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.
CAVALLERIA RUSTICANA / PAGLIACCI:Mascagni / Leoncavallo
Original Air Date: 12/10/1988
Siciliani; Dimitrova, Mauro, Fondary / Giacomini, Soviero, Pons
SID.19370212
Though Dimitrova was well regarded for her power and skill in the “big” roles, her Santuzza was one of the very best I’ve ever heard, and more importantly, seemed very personal. Her voice is satisfyingly volcanic this afternoon. No less impressive is the Pagliacci with Giacomini’s farewell to the Met. He is on top form for this Canio. Soviero has a strong Nedda as well. Siciliani gives full veristic sway in his conducting. Recommended.
CAVALLERIA RUSTICANA / PAGLIACCI:Mascagni / Leoncavallo
Original Air Date: 12/10/1988
Siciliani; Dimitrova, Mauro, Fondary / Giacomini, Soviero, Pons
SID.19370428
Though Dimitrova was well regarded for her power and skill in the “big” roles, her Santuzza was one of the very best I’ve ever heard, and more importantly, seemed very personal. Her voice is satisfyingly volcanic this afternoon. No less impressive is the Pagliacci with Giacomini’s farewell to the Met. He is on top form for this Canio. Soviero has a strong Nedda as well. Siciliani gives full veristic sway in his conducting. Recommended.
AIDA:Verdi
Fiore; Sweet, Sylvester, Zajick, Pons, Plishka
Original Air Date: 02/05/1994
SID.19400107
This is a pretty standard house casting for Aida in the 90s. Sweet and Zajick appear in Aida together 14 times over five seasons from 1994-1999. The male contingent holds less interest than in earlier times, Pons has a huge Met career, but not one of much interest to me.
AIDA:Verdi
Fiore; Sweet, Sylvester, Zajick, Pons, Plishka
Original Air Date: 02/05/1994
SID.19400422
This is a pretty standard house casting for Aida in the 90s. Sweet and Zajick appear in Aida together 14 times over five seasons from 1994-1999. The male contingent holds less interest than in earlier times, Pons has a huge Met career, but not one of much interest to me.
AIDA:Verdi
Fiore; Sweet, Sylvester, Zajick, Pons, Plishka
Original Air Date: 02/05/1994
SID.19400745
This is a pretty standard house casting for Aida in the 90s. Sweet and Zajick appear in Aida together 14 times over five seasons from 1994-1999. The male contingent holds less interest than in earlier times, Pons has a huge Met career, but not one of much interest to me.
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?
IL BARBIERE DI SIVIGLIA:Rossini
Erede; Valdengo, Pons, Di Stefano, Baccaloni, Hines
Original Air Date: 12/16/1950
MOD Audio
SID.19510321
This performance is also available on Sony Historic CD. I always enjoy Valdengo, and Di Stefano is interesting, but Pons is almost NEVER to my taste. She has a long Met career and was a big star. It is not a faceless Barber, but I prefer Corena and gang from later years.
IL BARBIERE DI SIVIGLIA:Rossini
Erede; Valdengo, Pons, Di Stefano, Baccaloni, Hines
Original Air Date: 12/16/1950
MOD Audio
SID.19510532
This performance is also available on Sony Historic CD. I always enjoy Valdengo, and Di Stefano is interesting, but Pons is almost NEVER to my taste. She has a long Met career and was a big star. It is not a faceless Barber, but I prefer Corena and gang from later years.
IL BARBIERE DI SIVIGLIA:Rossini
Erede; Valdengo, Pons, Di Stefano, Baccaloni, Hines
Original Air Date: 12/16/1950
MOD Audio
SID.19510744
This performance is also available on Sony Historic CD. I always enjoy Valdengo, and Di Stefano is interesting, but Pons is almost NEVER to my taste. She has a long Met career and was a big star. It is not a faceless Barber, but I prefer Corena and gang from later years.
This performance is available in MOoD. The previous fall Pavarotti had Levine at the help and Dara as the Dulcamara for the video which is also available in MOoD and commercial DVD.
This performance is available in MOoD. The previous fall Pavarotti had Levine at the help and Dara as the Dulcamara for the video which is also available in MOoD and commercial DVD.
This performance is available in MOoD. The previous fall Pavarotti had Levine at the help and Dara as the Dulcamara for the video which is also available in MOoD and commercial DVD.
