MET Historic Broadcast recordings

[furrybear57]

My apologies to everyone for bringing up an old, old topic, but, I just came from a used bookstore nearby and they were selling 19 of the MET Historic Broadcast recordings in those faux-velvet boxes for $5.00 each plus two on CD for $20.00. Okay, so I snatched them up as a) I've never heard any of them (not even on alternate labels) and b) they were all in very good condition.

As I was sorting them out in my house I saw they were numbered as MET 1, MET 2, etc. and it appears I have MET 1-3, 6-20, 22, 25-26. I tried to locate a complete list on line but either I was not searching correctly or it doesn't exist. Which is why I am now asking if anyone out there knows which operas I am missing.

Here are the ones I have:

Le Nozze di Figaro
Madama Butterfly
Tristan und Isolde
Fidelio
Carmen
Un Ballo in Maschera
Salome/Elektra
Tosca
Romeo et Juliette
Tannhauser
Simon Boccanegra
Les Contes d'Hoffmann
Andrea Chenier
Turandot
La Gioconda
La Sonnambula
Die Walkure
Otello
Manon Lescaut
Don Giovanni
Parsifal

Thanks.

[gggg...@gmail.com]

If you haven't read this yet, it may be of interest:

https://www.questia.com/library/journal/1G1-214397883/the-metropolitan-opera-historic-broadcast-recordings

[gggg...@gmail.com]

On Saturday, May 14, 2016 at 8:14:25 AM UTC-10, furrybear57 wrote:

Wasn't there a Rosenkavalier with Lehmann?

And a Lohengrin with Rethberg?

[furrybear57]

Yes, I have a Rosenkavalier with Lehmann from 1939. sorry I left that one out. But no Lohengrin. Tannhauser, T&I, Walkure and Parsifal are the four Wagner operas.

[furrybear57]

Thanks for the link but I can only read a fourth of it. to read the rest I have to pay Questia $20 for a one month subscription. I guess I'll have to dig out the old change purse.

[jeffc]

Are these the same recordings that Sony is releasing on it's Met Opera Series (e.g R&J Bjorling/Sayao/Cooper, Ernani Bergonzi/Price/Schippers, L'Elisir Bergonzi/Peters/Schippers) and in their box sets "Verdi at the Met" and "Wagner at the Met"?

[jeffc]

Not to be confused with the Met Opera Club (MOCR) Lp recordings (collected
by the late Mike Richter on CD-ROM -- which is, unfortunately, no longer available)

[Jerry]

Apologies if it's been mentioned before, but the MET did offer a 3-CD
set of excerpts from all 19 MOCR issues entitled "An Era Recaptured,"
numbered MET 258.

Transfers, presumably from LPs, were restored by Dan Hladik with
CEDAR processing and mastering by Seth Winner studios. Results
were really excellent.

Not sure if it's still available, though these items from the MET
should be resurfacing in the second-hand market.

Sadly, the program of selections is not all that satisfying,
particularly with English-language versions of Magic Flute and
Hansel and Gretel.

Jerry

[woytek]

Metropolitan Opera Guild MET-1
Nozze - Recording of a performance at the MET (7 December 1940)

Metropolitan Opera Guild MET 2
Butterfly - Recording of a performance at the MET (19 January 1946)

Metropolitan Opera Guild MET 3
Tristan - Recording of a performance at the MET (8 February 1941)

Metropolitan Opera Guild MET 4
Otello - Recording of a performance at the MET (24 February 1940)

Metropolitan Opera Guild MET 5
Rosenkavalier - Recording of a performance at the MET (1939)

Metropolitan Opera Guild MET 6
Fidelio - Recording of a performance at the MET (1941)

Metropolitan Opera Guild MET 7
Carmen - Recording of a performance given by the Metropolitan Opera at Cleveland (17 April 1937)

Metropolitan Opera Guild MET 8
Ballo - Recording of a performance at the MET (1940)

Metropolitan Opera Guild MET 9
Salome / Elektra - Recording of a performance at the MET (1952)

Metropolitan Opera Guild MET 10
Tosca - Recording of a performance at the MET (1956)

Metropolitan Opera Guild MET 11
Romeo - Recording of a performance at the MET (1947)

Metropolitan Opera Guild MET 12
Tannhauser - Recording of a performance of the Paris Version at the MET (4 January 1941)

Metropolitan Opera Guild MET 13
Boccanegra - Recording of a performance at the MET (21 January 1939)

Metropolitan Opera Guild MET 14
Hoffman - Recording of a performance at the MET (1955)

