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.
ADRIANA LECOUVREUR:Cilea
Original Air Date: 04/19/1969
Cleva; Tebaldi, Corelli, Dalis, Colzani
SID.19390101
Tebaldi loved the part of Adriana, but this broadcast finds her in rather frayed voice (after more than 30 Giocondas the previous two seasons). Corelli, Dalis, and Colzani are strong support.
NABUCCO:Verdi
Original Air Date: 02/26/2005
Levine; Putilin, Guleghina, Buchuladze, Hughes Jones
SID.19390102
LUCIA DI LAMMERMOOR:Donizetti
Original Air Date: 12/11/1999
Müller; Swenson, Vargas, Nucci, Pertusi
SID.19390103
Vargas did some very nice early Edgardos at the Met (I remember one with Futral) and Nucci should also be a strong Enrico. This is the second season for Swenson in a Nicholas Joel production she premiered which replaced the disastrous Zambello production. Solid support from the male contingent for her. If they’re going to put Anderson in MOoD (with Leech and Fu), Swenson should be as well, and this is a stronger male cast.
THE QUEEN OF SPADES:Tchaikovsky
Original Air Date: 02/14/2004
Jurowski; Domingo, Dalayman, Palmer, Chernov, Zaremba, Putilin
SID.19390104
This is Domingo’s last round out as Gherman, which seemed like yesterday but is now over a decade gone. Jurowski is an interesting conductor as is Dalayman’s Lisa. Chernov does not have the finish of Hvorostovsky, but it all depends on one’s reaction to Domingo’s Gherman. This is Domingo’s second Gherman, much prefer Palmer to Soderstrom and Dalayman to Gorchakova. This is late Chernov. Jurowski is a top drawer conductor in my view. Not a short work, but a lot of thrilling music. Jurowski is conductor, and the cast is not without interest. It’s a shame the first year of the production with Mattila and Heppner at their peak and the final role at the Met for Rysanek, that no broadcast exists.
SIMON BOCCANEGRA:Verdi
Original Air Date: 02/06/2010
Levine; Domingo, Pieczonka, Giordani, Morris, Gaertner
SID.19390105
This is the broadcast that was paired with the Live in HD transmission. I actually prefer the following year’s Boccanegra when Hvorostovsky moves into the title role, and Frittoli and Furlanetto have more to offer.
PORGY AND BESS
George Gershwin Dubose and Dorothy Heyward, Ira Gershwin
Robertson; Blue, Schultz, Moore, Graves, Ballentine, Owens, Walker, Speedo Green
OAD 9/23/2019 – Season Premiere, 2019-2020 Opening Night
SID.19390106
One of America’s favorite operas returns to the Met for the first time in nearly 30 years. James Robinson’s stylish production transports audiences to Catfish Row on the Charleston waterfront, vibrant with the music, dancing, emotion, and heartbreak of its inhabitants. “If you’re going to stage Gershwin’s opera, this is how,” raved the Guardian when the new production premiered in London in 2018. David Robertson conducts a dynamic cast, featuring the sympathetic duo of Eric Owens and Angel Blue in the title roles
The worldwide copyrights in the works of George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin for this presentation are licensed by the Gershwin family. GERSHWIN is a registered trademark of Gershwin Enterprises. Porgy and Bess is a registered trademark of Porgy and Bess Enterprises. A co-production of the Metropolitan Opera; Dutch National Opera, Amsterdam; and English National Opera Production a gift of The Sybil B. Harrington Endowment Fund and Douglas Dockery Thomas
LA CENERENTOLA:Rossini
Original Air Date: 01/24/1998
Levine; Larmore, Vargas, Alaimo, Corbelli
MOD Audio SID.19390107
The 2000 broadcast with Larmore features Campanella and Gimenez. This 1998 broadcast is the original cast from the fall 1997 premiere except with Larmore for Bartoli. The Bartoli performance is preserved on video on MOoD. New York has seen a lot of Cenerentola in the 17 years since it premiered– Bartoli, Larmore,Borodina, Ganassi, Garanca, DiDonato. Neither Borodina nor Ganassi were broadcast– I liked Borodina very much and the Ganassi performances featured Florez’ first NYC Ramiros.
SAMSON ET DALILA:Saint-Saëns
Original Air Date: 04/12/1958
Cleva; Del Monaco, Stevens, Singher
MOD Audio SID.19390208
Del Monaco never did a studio version of Samson so this performance is welcome. Singher came in 1943 to the Met and makes his farewell eight months after this Samson broadcast doing the two performances of the four Hoffmann villains. He’s an important part of the Met’s French wing with both Pelleas and Golaud in two different revivals. He went on to be a major teacher at the Curtis Institute, with James King his most notable student. This performance is available on MOoD, and good to have it since Del Monaco never did a studio version
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.
SIEGFRIED:Wagner
Original Air Date: 04/15/2000
Levine; Eaglen, Svendén, Andersen, Clark, Morris, Wlaschiha
SID.19390210 [Scheduled but not Aired]
This is Andersen’s Met debut and the first of Eaglen’s two broadcast Siegfried Brunnhildes. To me, the treat in Siegfried is always Morris, and especially the 3rd act scenes with Erda and Siegfried.