TOSCA:Puccini
Oren; Holleque, Pavarotti, Pons
Original Air Date: 04/01/1995
SID.20060106
If I’m going to see/hear Pavarotti in Cavaradossi, I prefer the Verrett/MacNeil performance of 17 years earlier which is also in MOoD. 7/18/11 – This is 17 years after Pavarotti’s first Cavaradossi broadcast with Verrett, and he would do it again 4 years after this with Carol Vaness. This performance is on Met Player and the the Verrett telecast is also on MetPlayer.
CAVALLERIA RUSTICANA / PAGLIACCI:Mascagni / Leoncavallo
Davies; Urmana, Villa, Burchinal / Racette, Mac Master, Pons
Original Air Date: 03/26/2005
SID.20060209
I repeat my annotation in the hope that someone at Sirius is listening. The Met can and has done better for the ham and eggs of opera. For the life of me I can’t figure out why Sirius singles THIS performance out for rebroadcast. Not an Italian in the bunch, and no singers I want to hear in this music.
TOSCA:Puccini
Oren; Holleque, Pavarotti, Pons
Original Air Date: 04/01/1995
SID.20060317
If I’m going to see/hear Pavarotti in Cavaradossi, I prefer the Verrett/MacNeil performance of 17 years earlier which is also in MOoD. 7/18/11 – This is 17 years after Pavarotti’s first Cavaradossi broadcast with Verrett, and he would do it again 4 years after this with Carol Vaness. This performance is on Met Player and the the Verrett telecast is also on MetPlayer.
CAVALLERIA RUSTICANA / PAGLIACCI:Mascagni / Leoncavallo
Davies; Urmana, Villa, Burchinal / Racette, Mac Master, Pons
Original Air Date: 03/26/2005
SID.20060425
I repeat my annotation in the hope that someone at Sirius is listening. The Met can and has done better for the ham and eggs of opera. For the life of me I can’t figure out why Sirius singles THIS performance out for rebroadcast. Not an Italian in the bunch, and no singers I want to hear in this music.
TOSCA:Puccini
Oren; Holleque, Pavarotti, Pons
Original Air Date: 04/01/1995
SID.20060533
If I’m going to see/hear Pavarotti in Cavaradossi, I prefer the Verrett/MacNeil performance of 17 years earlier which is also in MOoD. 7/18/11 – This is 17 years after Pavarotti’s first Cavaradossi broadcast with Verrett, and he would do it again 4 years after this with Carol Vaness. This performance is on Met Player and the the Verrett telecast is also on MetPlayer.
CAVALLERIA RUSTICANA / PAGLIACCI:Mascagni / Leoncavallo
Davies; Urmana, Villa, Burchinal / Racette, Mac Master, Pons
Original Air Date: 03/26/2005
SID.20060642
I repeat my annotation in the hope that someone at Sirius is listening. The Met can and has done better for the ham and eggs of opera. For the life of me I can’t figure out why Sirius singles THIS performance out for rebroadcast. Not an Italian in the bunch, and no singers I want to hear in this music.
CAVALLERIA RUSTICANA / PAGLIACCI:Mascagni / Leoncavallo
Davies; Urmana, Villa, Burchinal / Racette, Mac Master, Pons
Original Air Date: 03/26/2005
SID.20060745
I repeat my annotation in the hope that someone at Sirius is listening. The Met can and has done better for the ham and eggs of opera. For the life of me I can’t figure out why Sirius singles THIS performance out for rebroadcast. Not an Italian in the bunch, and no singers I want to hear in this music.
TOSCA:Puccini
Oren; Holleque, Pavarotti, Pons
Original Air Date: 04/01/1995
SID.20070101
If I’m going to see/hear Pavarotti in Cavaradossi, I prefer the Verrett/MacNeil performance of 17 years earlier which is also in MOoD. 7/18/11 – This is 17 years after Pavarotti’s first Cavaradossi broadcast with Verrett, and he would do it again 4 years after this with Carol Vaness. This performance is on Met Player and the the Verrett telecast is also on MetPlayer.
UN BALLO IN MASCHERA:Verdi
Levine; Pavarotti, Voigt, Pons, Shin, Dever
Original Air Date: 02/15/1997
SID.20110321
Except for Pavarotti, there is nothing of special distinction. Both of Pavarotti’s Met videos (1980 and 1991) of Ballo have more interest and they are both on MOoD. Levine only has three matinee broadcasts, 1991 (with Millo and Pavarotti), this broadcast, and a 2015 with Radvanovsky, Tamura (replacing Beczala) and Hvorostovsky. Better to add that one to the rotation.
