role for Radvanovsky, and she was the deserved star of this revival. Nucci, who has appeared irregularly but continuously since his debut in 1980 last appeared at the Met in this 2004 broadcast where he is in fine voice as he was on the Nabucco broadcast six months earlier (prior season). His current engagements show him as busy as any Verdi baritone before the public with an appearance in January 2016 at La Scala as Rigoletto with Nadine Sierra, where they encored the Si, vendetta duet (!!!!). Casanova has good style in arguably Verdi’s most challenging tenor part. This revival catches Ramey after the wobble had started to set in (I date at around 2002). He’s still very commanding, but it’s just a bit too late to be top quality. Procida is one of the greatest of Verdi bass roles right up there with Fiesco, if not quite at the level of Filippo II. Chaslin conducts a well prepared performance, and so nice to have this performance in the Sirius rotation. With Radvanovsky’s new status, this performance should be added to MOoD. This is true two years ago, and is still the case.
Stravinsky
Levine; Upshaw, Blythe, Groves, Ramey
Original Air Date: 04/19/2003
MOD Audio
SID.19480316
Rake’s Progress had its American premiere under Fritz Reiner on a Met broadcast. I saw this Jonathan Miller production when it was new in 1998 with the same cast as above except Jerry Hadley was the Tom Rakewell. I find the work cold, and though very well prepared, the Miller production did not make it one whit more interesting.
Stravinsky
Levine; Upshaw, Blythe, Groves, Ramey
Original Air Date: 04/19/2003
MOD Audio
SID.19480636
Rake’s Progress had its American premiere under Fritz Reiner on a Met broadcast. I saw this Jonathan Miller production when it was new in 1998 with the same cast as above except Jerry Hadley was the Tom Rakewell. I find the work cold, and though very well prepared, the Miller production did not make it one whit more interesting.
Stravinsky
Levine; Upshaw, Blythe, Groves, Ramey
Original Air Date: 04/19/2003
MOD Audio
SID.19480638
Rake’s Progress had its American premiere under Fritz Reiner on a Met broadcast. I saw this Jonathan Miller production when it was new in 1998 with the same cast as above except Jerry Hadley was the Tom Rakewell. I find the work cold, and though very well prepared, the Miller production did not make it one whit more interesting.
LA FORZA DEL DESTINO:Verdi
Noseda; Voigt, Licitra, Delavan, Ramey, Komlósi, Pons
Original Air Date: 03/11/2006
MOD Audio
SID.19490209
I love Forza del Destino, but it’s a rather disjointed work, and not an easy sing for ANYONE. I saw Voigt who did the part early in her Met career with the lamented Sergej Larin. For this broadcast, it’s Licitra, also destined to leave us too soon. For me it’s too late for Ramey, Delavan does not impress me and this 2006 broadcast does not catch Voigt in anything like the voice she had a decade earlier. What is MOoD doing featuring this performance when another Sirius Forza broadcast with Tebaldi and Tucker from 1960 only gets an occasional rotation and no presence for Tebaldi in this role in MOoD. Noseda is a quality conductor, but why such special pleading for Voigt and Licitra?
LA FORZA DEL DESTINO:Verdi
Noseda; Voigt, Licitra, Delavan, Ramey, Komlósi, Pons
Original Air Date: 03/11/2006
MOD Audio
SID.19490425
I love Forza del Destino, but it’s a rather disjointed work, and not an easy sing for ANYONE. I saw Voigt who did the part early in her Met career with the lamented Sergej Larin. For this broadcast, it’s Licitra, also destined to leave us too soon. For me it’s too late for Ramey, Delavan does not impress me and this 2006 broadcast does not catch Voigt in anything like the voice she had a decade earlier. What is MOoD doing featuring this performance when another Sirius Forza broadcast with Tebaldi and Tucker from 1960 only gets an occasional rotation and no presence for Tebaldi in this role in MOoD. Noseda is a quality conductor, but why such special pleading for Voigt and Licitra?
LA FORZA DEL DESTINO:Verdi
Noseda; Voigt, Licitra, Delavan, Ramey, Komlósi, Pons
Original Air Date: 03/11/2006
MOD Audio
SID.19490641
I love Forza del Destino, but it’s a rather disjointed work, and not an easy sing for ANYONE. I saw Voigt who did the part early in her Met career with the lamented Sergej Larin. For this broadcast, it’s Licitra, also destined to leave us too soon. For me it’s too late for Ramey, Delavan does not impress me and this 2006 broadcast does not catch Voigt in anything like the voice she had a decade earlier. What is MOoD doing featuring this performance when another Sirius Forza broadcast with Tebaldi and Tucker from 1960 only gets an occasional rotation and no presence for Tebaldi in this role in MOoD. Noseda is a quality conductor, but why such special pleading for Voigt and Licitra?
