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.
IL BARBIERE DI SIVIGLIA:Rossini
Original Air Date: 03/09/1963
Strasfogel; Guarrera, D’Angelo, Shirley, Corena, Tozzi
SID.19340533
The only known I will vouch for in advance is Corena, one of his very best roles. Tozzi becomes more variable in this period, so I don’t want to praise a performance I have not recently heard. This performance could be anything from a train wreck to a secret gem. What I am sure about is that it is not the Zedda critical edition (not yet published).
UN BALLO IN MASCHERA:Verdi
Santi; Tucker, Nilsson, Merrill, Dobbs, Madeira
Original Air Date: 01/12/1963
MOD Audio
SID.19430104
This performance finds the principals in very strong form (Nilsson’s only broadcast from the Met of Amelia) and Tucker is an excellent match for her. Merrill is in his run of eight of the nine Ballo broadcasts between 1955 and 1985!!!! Definitely worth a listen. (Schonberg NYT Review,1/11/63) Birgit Nilsson is by common consent the greatest active Wagenrian soprano, but that does not mean she cannot sing other music. She mader her first appearance of the season at the Metropolitan Opera on Wednesday night, and she sang the role of Amelia in Verdi’s UN BOOLO IN MASCHERA for the first time at the house. And she sang a spectacular performance. It was not the kind of singing, though, that most Italian sopranos bring to the role…Nillsson’s is a Nordic voice with a wider sound than that produced by the Italians, and hence a little cooler. Also, like most Nordic singers, she holds her emotins in check. There is no sobbing, no carrying on, and the general impression is one of complete vocal and emotional control. But what control! …. for more >
UN BALLO IN MASCHERA:Verdi
Santi; Tucker, Nilsson, Merrill, Dobbs, Madeira
Original Air Date: 01/12/1963
MOD Audio
SID.19430530
This performance finds the principals in very strong form (Nilsson’s only broadcast from the Met of Amelia) and Tucker is an excellent match for her. Merrill is in his run of eight of the nine Ballo broadcasts between 1955 and 1985!!!! Definitely worth a listen. (Schonberg NYT Review,1/11/63) Birgit Nilsson is by common consent the greatest active Wagenrian soprano, but that does not mean she cannot sing other music. She mader her first appearance of the season at the Metropolitan Opera on Wednesday night, and she sang the role of Amelia in Verdi’s UN BOOLO IN MASCHERA for the first time at the house. And she sang a spectacular performance. It was not the kind of singing, though, that most Italian sopranos bring to the role…Nillsson’s is a Nordic voice with a wider sound than that produced by the Italians, and hence a little cooler. Also, like most Nordic singers, she holds her emotins in check. There is no sobbing, no carrying on, and the general impression is one of complete vocal and emotional control. But what control! …. for more
UN BALLO IN MASCHERA:Verdi
Santi; Tucker, Nilsson, Merrill, Dobbs, Madeira
Original Air Date: 01/12/1963
MOD Audio
SID.19430643
This performance finds the principals in very strong form (Nilsson’s only broadcast from the Met of Amelia) and Tucker is an excellent match for her. Merrill is in his run of eight of the nine Ballo broadcasts between 1955 and 1985!!!! Definitely worth a listen. (Schonberg NYT Review,1/11/63) Birgit Nilsson is by common consent the greatest active Wagenrian soprano, but that does not mean she cannot sing other music. She mader her first appearance of the season at the Metropolitan Opera on Wednesday night, and she sang the role of Amelia in Verdi’s UN BOOLO IN MASCHERA for the first time at the house. And she sang a spectacular performance. It was not the kind of singing, though, that most Italian sopranos bring to the role…Nillsson’s is a Nordic voice with a wider sound than that produced by the Italians, and hence a little cooler. Also, like most Nordic singers, she holds her emotins in check. There is no sobbing, no carrying on, and the general impression is one of complete vocal and emotional control. But what control! …. for more
ERNANI:Verdi
Schippers; Bergonzi, Price, MacNeil, Tozzi, Ordassy, Nagy, Reitan
Original Air Date: 12/01/1962
MOD Audio
SID.19520208
This is one of the classic Met broadcasts, and on balance the best of the Ernani broadcasts. Corelli was more of an in-house Ernani, but for the broadcast mikes, Bergonzi is close to ideal. MacNeil, one of the Met mainstay baritones on this occasion delivers an absolutely historic performance with a seemingly unending upper register, but also a command of the style that surpassed any modern baritone at the Met. Price is not ideal as Elvira, but she has many superb moments, especially as captured by the mikes. Fortunately this performance as well as the 1965 with Corelli, Sereni, and Siepi joining Price are BOTH on MOoD, and both performances serve Verdi very well indeed. Available in a Sony historical CD and on MOoD. As much as I love Bergonzi, the most remarkable performance of the afternoon is MacNeil in one of his greatest if not greatest broadcast appearance. Do not miss.