UN BALLO IN MASCHERA:Verdi
Levine; Pavarotti, Voigt, Pons, Shin, Dever
Original Air Date: 02/15/1997
SID.20110531
Except for Pavarotti, there is nothing of special distinction. Both of Pavarotti’s Met videos (1980 and 1991) of Ballo have more interest and they are both on MOoD. Levine only has three matinee broadcasts, 1991 (with Millo and Pavarotti), this broadcast, and a 2015 with Radvanovsky, Tamura (replacing Beczala) and Hvorostovsky. Better to add that one to the rotation.
UN BALLO IN MASCHERA:Verdi
Levine; Pavarotti, Voigt, Pons, Shin, Dever
Original Air Date: 02/15/1997
SID.20110744
Except for Pavarotti, there is nothing of special distinction. Both of Pavarotti’s Met videos (1980 and 1991) of Ballo have more interest and they are both on MOoD. Levine only has three matinee broadcasts, 1991 (with Millo and Pavarotti), this broadcast, and a 2015 with Radvanovsky, Tamura (replacing Beczala) and Hvorostovsky. Better to add that one to the rotation.
LUCIA DI LAMMERMOOR:Donizetti
Papi; Pons, Jagel, Brownlee, Pinza
Original Air Date: 02/27/1937
SID.20130108
RWW: Lily Pons seduced a whole generation of New Yorkers with her glamour, her Gallic presence, and staccati in alt., but I saw her last Lucia in Fort Worth, and never much cared for her recordings. Whatever I think, this is one of the oldest Met broadcasts on Sirius, and Pons’ appeal continues. John Brownlee has a voice that can be passable in Fledermaus, but for me not in Lucia. Ezio Pinza is as good as one gets.
LUCIA DI LAMMERMOOR:Donizetti
Papi; Pons, Jagel, Brownlee, Pinza
Original Air Date: 02/27/1937
SID.20130319
RWW: Lily Pons seduced a whole generation of New Yorkers with her glamour, her Gallic presence, and staccati in alt., but I saw her last Lucia in Fort Worth, and never much cared for her recordings. Whatever I think, this is one of the oldest Met broadcasts on Sirius, and Pons’ appeal continues. John Brownlee has a voice that can be passable in Fledermaus, but for me not in Lucia. Ezio Pinza is as good as one gets.
LUCIA DI LAMMERMOOR:Donizetti
Papi; Pons, Jagel, Brownlee, Pinza
Original Air Date: 02/27/1937
SID.20130538
RWW: Lily Pons seduced a whole generation of New Yorkers with her glamour, her Gallic presence, and staccati in alt., but I saw her last Lucia in Fort Worth, and never much cared for her recordings. Whatever I think, this is one of the oldest Met broadcasts on Sirius, and Pons’ appeal continues. John Brownlee has a voice that can be passable in Fledermaus, but for me not in Lucia. Ezio Pinza is as good as one gets.
AIDA:Verdi
Badea; Rautio, Sylvester, Zajick, Pons, Plishka
Original Air Date: 03/02/1996
SID.20160104
While this is prime Zajick, the rest of this cast does not attract me. There are far worthier broadcasts including Solti and Steinberg from the 1960s, Curtis-Verna’s only broadcast Aida (replacing Tebaldi) with a sterling supporting cast from the 50s, etc. etc. Sylvester has 2 other broadcasts his first with Sweet and Zajick in 1994, and his last in 1997 with Sweet and Toczyska and I think Sweet is to be preferred if Sylvester (who is a solid Radames) is your primary interest.
AIDA:Verdi
Badea; Rautio, Sylvester, Zajick, Pons, Plishka
Original Air Date: 03/02/1996
SID.20160322
While this is prime Zajick, the rest of this cast does not attract me. There are far worthier broadcasts including Solti and Steinberg from the 1960s, Curtis-Verna’s only broadcast Aida (replacing Tebaldi) with a sterling supporting cast from the 50s, etc. etc. Sylvester has 2 other broadcasts his first with Sweet and Zajick in 1994, and his last in 1997 with Sweet and Toczyska and I think Sweet is to be preferred if Sylvester (who is a solid Radames) is your primary interest.