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.
FAUST:Gounod
Original Air Date: 01/04/1958
Morel; Gedda, Güden, Hines, Merrill, Roggero
MOD Audio SID.19360211
Gedda (in his first season and his first broadcast) is extremely fine. This performance is also available on MOoD. The other bulwark is Robert Merrill’s Valentin. Guden and Hines are OK, but certainly not the first interpreter you would want to hear. Gedda and Merrill are top drawer, better stlll are several Marguerites to Guden, and Hines while earnest is far from Siepi’s league. Siepi has not one but TWO broadcast Fausts from the Met with Bjorling– 1950 and 1959 and these are long overdue for retransmission and listing in MOoD. Siepi has six broadcast Mephistopheles, only two of which have been on Sirius, the 1955 with Peerce and De Los Angeles and Merrill (also on MOoD) and 1964 with Morell and Moffo. This has been on before and Gedda and Merrill certainly are very fine in their parts, but the continue avoidance of the TWO Bjoerling (1950 and 1959 my preference is for 1959) broadcasts is a big gap in the Met broadcast legacy on Sirius. Where is the 1949 with Kirsten and DiStefano. The Morel is also on Met Player.
FAUST:Gounod
Original Air Date: 01/04/1958
Morel; Gedda, Güden, Hines, Merrill, Roggero
MOD Audio SID.19360427
Gedda (in his first season and his first broadcast) is extremely fine. This performance is also available on MOoD. The other bulwark is Robert Merrill’s Valentin. Guden and Hines are OK, but certainly not the first interpreter you would want to hear. Gedda and Merrill are top drawer, better stlll are several Marguerites to Guden, and Hines while earnest is far from Siepi’s league. Siepi has not one but TWO broadcast Fausts from the Met with Bjorling– 1950 and 1959 and these are long overdue for retransmission and listing in MOoD. Siepi has six broadcast Mephistopheles, only two of which have been on Sirius, the 1955 with Peerce and De Los Angeles and Merrill (also on MOoD) and 1964 with Morell and Moffo. This has been on before and Gedda and Merrill certainly are very fine in their parts, but the continue avoidance of the TWO Bjoerling (1950 and 1959 my preference is for 1959) broadcasts is a big gap in the Met broadcast legacy on Sirius. Where is the 1949 with Kirsten and DiStefano. The Morel is also on Met Player.
FAUST:Gounod
Original Air Date: 01/04/1958
Morel; Gedda, Güden, Hines, Merrill, Roggero
MOD Audio SID.19360637
Gedda (in his first season and his first broadcast) is extremely fine. This performance is also available on MOoD. The other bulwark is Robert Merrill’s Valentin. Guden and Hines are OK, but certainly not the first interpreter you would want to hear. Gedda and Merrill are top drawer, better stlll are several Marguerites to Guden, and Hines while earnest is far from Siepi’s league. Siepi has not one but TWO broadcast Fausts from the Met with Bjorling– 1950 and 1959 and these are long overdue for retransmission and listing in MOoD. Siepi has six broadcast Mephistopheles, only two of which have been on Sirius, the 1955 with Peerce and De Los Angeles and Merrill (also on MOoD) and 1964 with Morell and Moffo. This has been on before and Gedda and Merrill certainly are very fine in their parts, but the continue avoidance of the TWO Bjoerling (1950 and 1959 my preference is for 1959) broadcasts is a big gap in the Met broadcast legacy on Sirius. Where is the 1949 with Kirsten and DiStefano. The Morel is also on Met Player.
DER ROSENKAVALIER:Strauss
Original Air Date: 02/18/1956
Kempe; Stevens, Della Casa; Edelmann, Güden, Herbert
MOD Audio SID.19370103
Della Casa, no more beautiful woman ever trod the operatic stage. With Kempe in the pit for his final Met broadcast, this is a wonderful all-around performance. This performance has been on, but not frequently. An absolute rave. If maybe a little late for Stevens, Della Casa and Guden are in absolute prime. Kempe appeared too little and we certainly need his Arabella (in English) with Steber, Guden and London to appear on Sirius. Don’t miss.
