Live from the Met

What happened to Figaro and his friends after the events told in Rossini’s and Mozart’s operas? One possible sequel is told in John Corigliano’s “grand opera buffa” The Ghosts of Versailles—an uproariously funny and deeply moving work inspired by Beaumarchais’s third Figaro play, La Mère Coupable, and commissioned by the Met to celebrate its 100th anniversary. This telecast captures its world premiere run, conducted by James Levine. Håkan Hagegård is Beaumarchais, Figaro’s creator, who is deeply in love with Empress Marie Antoinette (Teresa Stratas in a heart-searing performance) and determined to rewrite history and save her from the guillotine. A young Renée Fleming, at the beginning of her international career, sings the unfaithful Rosina. Gino Quilico is the wily Figaro who tries to take matters in his own hands and Marilyn Horne stops the show as the exotic entertainer Samira. Performance date: January 10, 1992.

Donizetti’s Nemorino was among Luciano Pavarotti’s greatest roles—his natural charm and mellifluous voice perfectly suited one of opera’s most loveable characters. Kathleen Battle is Adina, the object of his affections, who flirts with the dashing Sergeant Belcore but eventually realizes whom she truly loves. Paul Plishka as the quack Dulcamara provides the elixir of the title that miraculously helps Nemorino win the hand of his beloved. Performance date: January 25, 1992.

James Levine’s conducting of Wagner’s last opera was once described as “a model of concentrated rapture.” The Met’s orchestra and chorus—to say nothing of the all-star cast—are certainly spellbinding in this performance, in Otto Schenk’s atmospheric production (with sets by Günther Schneider-Siemssen). Siegfried Jerusalem is Parsifal, the wise fool who recaptures the Holy Spear and restores the land of the Holy Grail. The bewitching, Waltraud Meier is Kundry, his biggest temptation. Kurt Moll’s Gurnemanz is both compassionate and wise. Performance date: March 28, 1992.