Metropolitan Opera Guild MET 15
Andrea Chenier - Recording of a performance at the MET (4 December 1954)

Metropolitan Opera Guild MET 16
Turandot - Recording of a performance at the MET (1961)

Metropolitan Opera Guild MET 17
Gioconda - Recording of a performance at the MET (1961)

Metropolitan Opera Guild MET 18
Sonnambula - Recording of a performance at the MET (10 march 1963)

Metropolitan Opera Guild MET 19
Walkuere - Recording of a performance at the MET (1944)

Metropolitan Opera Guild MET 20
Otello - Recording of a performance at the MET (1958)

Metropolitan Opera Guild MET 21
James Levine, anniversary collection, 1971-1996
Metropolitan Opera Guild MET 22
Manon Lescaut- Recording of a performance at the MET (10 december 1949)

Metropolitan Opera Guild MET 23
Rosenkavalier - Recording of a performance at the MET (1951)

Metropolitan Opera Guild MET 24
highlights from The First Texaco Season 1940-41

Metropolitan Opera Guild MET 25
Don Giovanni - Recording of a performance at the MET (1959)

Metropolitan Opera Guild MET 26
Parsifal - Recording of a performance at the MET (1983)

Metropolitan Opera Guild MET 27
Vespri Siciliani - Recording of a performance at the MET (1974)

[furrybear57]

Woytek, thank you for the complete list. Now I know what I have and don't have. BTW, is the James Levine Anniversary Collection (which is on 3 CDs) the same as the anniversary performance on the 2-DVD set? If not, where do I find what is on the Anniversary MET edition?
Carlos

[woytek]

I made this list searching number by number in various sources, of course there is more MET catalogue numbers. I'm glad it's useful :)

[jeffc]

Most every worthwhile Met broadcast is available in 'pirated' form
-- the question is which label has the best sound. I have found
that Myto usually uses the best sources and least
intrusive processing. It is my understanding that outside of
the original Met tapes, the best source material has always been
from

http://omegaoperasite.net/home.html

I've been very pleased with
the recent Sony versions

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/21/arts/music/sony-classical-releases-4-new-historic-met-opera-cds.html?hpw&_r=0


-- specifically,

http://www.metoperashop.org/shop/verdi-at-the-met-20-cd-box-set-11622

I assume Mr Geld has made the original tapes available to Sony.

As for the MORC recordings, one that I've always loved is the Eugene
Onegin with Tucker, Guarrera and Amara

http://www.amazon.com/Tchaikovsky-Eugene-Onegin-Metropolitan-Record/dp/B009F2G8S2/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8

-- though, the live performance
with George London

http://www.amazon.in/Tchaikovsky-Richard-Metropolitan-Mitropoulos-English/dp/B002OSA3XU

is preferable (Mitropoulos conducting both)

If live performance is your cup of tea, I highly recommend

http://www.metoperashop.org/shop/the-royal-opera-great-performances-19551997-32-cd-box-set-13584

... great performances that have only been previously available in rather dismal 'pirate' sound.

[wkasimer]

On Sunday, May 15, 2016 at 12:52:47 PM UTC-4, woytek wrote:

> Metropolitan Opera Guild MET 26
> Parsifal - Recording of a performance at the MET (1983)

This is actually from 1985 (April 20), and an absolutely stunning performance. And if the OP got it for $20, it was quite a bargain...

[jeffc]

There's an account it, Vickers last Parsifal at the Met, at

https://books.google.com/books?id=GlfVLFMwLJsC&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false

page 276

Not to doubt Mr Kasimer's date, I found this:

"Their last jointly-produced release was MET 23, the 24 February 1951 broadcast of Strauss's Der Rosenkavalier (Dorle Soria died in 2002 at the age of 101). Hamilton assumed sole production responsibilities in 2001 with the release of MET 24, devoted to highlights from The First Texaco Season 1940-41, and Paul Gruber joined him as co-producer for MET 26 and MET 27, the 20 April 1983 broadcast of Wagner's Parsifal and the 9 March 1974 performance of Verdi's I Vespri Siciliani."

https://www.questia.com/library/journal/1G1-214397883/the-metropolitan-opera-historic-broadcast-recordings

There was a series of Parsifal's in 1983 -- the performances were in April and the broadcast was April 16, 1983. All were conducted by Levine but Vickers was not the Parsifal.

