Opera singer James Morris celebrates his 1,000th performance with Met Opera Radio

When James Morris appeared as Timur in Turandot on Oct. 17, he sang his 1,000 performance with the Metropolitan Opera.

After making his debut in 1971 at the age of 23 as the King in Verdi’s Aida, the bass-baritone went on to become one of the most celebrated artists of his generation, delivering outstanding performances in 60 roles with the company, including Scarpia in Tosca, Han Sachs in Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg, and the title roles of Don Giovanni and Der Fliegende Holländer, among many others.

But Morris’ most memorable role has to be Wotan in the Ring cycle, a portrayal that places him among history’s greatest interpreters of Wagner’s king of the gods. This week, Met Opera Radio will feature a 1989 performance of Die Walküre that captures Morris’ Wotan at its very best, alongside a starry cast that also features Hildegard Behrens as Brünnhilde, Gary Lakes as Siegmund, Jessye Norman as Sieglinde, Christa Ludwig as Fricka, and Kurt Moll as Hunding. On the podium, of course, is James Levine.

Hear it on Met Opera Radio (Ch. 75):

• Oct. 23 at 12pm ET
• Oct. 26 at 6am ET
• Oct. 28 at 6pm ET