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. 

Oct
22
Tue
2019
RIGOLETTO
Oct 22 @ 12:00 AM – 3:00 AM


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.

OTELLO
Oct 22 @ 9:00 PM – 11:55 PM

OTELLO:Verdi
Stiedry; Vinay, Steber, Warren, Hayward
Original Air Date: 02/09/1952

SID.19430214
This performance has been on a European private label for some years, and the cast (including the conductor) get better and better as the afternoon progresses. Vinay is an acquired taste for some, but he fits well with this role. This is a very good time for Steber, and if you enjoyed her 1949 Violetta , this is very fine singing indeed. This is arguably Tebaldi’s best role, and her first two Met broadcasts first with Stiedry in 1955 and Cleva in 1958, both with Del Monaco still remain missing from the Sirius rebroadcast listings. Del Monaco’s first Met Otello (not broadcast ) is with this 1952 cast 6 days after Steber does her first with Vinay on the broadcast. The other major interest from Steber here is she sang Fiordiligi at night after this broadcast.

Oct
24
Thu
2019
RIGOLETTO
Oct 24 @ 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM


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.

Oct
25
Fri
2019
OTELLO
Oct 25 @ 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM


OTELLO:Verdi
Stiedry; Vinay, Steber, Warren, Hayward
Original Air Date: 02/09/1952

SID.19430533
This performance has been on a European private label for some years, and the cast (including the conductor) get better and better as the afternoon progresses. Vinay is an acquired taste for some, but he fits well with this role. This is a very good time for Steber, and if you enjoyed her 1949 Violetta , this is very fine singing indeed. This is arguably Tebaldi’s best role, and her first two Met broadcasts first with Stiedry in 1955 and Cleva in 1958, both with Del Monaco still remain missing from the Sirius rebroadcast listings. Del Monaco’s first Met Otello (not broadcast ) is with this 1952 cast 6 days after Steber does her first with Vinay on the broadcast. The other major interest from Steber here is she sang Fiordiligi at night after this broadcast.

Oct
27
Sun
2019
OTELLO
Oct 27 @ 6:00 AM – 9:00 AM


OTELLO:Verdi
Stiedry; Vinay, Steber, Warren, Hayward
Original Air Date: 02/09/1952

SID.19430745
This performance has been on a European private label for some years, and the cast (including the conductor) get better and better as the afternoon progresses. Vinay is an acquired taste for some, but he fits well with this role. This is a very good time for Steber, and if you enjoyed her 1949 Violetta , this is very fine singing indeed. This is arguably Tebaldi’s best role, and her first two Met broadcasts first with Stiedry in 1955 and Cleva in 1958, both with Del Monaco still remain missing from the Sirius rebroadcast listings. Del Monaco’s first Met Otello (not broadcast ) is with this 1952 cast 6 days after Steber does her first with Vinay on the broadcast. The other major interest from Steber here is she sang Fiordiligi at night after this broadcast.

RIGOLETTO
Oct 27 @ 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM


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.

Dec
17
Tue
2019
DON CARLO
Dec 17 @ 9:00 PM – 11:55 PM


DON CARLO:Verdi
Stiedry; Tucker, Rigal, Silveri, Barbieri, Hines, Hotter
Original Air Date: 04/05/1952
MOD Audio
SID.19510214
This is most distinctive for being Tucker’s first Don Carlo broadcast and one of Hotter’s few. This is the first of Tucker’s three Don Carlo broadcasts, and I find his 1955 preferable. What I’ve never heard, but also from 1952 (but next season) is his second which has a better supporting cast with Merrill for Silveri, and Siepi for Hines as Filippo; Erede is in the pit for his only Don Carlo broadcast. Also unusual is that though Tucker went on to sing the opera for 15 more years after his 1955 broadcast with Steber, he never went to the airwaves for it again. At 26 performances, he is by far the Don Carlo champion– I saw him in it three times. most notably at a fall 1968 matinee not broadcast with (Orlandi, Verrett, Merrill, Ghiaurov, and Talvela under Abbado). Bing did not see Hotter in leading roles and in Walkure he was cast as Hunding, not Wotan. What has not been rebroadcast on Sirius is Hotter’s farewell which is a 1954 Parsifal with Svanholm, Varnay, and London, and Hotter as Gurnemanz under Stiedry.

Dec
20
Fri
2019
DON CARLO
Dec 20 @ 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM


DON CARLO:Verdi
Stiedry; Tucker, Rigal, Silveri, Barbieri, Hines, Hotter
Original Air Date: 04/05/1952
MOD Audio
SID.19510531
This is most distinctive for being Tucker’s first Don Carlo broadcast and one of Hotter’s few. This is the first of Tucker’s three Don Carlo broadcasts, and I find his 1955 preferable. What I’ve never heard, but also from 1952 (but next season) is his second which has a better supporting cast with Merrill for Silveri, and Siepi for Hines as Filippo; Erede is in the pit for his only Don Carlo broadcast. Also unusual is that though Tucker went on to sing the opera for 15 more years after his 1955 broadcast with Steber, he never went to the airwaves for it again. At 26 performances, he is by far the Don Carlo champion– I saw him in it three times. most notably at a fall 1968 matinee not broadcast with (Orlandi, Verrett, Merrill, Ghiaurov, and Talvela under Abbado). Bing did not see Hotter in leading roles and in Walkure he was cast as Hunding, not Wotan. What has not been rebroadcast on Sirius is Hotter’s farewell which is a 1954 Parsifal with Svanholm, Varnay, and London, and Hotter as Gurnemanz under Stiedry.