DER ROSENKAVALIER:Strauss
Original Air Date: 02/18/1956
Kempe; Stevens, Della Casa; Edelmann, Güden, Herbert
MOD Audio SID.19370319
Della Casa, no more beautiful woman ever trod the operatic stage. With Kempe in the pit for his final Met broadcast, this is a wonderful all-around performance. This performance has been on, but not frequently. An absolute rave. If maybe a little late for Stevens, Della Casa and Guden are in absolute prime. Kempe appeared too little and we certainly need his Arabella (in English) with Steber, Guden and London to appear on Sirius. Don’t miss.
DER ROSENKAVALIER:Strauss
Original Air Date: 02/18/1956
Kempe; Stevens, Della Casa; Edelmann, Güden, Herbert
MOD Audio SID.19370743
Della Casa, no more beautiful woman ever trod the operatic stage. With Kempe in the pit for his final Met broadcast, this is a wonderful all-around performance. This performance has been on, but not frequently. An absolute rave. If maybe a little late for Stevens, Della Casa and Guden are in absolute prime. Kempe appeared too little and we certainly need his Arabella (in English) with Steber, Guden and London to appear on Sirius. Don’t miss.
RIGOLETTO:Verdi
Original Air Date: 01/05/1957
Cleva; Merrill, Güden, Peerce, Tozzi, Roggero
SID.19390209
This exact same cast broadcast Rigoletto four years earlier– Bing could be very much a creature of habit. Also the exact same trio of leads as the 1953 performance except Erede was in the pit. This is Merrill probably at his vocal peak (the Rigoletto broadcasts would mostly alternate between Warren (often with Tucker) and Merrill, with Tucker’s brother-in law. Luxury indeed. Let me put in a word here for the 1960 Rigoletto which has MacNeil’s first broadcast jester, Giaiotti as Monterone and Tozzi in the third of his three broadcast Sparafuciles. 1957 like so many years was an extraordinary year for Merrill’s instrument. Take a listen. A note on representation in MOoD for Rigoletto. There is no performance represented there between 1945 and 1973. The 1945 shows Warren at close to his vocal best, but no representation of Tucker’s Duke– four broadcasts from 1951-1972, nor Peerce’s, the 1960 for MacNeil, and no Merrill Rigoletto at all, and the same for Peters’ Gilda. Considering some of the mediocre Rigolettos that ARE included, this is one of the worst gaps in terms of match of Sirius/ MOoD to actual Met performance and broadcast history.
RIGOLETTO:Verdi
Original Air Date: 01/05/1957
Cleva; Merrill, Güden, Peerce, Tozzi, Roggero
SID.19390532
This exact same cast broadcast Rigoletto four years earlier– Bing could be very much a creature of habit. Also the exact same trio of leads as the 1953 performance except Erede was in the pit. This is Merrill probably at his vocal peak (the Rigoletto broadcasts would mostly alternate between Warren (often with Tucker) and Merrill, with Tucker’s brother-in law. Luxury indeed. Let me put in a word here for the 1960 Rigoletto which has MacNeil’s first broadcast jester, Giaiotti as Monterone and Tozzi in the third of his three broadcast Sparafuciles. 1957 like so many years was an extraordinary year for Merrill’s instrument. Take a listen. A note on representation in MOoD for Rigoletto. There is no performance represented there between 1945 and 1973. The 1945 shows Warren at close to his vocal best, but no representation of Tucker’s Duke– four broadcasts from 1951-1972, nor Peerce’s, the 1960 for MacNeil, and no Merrill Rigoletto at all, and the same for Peters’ Gilda. Considering some of the mediocre Rigolettos that ARE included, this is one of the worst gaps in terms of match of Sirius/ MOoD to actual Met performance and broadcast history.
