Search - Giacomo Puccini, Renato Cellini, New Orleans Opera Orchestra :: Puccini: La Bohème

Extremely touching

11/06/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Boheme is one of my favorite operas, and one where I often am reduced to tears by the end. For me, this is an ensemble opera. Yes, there are arias, and great moments like that, but the success of the work is how it holds together and how the characters interact with each other. I have never heard or seen a terrible recording of this opera (even the horrible Bocelli recording of the work, where Andrea Bocelli proves once and for all he shouldn't be on the operatic stage, even if he can sing the arias in a sweet way in concert, is actually very wonderful to listen to). It seems most singers just know what Boheme is all about. It is about YOUNG LOVE. Well, this recording is wonderful, even touching, but it is lacking in "Young Love." I have never really enjoyed Di Stefano at all. I find he is very brash and doesn't use his voice well, even if he is exciting at times. For me, he is not the best choice as Rodolfo. Putting that aside, he does do a wonderful job in the role, though to me, he is not really in touch with his character. The weak link in this performance is Albanese. She sings wonderfully, is even touching, she always conveys the drama completely, and her death at the end is moving (and once again, I was reduced to tears), but she is old sounding, to my ears. It is like Rodolfo has fallen in love with the "not-so-young-widow" in the apartment building they live in. This recording of the work is by far not the best, but it is a great one to own. The conductor conducts the work sympathetically, and in such a way as to move the emotional content forward. The sound is OK. One thing we do hear is how this opera was approached at this time, and in a way, it was still a young work (well, perhaps middle aged is more accurate). My favorite and the ultimate recording of this work was the recording with Tebaldi and Bergonzi, and although I have some extremely beautiful recordings of the work by many wonderful singers and conductors, the Decca Tebaldi recording will always be my favorite. This recording is good, though, and it would be an enjoyable addition to anyone's recording collection. It isn't my first choice, but it is meaningful, emotional, touching, heart-breaking, and well worth the effort to listen to."