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.
EUGENE ONEGIN:Tchaikovsky
Original Air Date: 03/24/1979
Järvi; Mazurok, Kasrashvili, Shicoff, Jones, Plishka
SID.19380208
As much as I enjoy Hvorostovsky’s Onegin, I will never forget Mazurok live. He broadcasts the opera twice in 1979 (but in two separate seasons) and he is great both times. Kasrashvili is very good as is Shicoff. Mazurok’s later performance is Kabaivanska’s Met farewell and with Gedda under Tchakarov. I slightly prefer this one as Shicoff is heard too little on Met broadcasts, and this is one of his best roles. This peformance should be in MOoD. *** I always have time for Mazurok’s Onegin. While he may not have evoked the visualfrissons that Hvorostovsky regularly manages, when it comes to vocalism Mazurok was the Russian Robert Merrill, but with stylistic authenticity for his native repertoire. This performance has a lot of energy to it, and Kasrashvilil and Shicoff give their all. Credit to Jarvi for his leadership. *** This is the first of Mazurok’s 2 Onegin broadcasts (the second is only 9 months later in the next season), but I prefer this one because of Jarvi’s conducting. Mazurok was for me the Russian Merrill (meant as the highest compliment). We saw too little of him because this was not the best time for Soviet-American relations. He is thrilling here.
EUGENE ONEGIN:Tchaikovsky
Original Air Date: 03/24/1979
Järvi; Mazurok, Kasrashvili, Shicoff, Jones, Plishka
SID.19380424
As much as I enjoy Hvorostovsky’s Onegin, I will never forget Mazurok live. He broadcasts the opera twice in 1979 (but in two separate seasons) and he is great both times. Kasrashvili is very good as is Shicoff. Mazurok’s later performance is Kabaivanska’s Met farewell and with Gedda under Tchakarov. I slightly prefer this one as Shicoff is heard too little on Met broadcasts, and this is one of his best roles. This peformance should be in MOoD. *** I always have time for Mazurok’s Onegin. While he may not have evoked the visualfrissons that Hvorostovsky regularly manages, when it comes to vocalism Mazurok was the Russian Robert Merrill, but with stylistic authenticity for his native repertoire. This performance has a lot of energy to it, and Kasrashvilil and Shicoff give their all. Credit to Jarvi for his leadership. *** This is the first of Mazurok’s 2 Onegin broadcasts (the second is only 9 months later in the next season), but I prefer this one because of Jarvi’s conducting. Mazurok was for me the Russian Merrill (meant as the highest compliment). We saw too little of him because this was not the best time for Soviet-American relations. He is thrilling here.
EUGENE ONEGIN:Tchaikovsky
Original Air Date: 03/24/1979
Järvi; Mazurok, Kasrashvili, Shicoff, Jones, Plishka
SID.19380639
As much as I enjoy Hvorostovsky’s Onegin, I will never forget Mazurok live. He broadcasts the opera twice in 1979 (but in two separate seasons) and he is great both times. Kasrashvili is very good as is Shicoff. Mazurok’s later performance is Kabaivanska’s Met farewell and with Gedda under Tchakarov. I slightly prefer this one as Shicoff is heard too little on Met broadcasts, and this is one of his best roles. This peformance should be in MOoD. *** I always have time for Mazurok’s Onegin. While he may not have evoked the visualfrissons that Hvorostovsky regularly manages, when it comes to vocalism Mazurok was the Russian Robert Merrill, but with stylistic authenticity for his native repertoire. This performance has a lot of energy to it, and Kasrashvilil and Shicoff give their all. Credit to Jarvi for his leadership. *** This is the first of Mazurok’s 2 Onegin broadcasts (the second is only 9 months later in the next season), but I prefer this one because of Jarvi’s conducting. Mazurok was for me the Russian Merrill (meant as the highest compliment). We saw too little of him because this was not the best time for Soviet-American relations. He is thrilling here.
LUISA MILLER:Verdi
Levine; Scotto, Domingo, Milnes, Giaiotti, Morris, Kraft
Original Air Date: 01/27/1979
SID.19400103
MOoD also features the telecast from a week before with the same cast (and was issued on DVD as well.) Scotto and Domingo understand the style very well, and if every note is not ideal, they rise to great heights in the final act (which is among Verdi’s greatest music for any of his operas).