RIGOLETTO:Verdi
Cleva; Merrill, Güden, Peerce, Tozzi, Roggero
Original Air Date: 01/05/1957
SID.19390744
This exact same cast broadcast Rigoletto four years earlier– Bing could be very much a creature of habit. Also the exact same trio of leads as the 1953 performance except Erede was in the pit. This is Merrill probably at his vocal peak (the Rigoletto broadcasts would mostly alternate between Warren (often with Tucker) and Merrill, with Tucker’s brother-in law. Luxury indeed. Let me put in a word here for the 1960 Rigoletto which has MacNeil’s first broadcast jester, Giaiotti as Monterone and Tozzi in the third of his three broadcast Sparafuciles. 1957 like so many years was an extraordinary year for Merrill’s instrument. Take a listen. A note on representation in MOoD for Rigoletto. There is no performance represented there between 1945 and 1973. The 1945 shows Warren at close to his vocal best, but no representation of Tucker’s Duke– four broadcasts from 1951-1972, nor Peerce’s, the 1960 for MacNeil, and no Merrill Rigoletto at all, and the same for Peters’ Gilda. Considering some of the mediocre Rigolettos that ARE included, this is one of the worst gaps in terms of match of Sirius/ MOoD to actual Met performance and broadcast history.
RIGOLETTO:Verdi
Erede; Warren, Güden, Tucker, Pernerstorfer, Madeira
Original Air Date: 12/08/1951
SID.19430208
Though Gueden’s 24 Met Gildas isn’t going to threaten Roberta Peters’ 88 performance record, this was her Met debut a month before this broadcast in a new production designed by Eugene Berman and directed by Herbert Graf (same team as for classic Don Giovanni 6 years later). Warren was the pre-eminent Met Rigoletto during his Met years, and few have sung it so powerfully. Tucker sings the ‘Possente amor’ cabaletta to his ‘Parmi veder’ (only this season if memory serves; the cabaletta does not return until the appearance of Alfredo Kraus 15 years later) None of the 1951 matinee performers are short when it comes to filling out the vocal lines. What is unfortunate is the only broadcast of Warren’s Rigoletto from 1945 to 1959 has not made it to MOoD, and only two of Warren’s SEVEN broadcasts have appeared on Sirius. This 1951 broadcast is very deserving of being promoted to MOoD.
RIGOLETTO:Verdi
Erede; Warren, Güden, Tucker, Pernerstorfer, Madeira
Original Air Date: 12/08/1951
SID.19430424
Though Gueden’s 24 Met Gildas isn’t going to threaten Roberta Peters’ 88 performance record, this was her Met debut a month before this broadcast in a new production designed by Eugene Berman and directed by Herbert Graf (same team as for classic Don Giovanni 6 years later). Warren was the pre-eminent Met Rigoletto during his Met years, and few have sung it so powerfully. Tucker sings the ‘Possente amor’ cabaletta to his ‘Parmi veder’ (only this season if memory serves; the cabaletta does not return until the appearance of Alfredo Kraus 15 years later) None of the 1951 matinee performers are short when it comes to filling out the vocal lines. What is unfortunate is the only broadcast of Warren’s Rigoletto from 1945 to 1959 has not made it to MOoD, and only two of Warren’s SEVEN broadcasts have appeared on Sirius. This 1951 broadcast is very deserving of being promoted to MOoD.
RIGOLETTO:Verdi
Erede; Warren, Güden, Tucker, Pernerstorfer, Madeira
Original Air Date: 12/08/1951
SID.19430748
Though Gueden’s 24 Met Gildas isn’t going to threaten Roberta Peters’ 88 performance record, this was her Met debut a month before this broadcast in a new production designed by Eugene Berman and directed by Herbert Graf (same team as for classic Don Giovanni 6 years later). Warren was the pre-eminent Met Rigoletto during his Met years, and few have sung it so powerfully. Tucker sings the Possente amor cabaletta to his Parmi veder (only this season if memory serves; the cabaletta does not return until the appearance of Alfredo Kraus 15 years later) None of the 1951 matinee performers are short when it comes to filling out the vocal lines. What is unfortunate is the only broadcast of Warren’s Rigoletto from 1945 to 1959 has not made it to MOoD, and only two of Warren’s SEVEN broadcasts have appeared on Sirius. This 1951 broadcast is very deserving of being promoted to MOoD.
