Pavarotti is a young and ardent Rodolfo, suddenly overwhelmed by love in 'Che gelida manina'. The tone is gorgeous, the legato pilled just enough to put a lamp in your throat… Mirella Freni's... — BBC Music Magazine, November 2008, 5 out of 5 stars More…

Release Date: 22nd Nov 2024
Catalogue No: 4870506
Label: Decca

Puccini: La Bohème

Luciano Pavarotti (tenor), Mirella Freni (soprano), Rolando Panerai (baritone), Elizabeth Harwood (soprano), Nicolai Ghiaurov (bass), Gianni Maffeo, Michel Sénéchal (tenor), Gernot Pietsch
Berliner Philharmoniker
Herbert von Karajan

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Puccini, Pavarotti, Karajan - a combination that reached its unrivalled climax in October 1972 in a masterful recording of ‘La Bohème’ at the Jesus Christ Church in Berlin. Puccini's opera continues to touch and inspire opera lovers worldwide. Luciano Pavarotti, who once made his operatic debut as Rodolfo, later made the role his own. In the ‘La Bohème’ recording Pavarotti presents himself in his ravishing vocal prime. Together with his singing partner for decades, Mirella Freni, and a stellar cast of soloists, and under the direction of Herbert von Karajan, a recording was made that remains groundbreaking to this day. To mark the 100th anniversary of Puccini's death, two high-quality box sets will be released on either 2 Hybrid SACD or 2LP, using a new 24-bit 192 kHz high-definition transfer from the original master tapes. For the vinyl edition the LPs have been cut at Abbey Road Studios and are pressed on 180gm vinyI. Meticulously researched and lavishly presented hardback book housed in a deluxe rigid slipcase, including full libretto (with translation), an extended new essay, facsimiles from the original booklet, features about the main artists and original session photographs.

Reviews

November 2008

Pavarotti is a young and ardent Rodolfo, suddenly overwhelmed by love in 'Che gelida manina'. The tone is gorgeous, the legato pilled just enough to put a lamp in your throat… Mirella Freni's Mimì is creamy in tone and as stylishly sung as ever… And has any Mimì, even Renata Tebaldi, created such heartbreak on her deathbed.

2010

Pavarotti's Rodolfo is perhaps the best thing he has ever done: not only the finest recorded account of the role since Björling's on the Beecham set, but adding the honeyed Italianate warmth that even Björling lacked...Karajan is a great Puccini conductor who can linger over the beauties of orchestration without losing his grip on the drama or relaxing his support of the singers.

New. Puccini: La Bohème

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New. Puccini: La Bohème

2 Vinyl Records

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