LUISA MILLER:Verdi
Levine; Scotto, Domingo, Milnes, Giaiotti, Morris, Kraft
Original Air Date: 01/27/1979
SID.19400320
MOoD also features the telecast from a week before with the same cast (and was issued on DVD as well.) Scotto and Domingo understand the style very well, and if every note is not ideal, they rise to great heights in the final act (which is among Verdi’s greatest music for any of his operas).
LUISA MILLER:Verdi
Levine; Scotto, Domingo, Milnes, Giaiotti, Morris, Kraft
Original Air Date: 01/27/1979
SID.19400637
MOoD also features the telecast from a week before with the same cast (and was issued on DVD as well.) Scotto and Domingo understand the style very well, and if every note is not ideal, they rise to great heights in the final act (which is among Verdi’s greatest music for any of his operas).
ARIADNE AUF NAXOS:Strauss
Levine; Meier, Kollo, Gruberova, Troyanos, Monk, Duesing
Original Air Date: 03/10/1979
SID.19490106
Even though Kollo is rather hard pressed, Johanna Meier substituting for Leontyne Price is a worthy replacement, and Gruberova and Troyanos among the very best to have ever touched their two roles. It is one of Gruberova’s two Met broadcasts (the other is Puritani), so highly recommended.
ARIADNE AUF NAXOS:Strauss
Levine; Meier, Kollo, Gruberova, Troyanos, Monk, Duesing
Original Air Date: 03/10/1979
SID.19490317
Even though Kollo is rather hard pressed, Johanna Meier substituting for Leontyne Price is a worthy replacement, and Gruberova and Troyanos among the very best to have ever touched their two roles. It is one of Gruberova’s two Met broadcasts (the other is Puritani), so highly recommended.
ARIADNE AUF NAXOS:Strauss
Levine; Meier, Kollo, Gruberova, Troyanos, Monk, Duesing
Original Air Date: 03/10/1979
SID.19490533
Even though Kollo is rather hard pressed, Johanna Meier substituting for Leontyne Price is a worthy replacement, and Gruberova and Troyanos among the very best to have ever touched their two roles. It is one of Gruberova’s two Met broadcasts (the other is Puritani), so highly recommended.
ARIADNE AUF NAXOS:Strauss
Levine; Meier, Kollo, Gruberova, Troyanos, Monk, Duesing
Original Air Date: 03/10/1979
SID.19500101
Even though Kollo is rather hard pressed, Johanna Meier substituting for Leontyne Price is a worthy replacement, and Gruberova and Troyanos among the very best to have ever touched their two roles. It is one of Gruberova’s two Met broadcasts (the other is Puritani), so highly recommended.
WERTHER:Massenet
Bonynge; Kraus, Crespin, Battle, Carlson
Original Air Date: 02/03/1979
MOD Audio
SID.20010316
This performance is one I always enjoy. Kraus and Crespin are solid exponents of the style, and Battle is a delight as Sophie. This is Crespin’s final Charlotte, and finds Kraus on very congenial ground. This is also on Met Player. Nice to have a mini-Crespin festival this week. One of the most enjoyable of Met Werther broadcasts.
WERTHER:Massenet
Bonynge; Kraus, Crespin, Battle, Carlson
Original Air Date: 02/03/1979
MOD Audio
SID.20010529
This performance is one I always enjoy. Kraus and Crespin are solid exponents of the style, and Battle is a delight as Sophie. This is Crespin’s final Charlotte, and finds Kraus on very congenial ground. This is also on Met Player. Nice to have a mini-Crespin festival this week. One of the most enjoyable of Met Werther broadcasts.
WERTHER:Massenet
Bonynge; Kraus, Crespin, Battle, Carlson
Original Air Date: 02/03/1979
MOD Audio
SID.20010638
This performance is one I always enjoy. Kraus and Crespin are solid exponents of the style, and Battle is a delight as Sophie. This is Crespin’s final Charlotte, and finds Kraus on very congenial ground. This is also on Met Player. Nice to have a mini-Crespin festival this week. One of the most enjoyable of Met Werther broadcasts.