Met Performance] CID:272120
Parsifal {242}
Metropolitan Opera House; 04/1/1983

[Met Performance] CID:272150
Parsifal {243}
Metropolitan Opera House; 04/4/1983

[Met Performance] CID:272180
Parsifal {244}
Metropolitan Opera House; 04/7/1983

[Met Performance] CID:272250
Parsifal {245}
Metropolitan Opera House; 04/13/1983

[Met Performance] CID:272280
Parsifal {246}
Metropolitan Opera House; 04/16/1983
Broadcast

Amazon lists MET 26 as the 1985 performance

http://www.amazon.com/Metropolitan-Opera-Historic-Broadcast-Parsifal/dp/B0010W8JN2

Shouldn't be hard to tell if it is 1983 or 1985 -- Vickers sound is unmistakeable -- as was Rysanek's, it was her last Kundry at the Met.

Here's a review from the first of the 1985 performances (4/8/1985)

https://books.google.com/books?id=7sMBAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA96&lpg=PA96&dq=Leonie+Rysanek+Kundry&source=bl&ots=06F5OaXfu9&sig=ShWQ02h9iB37CxFHJ5z5k3FRevk&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjGyMnNzePMAhUBVSYKHWA6AaIQ6AEIWDAN#v=onepage&q=Leonie%20Rysanek%20Kundry&f=false

[wkasimer]

On Wednesday, May 18, 2016 at 8:36:31 AM UTC-4, jeffc wrote:

> Shouldn't be hard to tell if it is 1983 or 1985 -- Vickers sound is unmistakeable -- as was Rysanek's, it was her last Kundry at the Met.

Not only unmistakable, but I don't think that the Met would consider calling any Parsifal with Manfred Jung "Historic".

I've heard it, and it's definitely the 1985 performance. Not only are Rysanek and Vickers unmistakable, but so are Estes and Moll.

[zink...@gmail.com]

On Saturday, May 14, 2016 at 2:14:25 PM UTC-4, furrybear57 wrote:

Hi....I am interested in the Parsifal if it is the one with Rysanek and Vickers.
Also...is it on cd?...please advise....zinkafan@aol.com

[gggg...@gmail.com]

On Sunday, May 15, 2016 at 6:52:47 AM UTC-10, woytek wrote:
> Metropolitan Opera Guild MET-1

> Nozze - Recording of a performance at the MET (7 December 1940)...

Considering that Wednesday is the 76th anniversary of that Marriage of Figaro performance, it may be of interest to know that in the days of the lp, in addition to the official Met Guild MET-1 issue, there used to be a private label issue of that performance in better sound but with a multi-second gap just before PORGI AMOR.

[gggg...@gmail.com]

> Yes, I have a Rosenkavalier with Lehmann from 1939...

If you want to read about it (after clicking on link below, scroll down page):

http://lottelehmannleague.org/rosenkavalier/

[gggg...@gmail.com]

The following description of the MET official recording may be of interest:

https://books.google.com/books?id=CsGj12DnHLYC&pg=PA287&lpg=PA287&dq=rethberg+past+her+prime&source=bl&ots=KAEARX_Zan&sig=t4niSDds7xDhveOpTDZE7VCJfxk&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi1peC5kN_RAhXHy1QKHSqKDFgQ6AEILjAG#v=snippet&q=%22Elisabeth%20Rethberg(A)%2C%20Licia%22%22&f=false

[zink...@gmail.com]

Hi....I would be interested in the parsifal if it is on cd and if the cast includes jon vickers and leonie rysanek...please advise...thanks...zinkafan.

[jeffc]

On Thursday, January 26, 2017 at 2:01:34 PM UTC-5, zink...@gmail.com wrote:
> Hi....I would be interested in the parsifal if it is on cd and if the cast includes jon vickers and leonie rysanek...please advise...thanks...zinkafan.

Is this the one?

https://www.amazon.com/Metropolitan-Opera-Historic-Broadcast-Parsifal/dp/B0010W8JN2

or

http://www.premiereopera.com/search.aspx?find=Parsifal+1985

[zink...@gmail.com]

Hello...if you still have the april 1985 parsifal with rysanek and vickers, I would like to purchase it...thanks...zinkafan

[jeffc]

2797 Wagner Parsifal 4/20/1985 Vickers,Rysanek,Moll,Estes--

http://omegaoperasite.net/

omeg...@msn.com

[wkasimer]

On Saturday, June 3, 2017 at 7:03:53 AM UTC-4, zink...@gmail.com wrote:

> Hello...if you still have the april 1985 parsifal with rysanek and vickers, I would like to purchase it...thanks...zinkafan

https://www.amazon.com/Metropolitan-Opera-Historic-Broadcast-Parsifal/dp/B0010W8JN2