The Met has a new radio host
NewsThe new voice of the Metropolitan Opera is to be Debra Lew Harder of Philadelphia’s WRTI.
She succeeds Mary Jo Heath, who took over in 2015 and retired this summer, at 66.
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You neglected to mention that she is a both a professional musician and a medical doctor.
The tag team duo of Mary Jo Heath and Ira was absurdly childish and annoying. I missed the orchestral beginnings of many operas keeping them on mute before the broadcast began.Please don’t bring Ira back! With all his knowledge he’s unfortunately got a voice better suited to WB cartoons.
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The Met has a new radio host
News
norman lebrecht
September 22, 2021
The new voice of the Metropolitan Opera is to be Debra Lew Harder of Philadelphia’s WRTI.
She succeeds Mary Jo Heath, who took over in 2015 and retired this summer, at 66.”
This new anti copy’n’paste thingy on SD is remarkably silly. Which “pro” came up with that magnificent idea? 😀
And it really doesn’t prevent anyone from copying anything.
Lesson #1: Computers. If you can see it – you can easily copy it. If you can hear it – you can easily copy it.
https://slippedisc.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/debra-lew-harder.jpg
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To the down-thumb person:
You can quote me on that. Oh, wait, you probably cannot! 😀
Good luck to the new host! As a regular listener, I will miss Mary Jo Heath, a competent and charismatic professional.
I was hoping Alec Baldwin!
Seriously though, he’s been a great NYPO host. He wouldn’t have been bad at the MET.
“Seriously though”, Alec Baldwin would being nothing to the table regarding knowledge of music or opera. He would merely be a reader. Not to mention his fairly weighty personal and philosophical baggage.
“being” – intended “bring” and “philosophical” – intended “political”
You’ve got to be kidding. What, exactly, does Alec Baldwin do as “host” of the NY Phil except sound intense as he reads copy?
Who was the long-time host from the 50’s thru the 70s? Can’t think of his name.
Milton Cross
When Milton Cross retired, I figured no one could fill his shoes. The Margaret Juntwait arrived and she was spectacular. She was sorely missed. The team of MJ Heath and Ira? Meh! She was better than some perhaps, but not n the league with Milton and Margaret. And don’t get me started on Ira. He brought nothing to the table other than his whiny voice.
Hope new person hits her stride.
Are you thinking of Peter Allen, who followed Milton Cross and was a wonderful Met host for many (29!) years?
Does the host do their own research and writing? Or is there a person not on air who pulls together the story lines?
There’s a whole friggin’ staff that writes the radio script. Ain’t nuthin’ impromptu. Not that the announcer doesn’t need to know their stuff–there is a ton of preparation–but they’re certainly not speaking extemporaneously.
A master–like Margaret Juntwait–had the ability to read the script as if it was her own words. In recent years, the radio audience was subjected to poorly written and badly read (acted) commentary. I gave up listening to the intermissions and plot summary, which I had previously enjoyed.
The Met used to and can do better. I wish Ms. Lew Harder better luck.