THE BARTERED BRIDE:Smetana
Levine; Stratas, Gedda, Talvela, Vickers
Original Air Date: 12/02/1978
MOD Video
SID.20030212
This same cast telecast the opera 11 days earlier. The video of this performance is available in MOoD. Levine is very devoted to this score and did the joint production with Juilliard and the Met Young Artists in 2010. Vickers is cast very much against type and successful. To me one of the main downers is Talvela. My aural image of this opera is forever colored by the German language studio recording with Lorengar, Wunderlich, and Frick. Though in the “wrong” language, everything works there.
THE BARTERED BRIDE:Smetana
Levine; Stratas, Gedda, Talvela, Vickers
Original Air Date: 12/02/1978
MOD Video
SID.20030428
This same cast telecast the opera 11 days earlier. The video of this performance is available in MOoD. Levine is very devoted to this score and did the joint production with Juilliard and the Met Young Artists in 2010. Vickers is cast very much against type and successful. To me one of the main downers is Talvela. My aural image of this opera is forever colored by the German language studio recording with Lorengar, Wunderlich, and Frick. Though in the “wrong” language, everything works there.
THE BARTERED BRIDE:Smetana
Levine; Stratas, Gedda, Talvela, Vickers
Original Air Date: 12/02/1978
MOD Video
SID.20030531
This same cast telecast the opera 11 days earlier. The video of this performance is available in MOoD. Levine is very devoted to this score and did the joint production with Juilliard and the Met Young Artists in 2010. Vickers is cast very much against type and successful. To me one of the main downers is Talvela. My aural image of this opera is forever colored by the German language studio recording with Lorengar, Wunderlich, and Frick. Though in the “wrong” language, everything works there.
CARMEN:Bizet
Patanè; Crespin, Chauvet, Mitchell, Devlin
Original Air Date: 12/09/1978
SID.20060105
Crespin’s earlier broadcast Carmen is on Met Player with William Lewis replacing the scheduled Domingo, and Henry Lewis conducting. My affection moves more strongly to this performance because it’s a great thrill to have Carmen and Jose sung by two Francophones, and Patane is a very fine conductor we lost much too soon. I am such a partisan of Crespin– she can be a very uneven singer, that I always suggest that you sample and see if this Gallic tang is to your taste. For me, just about always. A highly recommended Carmen.
DON PASQUALE:Donizetti
Rescigno; Bacquier, Sills, Kraus, Hagegård
Original Air Date: 01/20/1979
MOD Audio
SID.20060208
This is Beverly Sills’ farewell production and her company farewell comes at the end of the Met spring tour in Detroit. This is the audio broadcast that followed the national telecast by 9 days, and marks her Metropolitan Opera House farewell. Both performances are available in Met Opera on Demand (MOoD). I find Sills’ video a congenial interpretation even if I prefer the Netrebko video. For audio, I prefer the younger Kraus with Grist and Corena.
CARMEN:Bizet
Patanè; Crespin, Chauvet, Mitchell, Devlin
Original Air Date: 12/09/1978
SID.20060213
Crespin’s earlier broadcast Carmen is on Met Player with William Lewis replacing the scheduled Domingo, and Henry Lewis conducting. My affection moves more strongly to this performance because it’s a great thrill to have Carmen and Jose sung by two Francophones, and Patane is a very fine conductor we lost much too soon. I am such a partisan of Crespin– she can be a very uneven singer, that I always suggest that you sample and see if this Gallic tang is to your taste. For me, just about always. A highly recommended Carmen.
DON PASQUALE:Donizetti
Rescigno; Bacquier, Sills, Kraus, Hagegård
Original Air Date: 01/20/1979
MOD Audio
SID.20060424
This is Beverly Sills’ farewell production and her company farewell comes at the end of the Met spring tour in Detroit. This is the audio broadcast that followed the national telecast by 9 days, and marks her Metropolitan Opera House farewell. Both performances are available in Met Opera on Demand (MOoD). I find Sills’ video a congenial interpretation even if I prefer the Netrebko video. For audio, I prefer the younger Kraus with Grist and Corena.
