La Bohème

Giacomo Puccini (Composer), Erich Leinsdorf (Conductor), Anna Moffo (Performer), Richard Tucker (Performer), Robert Merrill (Performer), Flavio Tosin (Performer), Philip Maero (Performer), Fernando Corena (Performer), Giorgio Onesti (Performer), Giorgio Tozzi (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Anna Moffo, Richard Tucker, Robert Merrill, Flavio Tosin, Philip Maero, et al.
• Conductor: Erich Leinsdorf
• Composer: Giacomo Puccini
• Audio CD (September 15, 1998)
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: RCA
• ASIN: B00000B9KP
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #273,851 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars desert island disc, June 14, 2003

By 

L. Gallagher "ljgdonegal" (Los Angeles, CA United States) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: La Bohème (Audio CD)

This was the first recording of "La Boheme" I ever listened to, over thirty years ago. Since then, I've heard nearly every available commercial recording, and more than a few pirated versions, and this is still the one I keep returning to. Each of the individual performances (conductor and orchestra included) is dramatically specific and nuanced. It matters not in the least that Tucker sounds a tad mature in the role at this point in his career -- it's still glorious singing, and the sense of vulnerability he conveys is heartbreaking. I agree with the other reviewer that Moffo's early scenes seem more focused on vocal allure than characterization, but it's nevertheless true that 1) the vocal glamour is *astonishing* and unsurpassed, and 2) Moffo's characterization grows exponentially from Act 1 to the catastrophic encounter with Marcello in Act 3 (she is unmatched here). Costa is perfect as Musetta in every way. Leinsdorf's conducting is as responsive as one could wish (vs. Karajan's lugubrious reading, which sabotages Pavarotti and Freni).

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A "Boheme" for the ages!, April 23, 2004

By 

Don Cinéfilo "Film Culture Buff" (Brownsville, Texas, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: La Bohème (Audio CD)

This is one of the best performances of "La Boheme" on records, and an essential one for fans of soprano Anna Moffo.

In 1961, when this recording was made, Anna Moffo was a young, beautiful woman (she was still in her 20's) who had a gorgeous, and flawless, lyric-coloratura soprano voice that extended spectacularly to high E flat. Moreover, she was gifted with a delicate dramatic art that infused her characterizations with heartbreaking joy and pathos without ever going over the top. Unlike any of her rivals at the time, most of whom I admire, Moffo looked and sounded exactly like the operatic heroines she portrayed on stage. Her luminous qualities come through on audio recordings as well, such as this exceptional "Boheme". Her act three performance is unmatched even by the likes of Maria Callas, Victoria de los Angeles or Renata Tebaldi, the other great Mimi's of the era.

It is somewhat unfortunate that Moffo was often paired with Richard Tucker. The latter was a celebrated dramatic tenor who was much older than Moffo and whose voice was not right for the role of Mimi's lover Rodolfo. I can only fathom what the glorious results might have been had Moffo been paired with the equally ravishing voice of Jussi Bjorling or Carlo Bergonzi. Nevertheless, Tucker does effectively modulate his enormous voice to sing as lyrically and with as much youthful ardour as can be expected from him. In the act one exit of the two lovers, the voices of the principals blend with perfect harmony and volume to extraordinary effect.

The rest of the cast is the most outstanding that has ever been assembled for a recording of this opera. While every member makes a fine contribution, two of them are specially worthy of mention: baritone Robert Merrill sings and acts magnificently as Marcello, and soprano Mary Costa is the perfect Mussetta vocally and temperamentally. Erich Leinsdorf leads the Rome Opera Orchestra and Chorus in a performance that is both spirited and nuanced in equal measure.

The digitally remastered "Living Stereo" sound is astonishing for the breadth and clarity of its soundstage, as well as its musicality. Listening to the CD's, as reproduced through an NAD T-550 DVD/CD player, an NAD 317 integrated amp and a pair of Paradigm Monitor 7 speakers, I felt as though my listening room had opened up into a panorama of aural reality. There was no hint whatsoever of either harshness or master tape hiss.

This recording of "Boheme" may not displace the justly famous one of 1956 on EMI with Victoria de los Angeles and Jussi Bjorling, but it remains, almost without reservation, a "Boheme" for the ages! It would be a shame if it becomes forgotten.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Rest in Peace, Anna, June 8, 2006

By 

Douglas Weaver (Ypsilanti, MI USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: La Bohème (Audio CD)

I've been listening to this recording for 25 years, first on vinyl, then on the initial CD transfer. Now I've purchased the "Living Stereo" remaster in memory of the recently passed Anna Moffo. I can't help but think of the Commodores' tribute to Marvin Gaye: "Gonna be some sweet sounds coming down on the night shift."

This is glorious singing and good, old-fashioned, straight-ahead recording. Leinsdorf reveals a gentler side in his delicately precise conducting, and the ensemble of the principles is remarkable. How I wish I could go back in time and attend performances at the Met when one could see the likes of Moffo, Tucker and Merrill live!

The new remaster sounds very good to me, clean and open. There are brief moments of distortion in the loudest ensemble passages, then again, who but Decca's engineers could capture Merril's voice at full throttle?

If you're a fan of this era of great singing and recording, treat yourself. And if like me 25 years ago, you find yourself falling in love with Anna Moffo, treat yourself to some of her other recordings: Callas's La Boheme where she sings my favorite Musetta, La Traviata, Rigoletto, Madame Butterfly, the Stokowski album, Marriage of Figaro with Schwarzkopf, etc. etc.