Giacomo Puccini - La Bohème / Francesca Zambello · Tiziano Severini - M. Freni · L. Pavarotti · San Francisco Opera

Rating:
Summary: An outstanding production
Review: Although not listed under La Boheme and not as easy to find under Comp/Boheme, the search was well worth it for this oustanding production of La Boheme. Pavarotti (Rodolfo) was probably at the zenith of his abilities when this was filmed in 1989. Mirella Freni does a spectacular job as Mimi. She has a depth and "thickness" perfect for this role. The supporting cast is also extremely good. Sandra Pacetti delivers the flirtatiousness needed for Musetta. Gino Quilico also does a superb job as Marcello. The filming is good and the subtitles are placed well. What more can I say? A first-rate production by an oustanding cast. This would be an ideal DVD to have as an introduction to opera as it is well done and Boheme may be the most accessible of all operas. Definite buy!

Rating:
Summary: Heartbreaking!
Review: Anyone who has read my reviews knows that I am the biggest Freni fan imaginable. She does not disappoint me here. Yes, at this stage, her voice is a size too large for Mimi, more suitable for heavy verismo such as Tosca, Fedora and Manon Lescaut. The voice is far heavier than in her two previous studio recordings from the 60's and 70's. The vibrato is also a trifle wider than it was but all this is amply excused by her warmth and mature insight into the role. The tragedy of Mimi has never before been so heartfully portrayed. The emotions are stronger than before and by the end of the opera she totally hits her stride and a quarter of a century melts away. This is a must for all Freni fans.
Pavarotti, unfortunately, does not begin to match Freni's contribution. As many singers, such as Freni, experience a lowering of voice and a widening of vibrato, they become greater interpereters, greater artists. For Pavarotti, you don't find this. As his vocal resources diminish, so does his artistry. he sings faster than before, without as much inspiration. Still, he musters up some of the old magic and, in the end, provides a decent, if not splendid partner to Freni.
The rest of the cast is pretty darn good. The voice of Musetta may not be the most beautiful, but she provides much pleasure for this viewer. Quilico is a great Marcello! So is Ghiaurov as Colline, the one bass that can dominate an ensemble. The conducting doesn't set me on fire, but it's not bad.....serviceable. I love the staging and the sets.

Rating:
Summary: Heartbreaking!
Review: Anyone who has read my reviews knows that I am the biggest Freni fan imaginable. She does not disappoint me here. Yes, at this stage, her voice is a size too large for Mimi, more suitable for heavy verismo such as Tosca, Fedora and Manon Lescaut. The voice is far heavier than in her two previous studio recordings from the 60's and 70's. The vibrato is also a trifle wider than it was but all this is amply excused by her warmth and mature insight into the role. The tragedy of Mimi has never before been so heartfully portrayed. The emotions are stronger than before and by the end of the opera she totally hits her stride and a quarter of a century melts away. This is a must for all Freni fans.
Pavarotti, unfortunately, does not begin to match Freni's contribution. As many singers, such as Freni, experience a lowering of voice and a widening of vibrato, they become greater interpereters, greater artists. For Pavarotti, you don't find this. As his vocal resources diminish, so does his artistry. he sings faster than before, without as much inspiration. Still, he musters up some of the old magic and, in the end, provides a decent, if not splendid partner to Freni.
The rest of the cast is pretty darn good. The voice of Musetta may not be the most beautiful, but she provides much pleasure for this viewer. Quilico is a great Marcello! So is Ghiaurov as Colline, the one bass that can dominate an ensemble. The conducting doesn't set me on fire, but it's not bad.....serviceable. I love the staging and the sets.

Rating:
Summary: A special thrill for fans of Mirella Freni
Review: As someone fell in love with Mirella Freni as Susanna in The Marriage of Figaro and who heard of her pre-eminence as a Puccini interpreter, I have been quite satisfied with this DVD. Because I am not a particularly devoted or knowledgeable fan of Puccini, I cannot really compare the merits of this version of La Boheme as opposed to any other. Nevertheless, not being immune to Puccini's legendary ability to write music that goes directly to the heart, I am invariably transported into a painful but beautiful world every time I watch this DVD.

Rating:
Summary: A special thrill for fans of Mirella Freni
Review: As someone fell in love with Mirella Freni as Susanna in The Marriage of Figaro and who heard of her pre-eminence as a Puccini interpreter, I have been quite satisfied with this DVD. Because I am not a particularly devoted or knowledgeable fan of Puccini, I cannot really compare the merits of this version of La Boheme as opposed to any other. Nevertheless, not being immune to Puccini's legendary ability to write music that goes directly to the heart, I am invariably transported into a painful but beautiful world every time I watch this DVD.

Rating:
Summary: star-studded dull performance
Review: Despite the vocal stars (and the previous effusive reviews), this performance is quite simply dull thanks to the leaden conducting. The camera work is annoying in its preference for closeups instead of taking a nice perspective and letting us focus on the overall action. Pavarotti is certainly better than he is today but still has the annoying habit of ending phrases with an "uh". The von Karajan film with Freni & Raimondi is much better (it should be on DVD soon) and the best of all is the Australian DVD. It doesn't rely on "names" just talent and is conducted with all the passion that this version misses.

Rating:
Summary: Pavarotti and Freni pretending to be bohemians
Review: One thing I find dissapointing in many Pavarotti opera productions is that everything seems to be adapted for Pavarotti instead of Pavarotti being adapted for the plot (or the music). Everyone knows who is the star, there is no Rodolfo in Paris having a romance with a ill-fated girl; it's just Pavarotti with a wig pretending he is still able to sing a good Rodolfo and some other singers trying not to distract us. Excellent Freni does awful singing in this production and her overacting ruins her singing many times.

Rating:
Summary: An outstanding production
Review: Operas are meant to be heard primarily in theatres, especially Scalla, with live big performances. In front of your small TV this video seems contrived because the wonderful arias are added out of sync. If you want to remain a La Boheme and Pavaroti fan, just listen with your eyes closed, or buy the CD. The English subtitles made a soap opera out of Puccini's masterpiece. If he were alive and watching, he would die.

Rating:
Summary: The vocals are 5 star, the lip-syncing no stars.
Review: Operas are meant to be heard primarily in theatres, especially Scalla, with live big performances. In front of your small TV this video seems contrived because the wonderful arias are added out of sync. If you want to remain a La Boheme and Pavaroti fan, just listen with your eyes closed, or buy the CD. The English subtitles made a soap opera out of Puccini's masterpiece. If he were alive and watching, he would die.

Rating:
Summary: Great!
Review: Since we don't have an opera house in our city, I am thrilled to see any production of Puccini's operas. The music is so beautiful, it makes up for any other disapointments. If it weren't for the subtitles, I wouldn't know the story. I loved it.