THE QUEEN OF SPADES:Tchaikovsky
Original Air Date: 02/14/2004
Jurowski; Domingo, Dalayman, Palmer, Chernov, Zaremba, Putilin
SID.19390204 (not scheduled but aired)
This is Domingo’s last round out as Gherman, which seemed like yesterday but is now over a decade gone. Jurowski is an interesting conductor as is Dalayman’s Lisa. Chernov does not have the finish of Hvorostovsky, but it all depends on one’s reaction to Domingo’s Gherman. This is Domingo’s second Gherman, much prefer Palmer to Soderstrom and Dalayman to Gorchakova. This is late Chernov. Jurowski is a top drawer conductor in my view. Not a short work, but a lot of thrilling music. Jurowski is conductor, and the cast is not without interest. It’s a shame the first year of the production with Mattila and Heppner at their peak and the final role at the Met for Rysanek, that no broadcast exists.
SIMON BOCCANEGRA:Verdi
Original Air Date: 02/06/2010
Levine; Domingo, Pieczonka, Giordani, Morris, Gaertner
SID.19390205 (not scheduled but aired)
This is the broadcast that was paired with the Live in HD transmission. I actually prefer the following year’s Boccanegra when Hvorostovsky moves into the title role, and Frittoli and Furlanetto have more to offer.
Various:Various
Original Air Date: 01/01/9999
Various Artists
SID.19390211
Various selections between scheduled operas. Siriusxm Radio and web player will show the Composer and Title.
MANON Massenet
Benini: Oropesa, Fabiano, Bosi, Rucinski, Polegato, Youn
OAD 9/24/2019 Season Premiere SID.19390212
Program
Exhilarating soprano Lisette Oropesa stars as the irresistible title character, the tragic beauty who yearns for the finer things in life, in Laurent Pelly’s revealing production. Tenor Michael Fabiano is the besotted Chevalier des Grieux, whose desperate love for Manon proves their undoing. Maurizio Benini conducts Massenet’s sensual score.
A co-production of the Metropolitan Opera; Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London; Teatro alla Scala, Milan; and Théâtre du Capitole de Toulouse Production a gift of The Sybil B. Harrington Endowment Fund
VICTORY LAP Interview with Lisette Oropesa from metopera.org
LA BOHÈME:Puccini
Original Air Date: 01/25/1969
Adler; Tucci, Labò, Fenn, Walker, Díaz
SID.19390213
Not a gala Boheme, but it’s nice to have two Italians in the leads. Tucci was a first rate lyric soprano, and Labo sounds very major compared to some of the second tier guys who have been doing Puccini leads. February 1 is Labo’s birthday which he shares with a far more famous Mimi, Renata Tebaldi.
SIMON BOCCANEGRA:Verdi
Original Air Date: 02/06/2010
Levine; Domingo, Pieczonka, Giordani, Morris, Gaertner
SID.19390214
This is the broadcast that was paired with the Live in HD transmission. I actually prefer the following year’s Boccanegra when Hvorostovsky moves into the title role, and Frittoli and Furlanetto have more to offer.
DIE ZAUBERFLÖTE:Mozart
Original Air Date: 03/04/1967
Krips; Raskin, Shirley, Uppman, Peters, Macurdy
MOD Audio SID.19390315
First year in the new house, the Chagall production premiered with the Europeans (Lorengar, Popp, Gedda, Prey) plus Hines, but the Americans in the cast above got the broadcast. I liked Krips conducting very much. Popp did broadcast her Queen 3 years later, but this performance has not been on Sirius. Skrowacewski is the conductor, Zylis-Gara is the Pamina, but Popp, Gedda, Prey are all picked up from the premiere cast, and it’s the only German broadcasts of their roles. Sirius should definitely fill in this gap. In 1967 Macurdy was actually fresher of voice than Hines, but mostly this cast was definitely second class.
UN BALLO IN MASCHERA:Verdi
Original Air Date: 01/30/1971
Cleva; Domingo, Arroyo, Merrill, Peters, Dunn
SID.19390316
This is a solid Ballo with early Domingo (he only arrived in 1968) and late Merrill (well Merrill had one more broadcast and 5 more seasons actually concluding his Met tenure in Detroit in May 1976. On the broadcast airwaves, Merrill totally dominated with 8 of the 9 broadcasts between 1955 and 1975. Arroyo has several impressive moments in the role, but while the top is very secure, the flow in the lower register is not her natural strength. Still, this is an afternoon with little to wince at from anyone.
IDOMENEO:Mozart
Original Air Date: 03/25/1995
Levine; Domingo, Upshaw, Vaness, von Otter, Davies
MOD Audio SID.19390317
Levine is an excellent Idomeneo conductor, and Vaness is the best of the Met Elettras. Upshaw is a bit light
Various:Various
Original Air Date: 01/01/9999
Various Artists
SID.19390318
Various selections between scheduled operas. Siriusxm Radio and web player will show the Composer and Title.
