Rating: 
Summary: Met La Boheme DVD
Review: As an owner of the same opera on video, I knew that I was getting another wonderful opera experience. The clarity and wonderful sound of DVD made this opera even more enjoyable. For me, Carreras' Rodolpho is the benchmark performance and no other singer even comes close. Its an experience every opera lover should have.
Rating: 
Summary: Good Met Performance
Review: As far as performances in large opera houses of La Boheme go this must surely be up there with the best, however, I can't get past the fact that something just doesn't click in this performance for me. All of the singers sing well and act well, Miss Stratas in particular, but there seems to be no real relationships built up during the course of the opera, so that in the final scene the only thing that made me cry was the emotional soaring of Puccini's music, not that Rodolfo had finally lost his beloved Mimi. Now if you can find the Covent Garden performance directed by John Copley with Ileana Cotrubas and Neil Shicoff you get the full deal; the music, the singing and the relationships...and a truly believable and outstandingly sung Marcello in Sir Thomas Allen.
Rating: 
Summary: SUBLIME!
Review: Being a brand new opera afficionado I could never really understand why Jose Carreras is so loved by the opera public. But now I understand! He is so believable, his singing and acting is done with great emotion and tenderness. Theresa Stratas is excellent as usual, very dramatic and emotional. I just wish she wouldn't have looked so sick already in the first act. Scotto is a brilliant Musetta, a joy to watch.The production is unbelievably extravagant. I forgot at times I was watching a staged version rather than a film. Very well done. I have seen La Boheme before but it never moved me as deeply as this version. A must buy!
Rating: 
Summary: What a disgrace!
Review: Being a Opera fanatic, tenor fanatic, Puccini fanatic, Verdi fanatic, etc. etc. , I find this production dreadful. Why DID the Met chose THIS?? Jose Carreras is not as good as he is now. His voice is scratchy, and rather squeaky during the start. Nessun Dorma and Che Geldida Mania are my favorite Puccini arias. Jose Carreras gave the worst performance of that aria I have ever heard in my whole life. Let's just say, he is so mis - cast as Rodolfo. The noise in the backround is beyond what can be accepted. There is coughing, wheezing, etc. Not my type. If you are a La Boheme fan and a Carreras fan, keep looking for another. Mostly, a La Boheme casting Pavarotti or Placido is not a bad idea to own. So here I am shot down once again! Sorry.
Rating:
Summary: If you only buy one La Boheme video, this is the one!
Review: Carreras is at his vocal best and Stratas as usual does a great job of acting and an adequate job of singing.
Rating:
Summary: a beautiful Mimi and Rodolfo
Review: First of all, how can a tenor in his early thirties can be past his prime? Many opera singers do not have international careers until they are in their thirties. Admittedly Carreras started at a very early age, but one would almost think that he hit his peak at twenty five and then went into a vocal decline! Sorry for the rant, but I am getting a little tired of seeing the phrase "past his prime" being applied to this artist. Having said that, this is the most beautiful and believable La Boheme on video. If I am introducing people to opera, I show them this performance...it never fails to move them and they always want to see and hear more.
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Summary: The most realistic production ever!
Review: Having witnessed several versions of this beautiful, heartbreaking opera, no one, but no one comes close to the exquisite performance of Teresa Stratas as Mimi. Her voice is thrilling, her acting is superb...she IS Mimi! Jose Carrares is magnificent as her Rudolfo. Not only a perfect visual match, their voices also compliment one another as the viewer is swept away into a bohemian world of 19th century Paris. The only disappointment in this production is the voice of Renata Scotto who portrays Musetta. A fabulous actress, but her stage performance is sometimes overshadowed by a darker, wobbling voice that no longer produces the ease and beauty that used to thrill opera lovers. Still, her acting is believeable which makes her vocal failings forgiveable as she throws everything she has into bringing her character to life...and does she ever! Ah, but her counterpart, Richard Stilwell as Marcello, is top notch, as is the remaining cast. Directed by Franco Zeffirelli (who really knows his stuff!), he turns what could have been stiff singing manequins into convincing, feeling characters. His choice of costumes are not only authentic to the period, but reveal the hard times of these young bohemians. Also bringing reality to his brilliant and beautiful stage designs, he even showers the performers with falling snow in the third act. Finally, James Levine as Conductor...the opera king himself! This "La Boheme," performed live at the Metropolitan Opera on January 16, 1982, is a dazzling production of near perfection. It would be a shame to pass this one up.
Rating: 
Summary: La Boheme should be younger
Review: I agree that Zeffirelli's production and voices of leading roles are wonderful. However, I believe that La Boheme is the story about young women and men - who have no money but a lot of energy to find a small joy every day and enjoy their life. Unfotunately, this DVD tells a sad story only, and I was not able to find any youth and sense of humor, which should be prominetly existent in every great La Boheme.
Rating:
Summary: La Boheme should be younger
Review: I agree that Zeffirelli's production and voices of leading roles are wonderful. However, I believe that La Boheme is the story about young women and men - who have no money but a lot of energy to find a small joy every day and enjoy their life. Unfotunately, this DVD tells a sad story only, and I was not able to find any youth and sense of humor, which should be prominetly existent in every great La Boheme.
Rating:
Summary: Bravo
Review: I am in disbelief that sommeone rated carreras badly in this la boheme! Any of you who are used to the Carreras of the three tenors, will be extremely surprized. He sings with vivacity and dramatic timbre. As for his vocals being suspect; 1982 was riddled with Carreras's wobbly performances. This is the season following his taking on Trovatore, a much heavier role which took a toll on his voice. His singing here is, however, spectacular. Che Gelida manina is transposed a half step down, but this iis not unusual. Domingo has always done it and Pavarotti does it on occasion as well. Pavarotti mentions in his autobiography that the transposition down is standard.
As for a comparison between pav and Carreras; there is no comparision. The unconvincing acting of pavarotti can ruin a boheme on a Dvd with such focus. Carreras is triumphant and portays his character brilliantly. It is true, however that after 1981's romp through heroic tenor reperitiore Carreras was never the same. His eyebrow began to warble and his high notes were no longer as free and glorious. Nevertheless this Dvd is magnifisant.
Even if Carreras's dramatic timber isn't your cup of tea, he is supported by the fabulous voice of Stratas. Occasionally her facial expressions bother you but the voice is in glorious condition.
SEE THIS DVD, It is entertainment at it's finest!
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