CARMEN:Bizet
Domingo; Horne, Luchetti, Freni, Ramey
Original Air Date: 12/17/1988
SID.20010102
I love Carmen, but Horne does two of her three Met broadcasts with her ex-husband, Henry Lewis, and this performance rather late in her career. Horne’s collaboration with Bernstein is at least partially transferred to the studio. Her live performance that fall with Lenny was one of the best things I ever saw from her. Luchetti was more often encountered in Verdi Requiems when Bergonzi, Pavarotti, and Richard Lewis were not available. This is his final Met performance in a one season, one role Met career (his wife Mietta Sighele Met debuted in an earlier performance in the run as Micaela and two Micaelas are her Met total; I saw her do an excellent Butterfly in Philadelphia 21 years earlier– much in the Tucci lyric mod). Luchetti is rather a good Jose, as they go. Ramey is an excellent Escamillo. Domingo, despite many fine Don Joses, is not the Carmen conductor I want. Freni is quite good for a 50+ Micaela, having brought the house down 20 years earlier and stealing the show from Verrett (debut) and Vickers.
L’ITALIANA IN ALGERI:Rossini
Campanella; Larmore, Polenzani, Ramey, Corbelli
Original Air Date: 02/17/2001
MOD Audio
SID.20010210
This is Ramey’s only Mustafa broadcast, and early appearances by Polenzani and Kwiecien who are Met regulars in star parts these days. My own favorite Isabella is Borodina whose performance with Florez and Furlanetto is also on MOoD.
CARMEN:Bizet
Domingo; Horne, Luchetti, Freni, Ramey
Original Air Date: 12/17/1988
SID.20010318
I love Carmen, but Horne does two of her three Met broadcasts with her ex-husband, Henry Lewis, and this performance rather late in her career. Horne’s collaboration with Bernstein is at least partially transferred to the studio. Her live performance that fall with Lenny was one of the best things I ever saw from her. Luchetti was more often encountered in Verdi Requiems when Bergonzi, Pavarotti, and Richard Lewis were not available. This is his final Met performance in a one season, one role Met career (his wife Mietta Sighele Met debuted in an earlier performance in the run as Micaela and two Micaelas are her Met total; I saw her do an excellent Butterfly in Philadelphia 21 years earlier– much in the Tucci lyric mod). Luchetti is rather a good Jose, as they go. Ramey is an excellent Escamillo. Domingo, despite many fine Don Joses, is not the Carmen conductor I want. Freni is quite good for a 50+ Micaela, having brought the house down 20 years earlier and stealing the show from Verrett (debut) and Vickers.
CARMEN:Bizet
Domingo; Horne, Luchetti, Freni, Ramey
Original Air Date: 12/17/1988
SID.20010422
I love Carmen, but Horne does two of her three Met broadcasts with her ex-husband, Henry Lewis, and this performance rather late in her career. Horne’s collaboration with Bernstein is at least partially transferred to the studio. Her live performance that fall with Lenny was one of the best things I ever saw from her. Luchetti was more often encountered in Verdi Requiems when Bergonzi, Pavarotti, and Richard Lewis were not available. This is his final Met performance in a one season, one role Met career (his wife Mietta Sighele Met debuted in an earlier performance in the run as Micaela and two Micaelas are her Met total; I saw her do an excellent Butterfly in Philadelphia 21 years earlier– much in the Tucci lyric mod). Luchetti is rather a good Jose, as they go. Ramey is an excellent Escamillo. Domingo, despite many fine Don Joses, is not the Carmen conductor I want. Freni is quite good for a 50+ Micaela, having brought the house down 20 years earlier and stealing the show from Verrett (debut) and Vickers.
L’ITALIANA IN ALGERI:Rossini
Campanella; Larmore, Polenzani, Ramey, Corbelli
Original Air Date: 02/17/2001
MOD Audio
SID.20010426
This is Ramey’s only Mustafa broadcast, and early appearances by Polenzani and Kwiecien who are Met regulars in star parts these days. My own favorite Isabella is Borodina whose performance with Florez and Furlanetto is also on MOoD.
CARMEN:Bizet
Domingo; Horne, Luchetti, Freni, Ramey
Original Air Date: 12/17/1988
SID.20010534
I love Carmen, but Horne does two of her three Met broadcasts with her ex-husband, Henry Lewis, and this performance rather late in her career. Horne’s collaboration with Bernstein is at least partially transferred to the studio. Her live performance that fall with Lenny was one of the best things I ever saw from her. Luchetti was more often encountered in Verdi Requiems when Bergonzi, Pavarotti, and Richard Lewis were not available. This is his final Met performance in a one season, one role Met career (his wife Mietta Sighele Met debuted in an earlier performance in the run as Micaela and two Micaelas are her Met total; I saw her do an excellent Butterfly in Philadelphia 21 years earlier– much in the Tucci lyric mod). Luchetti is rather a good Jose, as they go. Ramey is an excellent Escamillo. Domingo, despite many fine Don Joses, is not the Carmen conductor I want. Freni is quite good for a 50+ Micaela, having brought the house down 20 years earlier and stealing the show from Verrett (debut) and Vickers.