ERNANI:Verdi
Schippers; Bergonzi, Price, MacNeil, Tozzi, Ordassy, Nagy, Reitan
Original Air Date: 12/01/1962
MOD Audio
SID.19520424
This is one of the classic Met broadcasts, and on balance the best of the Ernani broadcasts. Corelli was more of an in-house Ernani, but for the broadcast mikes, Bergonzi is close to ideal. MacNeil, one of the Met mainstay baritones on this occasion delivers an absolutely historic performance with a seemingly unending upper register, but also a command of the style that surpassed any modern baritone at the Met. Price is not ideal as Elvira, but she has many superb moments, especially as captured by the mikes. Fortunately this performance as well as the 1965 with Corelli, Sereni, and Siepi joining Price are BOTH on MOoD, and both performances serve Verdi very well indeed. Available in a Sony historical CD and on MOoD. As much as I love Bergonzi, the most remarkable performance of the afternoon is MacNeil in one of his greatest if not greatest broadcast appearance. Do not miss.
ERNANI:Verdi
Schippers; Bergonzi, Price, MacNeil, Tozzi, Ordassy, Nagy, Reitan
Original Air Date: 12/01/1962
MOD Audio
SID.19520641
This is one of the classic Met broadcasts, and on balance the best of the Ernani broadcasts. Corelli was more of an in-house Ernani, but for the broadcast mikes, Bergonzi is close to ideal. MacNeil, one of the Met mainstay baritones on this occasion delivers an absolutely historic performance with a seemingly unending upper register, but also a command of the style that surpassed any modern baritone at the Met. Price is not ideal as Elvira, but she has many superb moments, especially as captured by the mikes. Fortunately this performance as well as the 1965 with Corelli, Sereni, and Siepi joining Price are BOTH on MOoD, and both performances serve Verdi very well indeed. Available in a Sony historical CD and on MOoD. As much as I love Bergonzi, the most remarkable performance of the afternoon is MacNeil in one of his greatest if not greatest broadcast appearance. Do not miss.
Cilea
Varviso; Tebaldi, Corelli, Cvejic, Colzani
Original Air Date: 02/09/1963
SID.20040211
This performance is not marked in the Met Data Base as having been on Sirius before; Tebaldi and Corelli broadcast the opera 6 years later after the duo had done an almost two year run of Gioconda. That 1969 performance has been on Sirius. Her voice is fresher in this performance, if still not Tebaldi of the pre1960 vintage, and Maurizio is one of Corelli’s best parts. The main claim to fame for Cvejic is that she is the mentor of current star baritone Zeljko Lucic. Colzani is well cast as Michonnet. The opera is not for every taste. The draw here is not in the title role, for Tebaldi was not in good voice for this initial run, and after one more Adriana three days after the broadcast did not appear again for 13 months. Franco Corelli, is at the considerable peak of his form, and makes quite a meal of his many opportunities. Cvejic is better remembered as the teacher of Zelko Lucic than for her limited mezzo. Sirius has also rebroadcast the 1969 revival with Dalis for Cvejic and Tebaldi in much better form than 1963. Corelli is again outstanding and this should be added to MOoD. After a recent listen to the 1969 version, Corelli is considerably off his 1963 performance not to mention the classic Naples performance with Olivero, Simionato and Bastianini.
