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. 

Jan
28
Tue
2020
GÖTTERDÄMMERUNG
Jan 28 @ 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM


GÖTTERDÄMMERUNG:Wagner
Ehrling; Nilsson, Thomas, Rundgren, Dooley, Rankin, Reynolds
Original Air Date: 03/29/1975

SID.20050213
This is Nilsson’s final Wagner opera from the Met airwaves. She only has two other Gotterdammerung broadcasts, the first in 1962 when she was in very fresh voice under Leinsdorf (and on Met Opera in Demand (MOoD) and 1963 under Rosenstock — originally planned for Reiner– with extensive cuts. The supporting cast with the exception of possibly Anna Reynolds’ Waltraute don’t offer much help to Nilsson. She is still in much better voice than when she returned to the Met after a 5 year absence in Elektra. Once again a plea for the Rita Hunter Gotterdammerung broadcast from the year before (where she replaces Nilsson) which features her in very fresh voice, and one of the few broadcast appearances of Helge Brilioth as Siegfried, all under Kubelik. Kubelik only has two Met broadcasts (Troyens is the other with Verrett, Ludwig, and Vickers) and neither has been on the Sirius rebroadcast series. But back to Gotterdammerung, Hagen is almost as important as Brunnhilde and Siegfried, and Rundgren is distinctly second grade goods. Thomas Stewart premiered the production in 1974, but Dooley was the Gunther on both the Kubelik and this broadcast, so no broadcast record for one of Stewart’s best roles. Rankin, a well traveled mezzo mostly in the Italian wing, is a curious choice for Gutrune (maybe Kubelik had a fond memory of her Troyens Cassandra when he premiered the opera 15 years earlier at La Scala with Del Monaco and Simionato in Italian. So this Gotterdammerung will be a curiosity, but for me her 1962 broadcast and the two commercial (Decca studio and Philips live from Bayreuth are noble indeed.

GÖTTERDÄMMERUNG
Jan 28 @ 9:00 PM – 11:55 PM


GÖTTERDÄMMERUNG:Wagner
Ehrling; Nilsson, Thomas, Rundgren, Dooley, Rankin, Reynolds
Original Air Date: 03/29/1975

SID.20050214
This is Nilsson’s final Wagner opera from the Met airwaves. She only has two other Gotterdammerung broadcasts, the first in 1962 when she was in very fresh voice under Leinsdorf (and on Met Opera in Demand (MOoD) and 1963 under Rosenstock — originally planned for Reiner– with extensive cuts. The supporting cast with the exception of possibly Anna Reynolds’ Waltraute don’t offer much help to Nilsson. She is still in much better voice than when she returned to the Met after a 5 year absence in Elektra. Once again a plea for the Rita Hunter Gotterdammerung broadcast from the year before (where she replaces Nilsson) which features her in very fresh voice, and one of the few broadcast appearances of Helge Brilioth as Siegfried, all under Kubelik. Kubelik only has two Met broadcasts (Troyens is the other with Verrett, Ludwig, and Vickers) and neither has been on the Sirius rebroadcast series. But back to Gotterdammerung, Hagen is almost as important as Brunnhilde and Siegfried, and Rundgren is distinctly second grade goods. Thomas Stewart premiered the production in 1974, but Dooley was the Gunther on both the Kubelik and this broadcast, so no broadcast record for one of Stewart’s best roles. Rankin, a well traveled mezzo mostly in the Italian wing, is a curious choice for Gutrune (maybe Kubelik had a fond memory of her Troyens Cassandra when he premiered the opera 15 years earlier at La Scala with Del Monaco and Simionato in Italian. So this Gotterdammerung will be a curiosity, but for me her 1962 broadcast and the two commercial (Decca studio and Philips live from Bayreuth are noble indeed.

Jan
31
Fri
2020
GÖTTERDÄMMERUNG
Jan 31 @ 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM


GÖTTERDÄMMERUNG:Wagner
Ehrling; Nilsson, Thomas, Rundgren, Dooley, Rankin, Reynolds
Original Air Date: 03/29/1975

SID.20050532
This is Nilsson’s final Wagner opera from the Met airwaves. She only has two other Gotterdammerung broadcasts, the first in 1962 when she was in very fresh voice under Leinsdorf (and on Met Opera in Demand (MOoD) and 1963 under Rosenstock — originally planned for Reiner– with extensive cuts. The supporting cast with the exception of possibly Anna Reynolds’ Waltraute don’t offer much help to Nilsson. She is still in much better voice than when she returned to the Met after a 5 year absence in Elektra. Once again a plea for the Rita Hunter Gotterdammerung broadcast from the year before (where she replaces Nilsson) which features her in very fresh voice, and one of the few broadcast appearances of Helge Brilioth as Siegfried, all under Kubelik. Kubelik only has two Met broadcasts (Troyens is the other with Verrett, Ludwig, and Vickers) and neither has been on the Sirius rebroadcast series. But back to Gotterdammerung, Hagen is almost as important as Brunnhilde and Siegfried, and Rundgren is distinctly second grade goods. Thomas Stewart premiered the production in 1974, but Dooley was the Gunther on both the Kubelik and this broadcast, so no broadcast record for one of Stewart’s best roles. Rankin, a well traveled mezzo mostly in the Italian wing, is a curious choice for Gutrune (maybe Kubelik had a fond memory of her Troyens Cassandra when he premiered the opera 15 years earlier at La Scala with Del Monaco and Simionato in Italian. So this Gotterdammerung will be a curiosity, but for me her 1962 broadcast and the two commercial (Decca studio and Philips live from Bayreuth are noble indeed.

