Live from the Met

An operatic depiction of ancient Babylon and the mythic Queen Semiramis, the story includes many of the hallmarks of a legendary epic—valiant warriors, political intrigue, royal splendor, and the otherworldly presence of gods and spirits. Rossini’s stunning music matches the grandeur of the subject matter, presenting ample opportunities for dazzling vocal displays. In the title role, American soprano June Anderson sings with both lustrous coloratura and affecting pathos as the conflicted monarch. Marilyn Horne, the leading Rossini mezzo-soprano of her generation, lends her rich, agile voice to another show stopping portrayal, as Arsace. Samuel Ramey is the menacing Assur, commanding the stage with his booming bass-baritone, while tenor Stanford Olsen, as the prince Idreno, stuns in his two ravishing arias. Maestro James Conlon leads the Met Orchestra and Chorus in a score that combines virtuosic singing with grand spectacle. Performance date: December 22, 1980.

We have two acts from two different Verdi operas, presented in their entirety on the Met’s then current sets, and then an abbreviated second act from Strauss’ Die Fledermaus, the act where a party scene often turns into a sort of gala. And so it does here, at much extended length. At least all the guests are on stage, and the Prince Orlofsky, Anne Sofie Von Otter, introduces each one in character (which brings its own tedium before long, unfortunately). Performance date: October 24, 1991.