Dec
22
Sun
2019
DON CARLO
Dec 22 @ 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM


DON CARLO:Verdi
Stiedry; Tucker, Rigal, Silveri, Barbieri, Hines, Hotter
Original Air Date: 04/05/1952
MOD Audio
SID.19510746
This is most distinctive for being Tucker’s first Don Carlo broadcast and one of Hotter’s few. This is the first of Tucker’s three Don Carlo broadcasts, and I find his 1955 preferable. What I’ve never heard, but also from 1952 (but next season) is his second which has a better supporting cast with Merrill for Silveri, and Siepi for Hines as Filippo; Erede is in the pit for his only Don Carlo broadcast. Also unusual is that though Tucker went on to sing the opera for 15 more years after his 1955 broadcast with Steber, he never went to the airwaves for it again. At 26 performances, he is by far the Don Carlo champion– I saw him in it three times. most notably at a fall 1968 matinee not broadcast with (Orlandi, Verrett, Merrill, Ghiaurov, and Talvela under Abbado). Bing did not see Hotter in leading roles and in Walkure he was cast as Hunding, not Wotan. What has not been rebroadcast on Sirius is Hotter’s farewell which is a 1954 Parsifal with Svanholm, Varnay, and London, and Hotter as Gurnemanz under Stiedry.

Mar
3
Tue
2020
SALOME
Mar 3 @ 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM


SALOME:Strauss
Reiner; Welitsch, Svanholm, Hoengen, Hotter, Sullivan
Original Air Date: 01/19/1952

SID.20100211
The performance was issued on LP as an upper tier Guild fundraiser. Reiner and Welitsch had caused a sensation in 1949, but the magic was not the same 3 years later, primarily because Welitsch’s voice was well into a steep decline that she never recovered from. The sound is ostensibly better here than 1949, but that is the performance which should be heard on Sirius. This afternoon in 1952 also featured Gianni Schicci with Baccaloni (with Erede conducting, NOT Reiner) which is not being rebroadcast. From 1961-62 season on Salome has been performed without a companion work.

Mar
6
Fri
2020
SALOME
Mar 6 @ 12:00 AM – 3:00 AM


SALOME:Strauss
Reiner; Welitsch, Svanholm, Hoengen, Hotter, Sullivan
Original Air Date: 01/19/1952

SID.20100529
The performance was issued on LP as an upper tier Guild fundraiser. Reiner and Welitsch had caused a sensation in 1949, but the magic was not the same 3 years later, primarily because Welitsch’s voice was well into a steep decline that she never recovered from. The sound is ostensibly better here than 1949, but that is the performance which should be heard on Sirius. This afternoon in 1952 also featured Gianni Schicci with Baccaloni (with Erede conducting, NOT Reiner) which is not being rebroadcast. From 1961-62 season on Salome has been performed without a companion work.

Mar
8
Sun
2020
SALOME
Mar 8 @ 6:00 AM – 9:00 AM


SALOME:Strauss
Reiner; Welitsch, Svanholm, Hoengen, Hotter, Sullivan
Original Air Date: 01/19/1952

SID.20100743
The performance was issued on LP as an upper tier Guild fundraiser. Reiner and Welitsch had caused a sensation in 1949, but the magic was not the same 3 years later, primarily because Welitsch’s voice was well into a steep decline that she never recovered from. The sound is ostensibly better here than 1949, but that is the performance which should be heard on Sirius. This afternoon in 1952 also featured Gianni Schicci with Baccaloni (with Erede conducting, NOT Reiner) which is not being rebroadcast. From 1961-62 season on Salome has been performed without a companion work.

Mar
24
Tue
2020
LA BOHÈME
Mar 24 @ 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM

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.

Mar
26
Thu
2020
LA BOHÈME
Mar 26 @ 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM

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.

Mar
28
Sat
2020
LA BOHÈME
Mar 28 @ 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM

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.

Apr
6
Mon
2020
DIE FLEDERMAUS
Apr 6 @ 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM


DIE FLEDERMAUS:Strauss Jr.
Ormandy & Blatt; Resnik, Kullman, Munsel, Sullivan, Thebom, Brownlee
Original Air Date: 12/22/1951

SID.20150105
This is the second season of the hit Fledermaus production, and while I never cared much for Resnik’s soprano outings, she’s an improvement on Piazza. Ormandy comes back for this, but leaves the third act to a repetiteur as he had a Saturday night in Philadelphia with his Orchestra and his real bread and butter. Munsel is still the real star. Brownlee was in practically every Fledermaus until he left the Met.

Apr
8
Wed
2020
DIE FLEDERMAUS
Apr 8 @ 9:00 PM – 11:55 PM


DIE FLEDERMAUS:Strauss Jr.
Ormandy & Blatt; Resnik, Kullman, Munsel, Sullivan, Thebom, Brownlee
Original Air Date: 12/22/1951

SID.20150324
This is the second season of the hit Fledermaus production, and while I never cared much for Resnik’s soprano outings, she’s an improvement on Piazza. Ormandy comes back for this, but leaves the third act to a repetiteur as he had a Saturday night in Philadelphia with his Orchestra and his real bread and butter. Munsel is still the real star. Brownlee was in practically every Fledermaus until he left the Met.

Apr
11
Sat
2020
DIE FLEDERMAUS
Apr 11 @ 6:00 AM – 9:00 AM


DIE FLEDERMAUS:Strauss Jr.
Ormandy & Blatt; Resnik, Kullman, Munsel, Sullivan, Thebom, Brownlee
Original Air Date: 12/22/1951

SID.20150642
This is the second season of the hit Fledermaus production, and while I never cared much for Resnik’s soprano outings, she’s an improvement on Piazza. Ormandy comes back for this, but leaves the third act to a repetiteur as he had a Saturday night in Philadelphia with his Orchestra and his real bread and butter. Munsel is still the real star. Brownlee was in practically every Fledermaus until he left the Met.