Search - Simon Keenlyside, Samuel Ramey, Ruth Ann Swenson :: Puccini - La Bohème / Alagna, Vaduva, Hampson, Swenson, Keenlyside, Ramey, Pappano

Good performance ruined by engineers

Marc Neil Jacobs | Mt. View, CA United States | 04/11/2000

(2 out of 5 stars)

"The dynamic range on this CD drove me crazy. All of the intimate scenes are done at such a low volume, that you have to crank your player up to hear it at all. Then any fortissimo knocks you across the room. While it sounds like a very good performance, I found I had to keep my hand on the volume control the entire time. I even returned the CD and got another, thinking it was the pressing."

Lovely recording of Puccini's masterpiece

Laura Fleming | East Providence, RI United States | 03/22/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The cast on this recording is superb. Roberto Alagna makes an endearing Rodolfo. His sweetly poetic rendering of "Che gelida manina" is a highlight. Leontina Vaduva makes a delicate voiced Mimi in the tradition of Ileana Cotrubas and Bidu Sayao. The smouldering chemistry between Thomas Hampson and Ruth Ann Swenson lights up this set. Swenon's Musetta will utterly captivate you. She is spectacular in the cafe scene and touching in the final Act. An added bonus to this set is Samuel Ramey's warm voiced Colline. Wonderful ensemble work and vivid portrayals of all of the characters. The final scene never fails to bring tears to my eyes."

Marvelous

Michael K. Halloran | 09/19/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"My admiration for this recording grows more every time I hear it. The agreed-upon classic set is the Bjoerling/De Los Angeles version, but I think this is the one I will listen when I want to hear the opera in beautiful, warm, digital (not to mention stereo) sound. I am not a fan of Roberto Alagna, but he sings quite well and with much commitment here. He manages some lovely piano phrases in the quartet. Leontina Vaduva initially struck me as light-voiced for Mimi, but I now feel there is a lovely, touching pathos in the delicate sound of her voice. It is a beautiful instrument, reservations aside. Thomas Hampson and Ruth Ann Swenson are completely marvelous as Marcello and Musetta, Hampson engaging, intelligent and wry, and Swenson sweeping through the score with a voice that puts most other recorded Musettas to shame. Pappano conducts a performance both lively and lush, and all supporting roles are strongly sung. This is the one to have if you want a good digital recording of the opera."