CARMEN:Bizet
Patanè; Crespin, Chauvet, Mitchell, Devlin
Original Air Date: 12/09/1978
SID.20060531
Crespin’s earlier broadcast Carmen is on Met Player with William Lewis replacing the scheduled Domingo, and Henry Lewis conducting. My affection moves more strongly to this performance because it’s a great thrill to have Carmen and Jose sung by two Francophones, and Patane is a very fine conductor we lost much too soon. I am such a partisan of Crespin– she can be a very uneven singer, that I always suggest that you sample and see if this Gallic tang is to your taste. For me, just about always. A highly recommended Carmen.
DON PASQUALE:Donizetti
Rescigno; Bacquier, Sills, Kraus, Hagegård
Original Air Date: 01/20/1979
MOD Audio
SID.20060641
This is Beverly Sills’ farewell production and her company farewell comes at the end of the Met spring tour in Detroit. This is the audio broadcast that followed the national telecast by 9 days, and marks her Metropolitan Opera House farewell. Both performances are available in Met Opera on Demand (MOoD). I find Sills’ video a congenial interpretation even if I prefer the Netrebko video. For audio, I prefer the younger Kraus with Grist and Corena.
CARMEN:Bizet
Patanè; Crespin, Chauvet, Mitchell, Devlin
Original Air Date: 12/09/1978
SID.20060746
Crespin’s earlier broadcast Carmen is on Met Player with William Lewis replacing the scheduled Domingo, and Henry Lewis conducting. My affection moves more strongly to this performance because it’s a great thrill to have Carmen and Jose sung by two Francophones, and Patane is a very fine conductor we lost much too soon. I am such a partisan of Crespin– she can be a very uneven singer, that I always suggest that you sample and see if this Gallic tang is to your taste. For me, just about always. A highly recommended Carmen.
Levine; Norden, Mitchell, Scotto, Horne, Giacomini, Ghiaurov, Milnes, Morris
Original Air Date: 02/24/1979
SID.20070103
ELEKTRA:Strauss
Leinsdorf; Mastilovic, Marton, Cornell, Anthony, Ulfung. Bailey, Ghazai, Cheek
Original Air Date: 12/30/1978
SID.20070212
This broadcast marks Leinsdorf’s only season of Elektra since his debut and sophomore seasons in the late 1930s. Mastilovic is a solid if not especially memorable Elektra, and Eva Marton who never brought her outstanding Elektra to the Met (I saw one of her early ones in 1990 at Covent Garden) but IS a memorable Chrysothemis as well.. Gwynn Cornell who had made quite a splash in New Jersey as Laura to Bumbry and Tucker in Gioconda debuts (I think as a replacement for Dunn) as Klytemnestra. Though quite a vocal talent, this is a big dramatic role and her inexperience shows. Norman Bailey who only has four Met broadcasts is not yet represented by his Wotan which has an interesting cast (also with Leinsdorf) in Rita Hunter, James King (his only Met airwaves outing as Siegmund) and Janis Martin.
DON CARLO:Verdi
Levine; Norden, Mitchell, Scotto, Horne, Giacomini, Ghiaurov, Milnes, Morris
Original Air Date: 02/24/1979
SID.20070319
This is Levine’s first year conducting Don Carlo, and in its full five act format. I don’t think Horne works very well at all, and some of the phrases press Scotto very hard. The men are solid, though it’s not my favorite Posa. Ghiaurov is caught well past his best, Horne is miscast, Scotto is overparted, and Giacomini rather monochrone in his first Met season. Morris is one of the younger Inquisitors, and certainly gala casting for the Celestial Voice from Leona Mitchell. What is a surprise is that Don Carlo which is one of Levine’s most frequent assignments (60 performances) and a Met record for the opera, but the only Levine performances listed in MOoD is the atreamed audio from 2006 with Racette and Botha, and neither of the videos — the first with Freni, the second with Scotto (with Moldoveanu and Troyanos) which have been available on DVD have made it to MOoD. Whatever the limitations of individual performers, this is a full voiced line-up.
