Ranking the Simulcasts 2008-09

Everything in the Metropolitan Opera simulcasts had flaws this year.

• La Rondine with Angela Gheoughiu and Roberto Alagna was flawed technologically, so I went again and enjoyed it even more the second time. This is Angela's masterpiece and my top ranking for this season.
  

• The Renée Fleming Opening Gala was lavish in the extreme and fun.
  

• I liked La Damnation de Faust with Susan Graham perhaps for the novelty. This unusual staging made this piece almost work as an opera.

• La Cenerentola is particularly charming for Elina Garanča who was completely up to the energy Bartoli brought to the role.

• Thais with Renée Fleming and Thomas Hampson is also ranked for novelty and pleasant silliness.
  

• Lucia di Lammermoor with Anna Netrebko was pleasing for the unusual staging where a ghost is seen on the moor. Besides, I just like Anna.
  

• La Sonnambula with Dessay and Florez was nice. The role is a bit low for Natalie, but Juan Diego was great.

• Orfeo ed Euridice with Stephanie Blythe tried to convince us that Gluck was the precursor of Wagner, but I didn't buy it. I liked the Mark Morris staging.
  

• Salome with Karita Mattila didn't work for me. In extreme closeup Karita is too old to be convincing in this staging.
  

• Doctor Atomic was OK, I guess. The staging was better than in SF by a wide margin. It made a lot more sense this time. I still don't like it.
  

I missed

• Manon Lescaut also with Karita Mattila
• Butterfly