"We thought it would be fun for opera lovers to have their say," explained Peter Gelb, the Metropolitan Opera's general manager.
A few among the excerpts on the ballot were:
- The very first Live from the Met telecast, a 1977 La Bohme starring Luciano Pavarotti and Renata Scotto.
- Plšcido Domingo in the title role of Verdi's Otello (1979).
- Leontyne Price in her 1985 Metropolitan Opera farewell as Aida.
- Joan Sutherland as Donizetti's Lucia di Lammermoor (1982).
- Birgit Nilsson in the searing title role of Strauss's Elektra (1981).
- Tchaikovsky's Eugene Onegin, featuring Ren_e Fleming and Dmitri Hvorostovsky in last year's high-definition simulcast.
- Rossini's Il barbiere di Siviglia, in the new production by Bartlett Sher starring Juan Diego Fl‹rez, Joyce di Donato, Peter Mattei and John Del Carlo.
- Bellini's I Puritani starring Anna Netrebko.
Which excerpts actually won the vote? PBS isn't telling until Renée reveals the results on the air in this special two-hour presentation.
Great Moments at the Met: Viewer's Choice airs on New York's WNET-TV on Sunday, Dec. 2 at 8 p.m. (just before a rebroadcast of the original Three Tenors concert). Check your local listings for the broadcast time in your area.