ELEKTRA:Strauss
Leinsdorf; Mastilovic, Marton, Cornell, Anthony, Ulfung. Bailey, Ghazai, Cheek
Original Air Date: 12/30/1978
SID.20070428
This broadcast marks Leinsdorf’s only season of Elektra since his debut and sophomore seasons in the late 1930s. Mastilovic is a solid if not especially memorable Elektra, and Eva Marton who never brought her outstanding Elektra to the Met (I saw one of her early ones in 1990 at Covent Garden) but IS a memorable Chrysothemis as well.. Gwynn Cornell who had made quite a splash in New Jersey as Laura to Bumbry and Tucker in Gioconda debuts (I think as a replacement for Dunn) as Klytemnestra. Though quite a vocal talent, this is a big dramatic role and her inexperience shows. Norman Bailey who only has four Met broadcasts is not yet represented by his Wotan which has an interesting cast (also with Leinsdorf) in Rita Hunter, James King (his only Met airwaves outing as Siegmund) and Janis Martin.
ELEKTRA:Strauss
Leinsdorf; Mastilovic, Marton, Cornell, Anthony, Ulfung. Bailey, Ghazai, Cheek
Original Air Date: 12/30/1978
SID.20070532
This broadcast marks Leinsdorf’s only season of Elektra since his debut and sophomore seasons in the late 1930s. Mastilovic is a solid if not especially memorable Elektra, and Eva Marton who never brought her outstanding Elektra to the Met (I saw one of her early ones in 1990 at Covent Garden) but IS a memorable Chrysothemis as well.. Gwynn Cornell who had made quite a splash in New Jersey as Laura to Bumbry and Tucker in Gioconda debuts (I think as a replacement for Dunn) as Klytemnestra. Though quite a vocal talent, this is a big dramatic role and her inexperience shows. Norman Bailey who only has four Met broadcasts is not yet represented by his Wotan which has an interesting cast (also with Leinsdorf) in Rita Hunter, James King (his only Met airwaves outing as Siegmund) and Janis Martin.
DON CARLO:Verdi
Levine; Norden, Mitchell, Scotto, Horne, Giacomini, Ghiaurov, Milnes, Morris
Original Air Date: 02/24/1979
SID.20070535
This is Levine’s first year conducting Don Carlo, and in its full five act format. I don’t think Horne works very well at all, and some of the phrases press Scotto very hard. The men are solid, though it’s not my favorite Posa. Ghiaurov is caught well past his best, Horne is miscast, Scotto is overparted, and Giacomini rather monochrone in his first Met season. Morris is one of the younger Inquisitors, and certainly gala casting for the Celestial Voice from Leona Mitchell. What is a surprise is that Don Carlo which is one of Levine’s most frequent assignments (60 performances) and a Met record for the opera, but the only Levine performances listed in MOoD is the atreamed audio from 2006 with Racette and Botha, and neither of the videos — the first with Freni, the second with Scotto (with Moldoveanu and Troyanos) which have been available on DVD have made it to MOoD. Whatever the limitations of individual performers, this is a full voiced line-up.
ELEKTRA:Strauss
Leinsdorf; Mastilovic, Marton, Cornell, Anthony, Ulfung. Bailey, Ghazai, Cheek
Original Air Date: 12/30/1978
SID.20070743
This broadcast marks Leinsdorf’s only season of Elektra since his debut and sophomore seasons in the late 1930s. Mastilovic is a solid if not especially memorable Elektra, and Eva Marton who never brought her outstanding Elektra to the Met (I saw one of her early ones in 1990 at Covent Garden) but IS a memorable Chrysothemis as well.. Gwynn Cornell who had made quite a splash in New Jersey as Laura to Bumbry and Tucker in Gioconda debuts (I think as a replacement for Dunn) as Klytemnestra. Though quite a vocal talent, this is a big dramatic role and her inexperience shows. Norman Bailey who only has four Met broadcasts is not yet represented by his Wotan which has an interesting cast (also with Leinsdorf) in Rita Hunter, James King (his only Met airwaves outing as Siegmund) and Janis Martin.