Simon we didn't see

I was reading yesterday Tommasini's review of the current cast of Simon Boccanegra at the Metropolitan Opera.

They get Dmitri Hvorostovsky, a real baritone, as Simon.  We got the pretend baritone Placido Domingo.

They get the utterly magnificent Ferruccio Furlanetto as Fiesco. We got James Morris who sang only about 3/4 of the part--everything except the low notes.

They get the very Italian Barbara Frittoli as Amelia.  We got  Adrianne Pieczonka who appears never to have been in the same room with an actual Italian.

I am definitely feeling cheated.  Was it a joke?

P.S. This is pretty snarky. One expects certain things from the Met.