Cilea
Varviso; Tebaldi, Corelli, Cvejic, Colzani
Original Air Date: 02/09/1963
SID.20040530
This performance is not marked in the Met Data Base as having been on Sirius before; Tebaldi and Corelli broadcast the opera 6 years later after the duo had done an almost two year run of Gioconda. That 1969 performance has been on Sirius. Her voice is fresher in this performance, if still not Tebaldi of the pre1960 vintage, and Maurizio is one of Corelli’s best parts. The main claim to fame for Cvejic is that she is the mentor of current star baritone Zeljko Lucic. Colzani is well cast as Michonnet. The opera is not for every taste. The draw here is not in the title role, for Tebaldi was not in good voice for this initial run, and after one more Adriana three days after the broadcast did not appear again for 13 months. Franco Corelli, is at the considerable peak of his form, and makes quite a meal of his many opportunities. Cvejic is better remembered as the teacher of Zelko Lucic than for her limited mezzo. Sirius has also rebroadcast the 1969 revival with Dalis for Cvejic and Tebaldi in much better form than 1963. Corelli is again outstanding and this should be added to MOoD. After a recent listen to the 1969 version, Corelli is considerably off his 1963 performance not to mention the classic Naples performance with Olivero, Simionato and Bastianini.
Cilea
Varviso; Tebaldi, Corelli, Cvejic, Colzani
Original Air Date: 02/09/1963
SID.20050101
Tebaldi and Corelli broadcast the opera six years later after the duo had done an almost two year run of Gioconda. Her voice is fresher in this performance, if still not Tebaldi of the pre1960 vintage, and Maurizio is one of Corelli’s best parts. The main claim to fame for Cvejic is that she is the mentor of current star baritone Zeljko Lucic. Colzani is well cast as Michonnet. Franco Corelli, is at the considerable peak of his form, and makes quite a meal of his many opportunities. Cvejic is better remembered as the teacher of Zelko Lucic than for her limited mezzo. Sirius has also rebroadcast the 1969 revival with Dalis for Cvejic and Tebaldi in much better form than 1963. Corelli is again outstanding and this should be added to MOoD. After a recent listen to the 1969 version, Corelli is considerably off his 1963 performance not to mention the classic Naples performance with Olivero, Simionato and Bastianini.
LA SONNAMBULA:Bellini
Varviso; Sutherland, Gedda, Flagello, Scovotti
Original Air Date: 03/30/1963
SID.20140105
This is stellar singing from one and all, and is available along with her second Met Sonnambula broadcast from 1968 in MOoD. I was lucky to see Sutherland from her very first USA appearance in Alcina (Dallas,1960) and lucky was I to enjoy such stellar performing for more than a quarter century. Other singers may have a more introspective approach to Sonnambula, but La Stupenda offers something different, and nowhere to be found in opera houses today.
![]("https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/proxy/BMM0NaZMZf1oQKx4RxseytkBrxcj2-oTLAUVOQtmyFQa85iC5a7a8Z8tiBUH87NN0zeE_n9lezeymfBzXhcXU3IrUsxz0fZjUdy9NiB8fQ)
Varviso; Sutherland, Gedda, Flagello, Scovotti
Original Air Date: 03/30/1963
SID.20140323
This is stellar singing from one and all, and is available along with her second Met Sonnambula broadcast from 1968 in MOoD. I was lucky to see Sutherland from her very first USA appearance in Alcina (Dallas,1960) and lucky was I to enjoy such stellar performing for more than a quarter century. Other singers may have a more introspective approach to Sonnambula, but La Stupenda offers something different, and nowhere to be found in opera houses today.
LA SONNAMBULA:Bellini
Varviso; Sutherland, Gedda, Flagello, Scovotti
Original Air Date: 03/30/1963
SID.20140642
This is stellar singing from one and all, and is available along with her second Met Sonnambula broadcast from 1968 in MOoD. I was lucky to see Sutherland from her very first USA appearance in Alcina (Dallas,1960) and lucky was I to enjoy such stellar performing for more than a quarter century. Other singers may have a more introspective approach to Sonnambula, but La Stupenda offers something different, and nowhere to be found in opera houses today.