GÖTTERDÄMMERUNG
Jan 31 @ 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM


GÖTTERDÄMMERUNG:Wagner
Ehrling; Nilsson, Thomas, Rundgren, Dooley, Rankin, Reynolds
Original Air Date: 03/29/1975

SID.20050533
This is Nilsson’s final Wagner opera from the Met airwaves. She only has two other Gotterdammerung broadcasts, the first in 1962 when she was in very fresh voice under Leinsdorf (and on Met Opera in Demand (MOoD) and 1963 under Rosenstock — originally planned for Reiner– with extensive cuts. The supporting cast with the exception of possibly Anna Reynolds’ Waltraute don’t offer much help to Nilsson. She is still in much better voice than when she returned to the Met after a 5 year absence in Elektra. Once again a plea for the Rita Hunter Gotterdammerung broadcast from the year before (where she replaces Nilsson) which features her in very fresh voice, and one of the few broadcast appearances of Helge Brilioth as Siegfried, all under Kubelik. Kubelik only has two Met broadcasts (Troyens is the other with Verrett, Ludwig, and Vickers) and neither has been on the Sirius rebroadcast series. But back to Gotterdammerung, Hagen is almost as important as Brunnhilde and Siegfried, and Rundgren is distinctly second grade goods. Thomas Stewart premiered the production in 1974, but Dooley was the Gunther on both the Kubelik and this broadcast, so no broadcast record for one of Stewart’s best roles. Rankin, a well traveled mezzo mostly in the Italian wing, is a curious choice for Gutrune (maybe Kubelik had a fond memory of her Troyens Cassandra when he premiered the opera 15 years earlier at La Scala with Del Monaco and Simionato in Italian. So this Gotterdammerung will be a curiosity, but for me her 1962 broadcast and the two commercial (Decca studio and Philips live from Bayreuth are noble indeed.

Mar
2
Mon
2020
TOSCA
Mar 2 @ 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM


TOSCA:Puccini
Schick; Nilsson, Domingo, Dooley
Original Air Date: 02/15/1969

SID.20100103
This is Domingo’s Met broadcast debut. Check Nilsson five years earlier in a Met broadcast from Boston with Corelli and George London (interestingly also with Schick). Nilsson’s a great singer, she had premiered a new production five months earlier than this broadcast with Corelli and Bacquier. This is Nilsson’s first Met performance with Domingo; their total remaining Met are three Turandots culminating in the broadcast the following season. This is her second and last Met Tosca broadcast—her earlier one in 1964 was from Boston with Corelli, and has not been on Sirius. She premiered the 1968 production with Corelli the fall before this broadcast with Bacquier.

Mar
4
Wed
2020
TOSCA
Mar 4 @ 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM


TOSCA:Puccini
Schick; Nilsson, Domingo, Dooley
Original Air Date: 02/15/1969

SID.20100320
This is Domingo’s Met broadcast debut. Check Nilsson five years earlier in a Met broadcast from Boston with Corelli and George London (interestingly also with Schick). Nilsson’s a great singer, she had premiered a new production five months earlier than this broadcast with Corelli and Bacquier. This is Nilsson’s first Met performance with Domingo; their total remaining Met are three Turandots culminating in the broadcast the following season. This is her second and last Met Tosca broadcast—her earlier one in 1964 was from Boston with Corelli, and has not been on Sirius. She premiered the 1968 production with Corelli the fall before this broadcast with Bacquier.

Mar
8
Sun
2020
TOSCA
Mar 8 @ 9:00 PM – 11:55 PM


TOSCA:Puccini
Schick; Nilsson, Domingo, Dooley
Original Air Date: 02/15/1969

SID.20100748
This is Domingo’s Met broadcast debut. Check Nilsson five years earlier in a Met broadcast from Boston with Corelli and George London (interestingly also with Schick). Nilsson’s a great singer, she had premiered a new production five months earlier than this broadcast with Corelli and Bacquier. This is Nilsson’s first Met performance with Domingo; their total remaining Met are three Turandots culminating in the broadcast the following season. This is her second and last Met Tosca broadcast—her earlier one in 1964 was from Boston with Corelli, and has not been on Sirius. She premiered the 1968 production with Corelli the fall before this broadcast with Bacquier.

Mar
16
Mon
2020
DER ROSENKAVALIER
Mar 16 @ 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM


DER ROSENKAVALIER:Strauss
Böhm; Fassbaender, Lear, Jungwirth, Mathis, Dooley
Original Air Date: 02/23/1974

SID.20120106
Evelyn Lear is a solid Marschallin, even if she is somewhat eclipsed by Fassbaender and Mathis, among the two best performers to ever do these roles. Bohm is in the pit, and Jungwirth is an excellent Ochs (as he is on the Solti Crespin commercial.)

