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
13
Fri
2019
LA FILLE DU RÉGIMENT
Sep 13 @ 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM


Donizetti
Original Air Date: 01/06/1973
Bonynge; Sutherland, Pavarotti, Resnik, Corena
MOD Audio SID.19370531
Pavarotti may be a bit tight on the high Cs, but his voice is still remarkable, and this is the only broadcast with the Met premiere roster. Resnik and Corena are preferable to their competition. Sutherland is particularly treasurable. This performance is also available on MOoD From 1954 until 1976 Fernando Corena was the only Dr. Bartolo to appear on the Met airwaves. Of all Corena’s distinctive characterizations, none rank higher than Bartolo. It would be worthwhile for the Met to unearth its experimental taping (with NHK of Japan)from November 1968 so people could get a taste of his visuals as well. The byplay of Corena with Horne, as well as familiar bass clef tandem, Tozzi are a special delight. Cesare Siepi made his only Met appearances with Levine the following week ending his Met career succeeding Tozzi. Pavarotti appears in a broadcast after his initial success with Sutherland. The Cs are already a bit chancy, but this is still a lot of thoroughbreds having a great time. It is also available in MOoD. The Met got a little late to Pavarotti (several years after Covent Garden) in Fille and the C’s are more than a little nervous. Still, this is a fun outing if not as well turned out as the studio recording.

Dec
17
Tue
2019
ESCLARMONDE
Dec 17 @ 12:00 AM – 3:00 AM


ESCLARMONDE:Massenet
Bonynge; Sutherland, Aragall, Tourangeau, Grant
Original Air Date: 12/11/1976
MOD Audio
SID.19510208
This is the Met’s only broadcast of Esclarmonde, and the performance in addition to the predictable glitter from Sutherland, captures Aragall in one of his best performances. For many, his material was the best of absolute best, and the new generation of tenors in the 1970s, but it never quite all came together. Here is the exception. Enjoy.

Dec
19
Thu
2019
ESCLARMONDE
Dec 19 @ 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM


ESCLARMONDE:Massenet
Bonynge; Sutherland, Aragall, Tourangeau, Grant
Original Air Date: 12/11/1976
MOD Audio
SID.19510424
This is the Met’s only broadcast of Esclarmonde, and the performance in addition to the predictable glitter from Sutherland, captures Aragall in one of his best performances. For many, his material was the best of absolute best, and the new generation of tenors in the 1970s, but it never quite all came together. Here is the exception. Enjoy.

Dec
21
Sat
2019
ESCLARMONDE
Dec 21 @ 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM


ESCLARMONDE:Massenet
Bonynge; Sutherland, Aragall, Tourangeau, Grant
Original Air Date: 12/11/1976
MOD Audio
SID.19510640
This is the Met’s only broadcast of Esclarmonde, and the performance in addition to the predictable glitter from Sutherland, captures Aragall in one of his best performances. For many, his material was the best of absolute best, and the new generation of tenors in the 1970s, but it never quite all came together. Here is the exception. Enjoy.

Dec
22
Sun
2019
ESCLARMONDE
Dec 22 @ 6:00 AM – 9:00 AM


ESCLARMONDE:Massenet
Bonynge; Sutherland, Aragall, Tourangeau, Grant
Original Air Date: 12/11/1976
MOD Audio
SID.19510743
This is the Met’s only broadcast of Esclarmonde, and the performance in addition to the predictable glitter from Sutherland, captures Aragall in one of his best performances. For many, his material was the best of absolute best, and the new generation of tenors in the 1970s, but it never quite all came together. Here is the exception. Enjoy.

Jan
15
Wed
2020
NORMA
Jan 15 @ 12:00 AM – 3:00 AM

Bellini
Bonynge; Sutherland, Horne, Tagliavini, Plishka
Original Air Date: 12/19/1970

SID.20030315
This is Sutherland/Horne in their second season of Norma (but same calendar year) with the men instead of Bergonzi and Siepi. I prefer the excitement of the first season, but the ladies remain the gold standard in both.

Jan
16
Thu
2020
NORMA
Jan 16 @ 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM

Bellini
Bonynge; Sutherland, Horne, Tagliavini, Plishka
Original Air Date: 12/19/1970

SID.20030427
This is Sutherland/Horne in their second season of Norma (but same calendar year) with the men instead of Bergonzi and Siepi. I prefer the excitement of the first season, but the ladies remain the gold standard in both.