ORFEO ED EURIDICE:Gluck
Monteux; Stevens, Güden, Hurley
Original Air Date: 04/09/1955
SID.19470422
Stevens has two runs at the Met in 1955 under Monteux and three seasons later with a broadcast now under Max Rudolf and with Amara the Euridice. For my money no one ever looked better as Orfeo, but the audio only record is not nearly as memorable. Monteux is a legendary conductor (world premieres of Rite of spring and Daphnis and Chloe in Paris), but not sure that Gluck finds him at his best. This Orfeo is from his penultimate Met season. Monteux who also recorded it with Stevens, is really part of history (he conducted the world premieres of Rite of spring and Daphnis and Chlore). Stevens is a much beloved Met figure, but I think there are better ways to experience Orfeo.
ORFEO ED EURIDICE:Gluck
Monteux; Stevens, Güden, Hurley
Original Air Date: 04/09/1955
SID.19470530
Stevens has two runs at the Met in 1955 under Monteux and three seasons later with a broadcast now under Max Rudolf and with Amara the Euridice. For my money no one ever looked better as Orfeo, but the audio only record is not nearly as memorable. Monteux is a legendary conductor (world premieres of Rite of spring and Daphnis and Chloe in Paris), but not sure that Gluck finds him at his best. This Orfeo is from his penultimate Met season. Monteux who also recorded it with Stevens, is really part of history (he conducted the world premieres of Rite of spring and Daphnis and Chlore). Stevens is a much beloved Met figure, but I think there are better ways to experience Orfeo.
ORFEO ED EURIDICE:Gluck
Monteux; Stevens, Güden, Hurley
Original Air Date: 04/09/1955
SID.19470745
Stevens has two runs at the Met in 1955 under Monteux and three seasons later with a broadcast now under Max Rudolf and with Amara the Euridice. For my money no one ever looked better as Orfeo, but the audio only record is not nearly as memorable. Monteux is a legendary conductor (world premieres of Rite of spring and Daphnis and Chloe in Paris), but not sure that Gluck finds him at his best. This Orfeo is from his penultimate Met season. Monteux who also recorded it with Stevens, is really part of history (he conducted the world premieres of Rite of spring and Daphnis and Chlore). Stevens is a much beloved Met figure, but I think there are better ways to experience Orfeo.
THE RAKE’S PROGRESS:Stravinsky
Reiner; Conley, Güden, Harrell, Thebom
Original Air Date: 02/14/1953
SID.20100316
This is the American premiere with the composer in attendance. Worth noting is the director for this production is George Balanchine. It’s still a chilly work, but a distinguished afternoon, and the U.S. premiere occurs with this broadcast. Reiner is major in every way.
THE RAKE’S PROGRESS:Stravinsky
Reiner; Conley, Güden, Harrell, Thebom
Original Air Date: 02/14/1953
SID.20100533
This is the American premiere with the composer in attendance. Worth noting is the director for this production is George Balanchine. It’s still a chilly work, but a distinguished afternoon, and the U.S. premiere occurs with this broadcast. Reiner is major in every way.
Puccini
Erede; Albanese, Di Stefano, Güden, Guarrera, Siepi
Original Air Date: 03/15/1952
MOD Audio
SID.20130212
RWW: This is really quite a strong Italianate cast (Guden excepted) with Albanese, Di Stefano, and Siepi all justly famous.
Puccini
Erede; Albanese, Di Stefano, Güden, Guarrera, Siepi
Original Air Date: 03/15/1952
MOD Audio
SID.20130430
RWW: This is really quite a strong Italianate cast (Guden excepted) with Albanese, Di Stefano, and Siepi all justly famous.
Puccini
Erede; Albanese, Di Stefano, Güden, Guarrera, Siepi
Original Air Date: 03/15/1952
MOD Audio
SID.20130644
RWW: This is really quite a strong Italianate cast (Guden excepted) with Albanese, Di Stefano, and Siepi all justly famous.