Mar
19
Thu
2020
DER ROSENKAVALIER
Mar 19 @ 12:00 AM – 3:00 AM


DER ROSENKAVALIER:Strauss
Böhm; Fassbaender, Lear, Jungwirth, Mathis, Dooley
Original Air Date: 02/23/1974

SID.20120422
Evelyn Lear is a solid Marschallin, even if she is somewhat eclipsed by Fassbaender and Mathis, among the two best performers to ever do these roles. Bohm is in the pit, and Jungwirth is an excellent Ochs (as he is on the Solti Crespin commercial.)

Mar
22
Sun
2020
DER ROSENKAVALIER
Mar 22 @ 9:00 PM – 11:55 PM


DER ROSENKAVALIER:Strauss
Böhm; Fassbaender, Lear, Jungwirth, Mathis, Dooley
Original Air Date: 02/23/1974

SID.20120749
Evelyn Lear is a solid Marschallin, even if she is somewhat eclipsed by Fassbaender and Mathis, among the two best performers to ever do these roles. Bohm is in the pit, and Jungwirth is an excellent Ochs (as he is on the Solti Crespin commercial.)

DER ROSENKAVALIER {238}
Octavian…………………Brigitte Fassbaender
Princess von Werdenberg……Evelyn Lear
Baron Ochs……………….Manfred Jungwirth
Sophie…………………..Edith Mathis
Faninal………………….William Dooley
Annina…………………..Mildred Miller
Valzacchi………………..Andrea Velis
Italian Singer……………Leo Goeke
Marianne…………………Carlotta Ordassy
Mahomet………………….Michael McClain
Princess’ Major-domo………Douglas Ahlstedt
Orphan…………………..Linda Mays
Orphan…………………..Joyce Olson
Orphan…………………..Valerie Lundberg
Milliner…………………Maureen Smith
Animal Vendor…………….Charles Kuestner
Hairdresser………………Donald Mahler
Notary…………………..Andrij Dobriansky
Leopold………………….John Trehy
Lackey…………………..Richard Firmin
Lackey…………………..Peter Sliker
Lackey…………………..Lou Marcella
Lackey…………………..Edward Ghazal
Faninal’s Major-domo………Robert Schmorr
Innkeeper………………..Charles Anthony
Police Commissioner……….Richard Best

Conductor………………..Karl Böhm

Apr
7
Tue
2020
LES CONTES D’HOFFMANN
Apr 7 @ 12:00 AM – 3:00 AM


LES CONTES D’HOFFMANN:Offenbach
Varviso; Alexander, Dooley, Scovotti, Cvejic, Amara, Martin
Original Air Date: 02/27/1965

SID.20150209
This performance goes back to the old house, and has the distinction of being John Alexander’s only broadcast Hoffmann. His career is distinguished by regularly being asked for by the biggest named sopranos in the world–Beverly Sills, Montserrat Caballe, Renata Tebaldi, Leontyne Price, and a repertory that was as comfortable in Mozart and the French, as he was in German (Walther and Bacchus among his roles) and Italian. He was a bit like Alberto Remedios, but with more coloratura flexibility; both with sweet voices that could cope with roles that often defeated less technically secure colleagues. Antonia is one of Amara’s best parts.

Apr
9
Thu
2020
LES CONTES D’HOFFMANN
Apr 9 @ 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM


LES CONTES D’HOFFMANN:Offenbach
Varviso; Alexander, Dooley, Scovotti, Cvejic, Amara, Martin
Original Air Date: 02/27/1965

SID.20150427
This performance goes back to the old house, and has the distinction of being John Alexander’s only broadcast Hoffmann. His career is distinguished by regularly being asked for by the biggest named sopranos in the world–Beverly Sills, Montserrat Caballe, Renata Tebaldi, Leontyne Price, and a repertory that was as comfortable in Mozart and the French, as he was in German (Walther and Bacchus among his roles) and Italian. He was a bit like Alberto Remedios, but with more coloratura flexibility; both with sweet voices that could cope with roles that often defeated less technically secure colleagues. Antonia is one of Amara’s best parts.

Apr
12
Sun
2020
LES CONTES D’HOFFMANN
Apr 12 @ 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM


LES CONTES D’HOFFMANN:Offenbach
Varviso; Alexander, Dooley, Scovotti, Cvejic, Amara, Martin
Original Air Date: 02/27/1965

SID.20150753
This performance goes back to the old house, and has the distinction of being John Alexander’s only broadcast Hoffmann. His career is distinguished by regularly being asked for by the biggest named sopranos in the world–Beverly Sills, Montserrat Caballe, Renata Tebaldi, Leontyne Price, and a repertory that was as comfortable in Mozart and the French, as he was in German (Walther and Bacchus among his roles) and Italian. He was a bit like Alberto Remedios, but with more coloratura flexibility; both with sweet voices that could cope with roles that often defeated less technically secure colleagues. Antonia is one of Amara’s best parts.