MACBETH Verdi
Armiliato; Netrebko, Pirozzi, Polenzani, Lucic, Abdrazakov
OAD 9/25/2019 Season Premiere
SID.19390319 PROGRAM
Soprano Anna Netrebko created a sensation when she made her Met role debut as Lady Macbeth in 2014. Tonight, she returns to Verdi’s gripping Shakespeare adaptation. Baritone Željko Lučić, who starred in the 2007 premiere of Adrian Noble’s evocative production, sings the title role. Marco Armiliato conducts a cast that also features tenor Matthew Polenzani as Macduff and bass Ildar Abdrazakov as Banquo.
Production a gift of Mr. and Mrs. Paul M. Montrone Additional funding from Mr. and Mrs. William R. Miller; Hermione Foundation, Laura Sloate, Trustee; and The Gilbert S. Kahn & John J. Noffo Kahn Endowment Fund Revival a gift of Rolex
[Note: Placido Domingo was scheduled to sing MacBeth but withdrew from his appearances in this opera and at the MET on 9-24-19]
Photos: MET OPERA
HAMLET:Thomas
Original Air Date: 03/27/2010
Langrée; Keenlyside, Petersen, Larmore, Morris, Spence
MOD Video SID.19390320
This is the only Met broadcast of the Thomas work. Keenlyside has a commercial DVD in the same production with Dessay from Barcelona 2004. Petersen was a late substitute for Dessay for the whole run. Larmoreis especially vivid as Gertrude, part of her movement into dramatic mezzo/soprano parts.
BILLY BUDD:Britten
Original Air Date: 04/14/1984
Atherton; Duesing, Cassilly, Morris, Glossop, Clark
SID.19390321
The Dexter/Dudley Billy Budd is a Met classic, and Morris is at the top of his considerable form as Claggart in this third broadcast of a production premiered in 1978.
LA CENERENTOLA:Rossini
Original Air Date: 01/24/1998
Levine; Larmore, Vargas, Alaimo, Corbelli
MOD Audio SID.19390422
The 2000 broadcast with Larmore features Campanella and Gimenez. This 1998 broadcast is the original cast from the fall 1997 premiere except with Larmore for Bartoli. The Bartoli performance is preserved on video on MOoD. New York has seen a lot of Cenerentola in the 17 years since it premiered– Bartoli, Larmore,Borodina, Ganassi, Garanca, DiDonato. Neither Borodina nor Ganassi were broadcast– I liked Borodina very much and the Ganassi performances featured Florez’ first NYC Ramiros.
NABUCCO:Verdi
Original Air Date: 02/26/2005
Levine; Putilin, Guleghina, Buchuladze, Hughes Jones
SID.19390423
LUCIA DI LAMMERMOOR:Donizetti
Original Air Date: 12/11/1999
Müller; Swenson, Vargas, Nucci, Pertusi
SID.19390424
Vargas did some very nice early Edgardos at the Met (I remember one with Futral) and Nucci should also be a strong Enrico. This is the second season for Swenson in a Nicholas Joel production she premiered which replaced the disastrous Zambello production. Solid support from the male contingent for her. If they’re going to put Anderson in MOoD (with Leech and Fu), Swenson should be as well, and this is a stronger male cast.
LA BOHÈME:Puccini
Original Air Date: 01/25/1969
Adler; Tucci, Labò, Fenn, Walker, Díaz
SID.19390425
Not a gala Boheme, but it’s nice to have two Italians in the leads. Tucci was a first rate lyric soprano, and Labo sounds very major compared to some of the second tier guys who have been doing Puccini leads. February 1 is Labo’s birthday which he shares with a far more famous Mimi, Renata Tebaldi.
SIMON BOCCANEGRA:Verdi
Original Air Date: 02/06/2010
Levine; Domingo, Pieczonka, Giordani, Morris, Gaertner
SID.19390426
This is the broadcast that was paired with the Live in HD transmission. I actually prefer the following year’s Boccanegra when Hvorostovsky moves into the title role, and Frittoli and Furlanetto have more to offer.
SAMSON ET DALILA:Saint-Saëns
Original Air Date: 04/12/1958
Cleva; Del Monaco, Stevens, Singher
MOD Audio SID.19390427
Del Monaco never did a studio version of Samson so this performance is welcome. Singher came in 1943 to the Met and makes his farewell eight months after this Samson broadcast doing the two performances of the four Hoffmann villains. He’s an important part of the Met’s French wing with both Pelleas and Golaud in two different revivals. He went on to be a major teacher at the Curtis Institute, with James King his most notable student. This performance is available on MOoD, and good to have it since Del Monaco never did a studio version
SIEGFRIED:Wagner
Original Air Date: 04/15/2000
Levine; Eaglen, Svendén, Andersen, Clark, Morris, Wlaschiha
SID.19390428
This is Andersen’s Met debut and the first of Eaglen’s two broadcast Siegfried Brunnhildes. To me, the treat in Siegfried is always Morris, and especially the 3rd act scenes with Erda and Siegfried.