Live from the Met

John Dexter’s riveting production, designed by Tanya Moiseiwitsch, captures the dark passions of Verdi’s ever popular opera. Cornell MacNeil, in the role of his sensational Met debut, is the tortured hunchback jester, desperate to protect his daughter, Gilda, from the lascivious Duke of Mantua. Ileana Cotrubas is at her most affecting as the innocent girl who sacrifices herself for love. Plácido Domingo’s golden voice and suave appeal are perfect for the charming but faithless Duke. James Levine conducts. Performance date: December 15, 1981.

On March 15, 1977, the Met presented the inaugural performance of its Live from the Met series of opera telecasts—a Peabody Award–winning program that would run on public television for more than 25 years. One of the early performances included in the series was this 1978 performance of Mozart’s classic black comedy Don Giovanni, starring celebrated bass-baritone James Morris as the title seducer—a role that he would go on to sing 42 times with the company. On the podium, Richard Bonynge leads a buoyant performance of Herbert Graf’s classic production. Alongside Morris, the exceptional cast features soprano Joan Sutherland as Donna Anna, baritone Gabriel Bacquier as Leporello, and bass John Macurdy as the Commendatore. Performance date: March 16, 1978.