Jan
19
Sun
2020
NORMA
Jan 19 @ 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM

Bellini
Bonynge; Sutherland, Horne, Tagliavini, Plishka
Original Air Date: 12/19/1970

SID.20030745
This is Sutherland/Horne in their second season of Norma (but same calendar year) with the men instead of Bergonzi and Siepi. I prefer the excitement of the first season, but the ladies remain the gold standard in both.

Feb
4
Tue
2020
I PURITANI
Feb 4 @ 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM


I PURITANI:Bellini
Bonynge; Sutherland, Blake, Milnes, Ramey
Original Air Date: 12/13/1986

SID.20060212
This is Sutherland in her penultimate Met season and still singing this music at 60, and in many passages even better than she sang them 10 years earlier at 50. She also leaves us with the legendary New York and Philadelphia concert performances with a resplendent Nicolai Gedda. Blake is not Pavarotti, but Milnes and Ramey have a lot to offer in the other roles.

Feb
7
Fri
2020
I PURITANI
Feb 7 @ 12:00 AM – 3:00 AM


I PURITANI:Bellini
Bonynge; Sutherland, Blake, Milnes, Ramey
Original Air Date: 12/13/1986

SID.20060529
This is Sutherland in her penultimate Met season and still singing this music at 60, and in many passages even better than she sang them 10 years earlier at 50. She also leaves us with the legendary New York and Philadelphia concert performances with a resplendent Nicolai Gedda. Blake is not Pavarotti, but Milnes and Ramey have a lot to offer in the other roles.

Feb
8
Sat
2020
I PURITANI
Feb 8 @ 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM


I PURITANI:Bellini
Bonynge; Sutherland, Blake, Milnes, Ramey
Original Air Date: 12/13/1986

SID.20060638
This is Sutherland in her penultimate Met season and still singing this music at 60, and in many passages even better than she sang them 10 years earlier at 50. She also leaves us with the legendary New York and Philadelphia concert performances with a resplendent Nicolai Gedda. Blake is not Pavarotti, but Milnes and Ramey have a lot to offer in the other roles.

Mar
3
Tue
2020
NORMA
Mar 3 @ 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM


NORMA:Bellini
Bonynge; Sutherland, Horne, Bergonzi, Siepi
Original Air Date: 04/04/1970
MOD Audio
SID.20100213
This is Sutherland/Horne’s first of two Met broadcasts of Norma (both in 1970 but different seasons). One will not find stronger support than Bergonzi and Siepi, and the ladies stand up very well to the competition. This performance is available in MOoD, and if the fall performances are even half this level we will be very lucky indeed. The only appearances I know for Bergonzi as Pollione. Siepi goes back to Milanov and Callas. This is available also on MOoD (Met Opera on Demand) so you can listen to it anytime you want. The ladies’ duet singing is remarkable.

Mar
6
Fri
2020
NORMA
Mar 6 @ 6:00 AM – 9:00 AM


NORMA:Bellini
Bonynge; Sutherland, Horne, Bergonzi, Siepi
Original Air Date: 04/04/1970
MOD Audio
SID.20100530
This is Sutherland/Horne’s first of two Met broadcasts of Norma (both in 1970 but different seasons). One will not find stronger support than Bergonzi and Siepi, and the ladies stand up very well to the competition. This performance is available in MOoD, and if the fall performances are even half this level we will be very lucky indeed. The only appearances I know for Bergonzi as Pollione. Siepi goes back to Milanov and Callas. This is available also on MOoD (Met Opera on Demand) so you can listen to it anytime you want. The ladies’ duet singing is remarkable.

Mar
8
Sun
2020
NORMA
Mar 8 @ 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM


NORMA:Bellini
Bonynge; Sutherland, Horne, Bergonzi, Siepi
Original Air Date: 04/04/1970
MOD Audio
SID.20100745
This is Sutherland/Horne’s first of two Met broadcasts of Norma (both in 1970 but different seasons). One will not find stronger support than Bergonzi and Siepi, and the ladies stand up very well to the competition. This performance is available in MOoD, and if the fall performances are even half this level we will be very lucky indeed. The only appearances I know for Bergonzi as Pollione. Siepi goes back to Milanov and Callas. This is available also on MOoD (Met Opera on Demand) so you can listen to it anytime you want. The ladies’ duet singing is remarkable.