La Boheme [Deluxe Edition]

Luciano Pavarotti (Artist), Mirella Freni (Artist), Giacomo Puccini (Composer), Herbert von Karajan (Conductor), Berlin Philharmonic (Orchestra), Elizabeth Harwood (Performer), Rolando Panerai (Performer), Nicolai Ghiaurov (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Elizabeth Harwood, Rolando Panerai, Nicolai Ghiaurov
• Orchestra: Berlin Philharmonic
• Conductor: Herbert von Karajan
• Composer: Giacomo Puccini
• Audio CD (October 14, 2008)
• SPARS Code: ADD
• Number of Discs: 3
• Format: Deluxe Edition
• Label: Decca
• ASIN: B001C4Q7IM
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #136,412 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. "Questo Mar Rosso"

2. Pensier profondo"

3. "Abasso, abbasso l'autor!"

4. "Si può" - "Chi è là?"

5. "Io resto"

6. "Chi è là?"

7. "Si sente meglio?"

8. "Che gelida manina"

9. "Sì. Mi chiamano Mimì"

10. "O soave fanciulla"

See all 16 tracks on this disc

Disc: 2

1. The English critic Rodney Milnes...

2. You sang Mimi for Herbert von Karajan...

3. I want to go on and talk about Puccini's heroines...

4. Karajan was really strange...

5. Of course you've made many recordings with Herbert von Karajan...

6. Let's talk a little...

7. "Donde lieta uscì"

8. "Dunque: è proprio finita!...Addio, dolce svegliare"

9. "In un coupé?"

10. "O Mimì, tu più non torni" (Duetto) - "Che ora sia"

See all 15 tracks on this disc

Editorial Reviews

In celebration of Puccini's 150th birth anniversary, Decca is reissuing the definitive recording of La Bohème in a deluxe package. Featuring the luminous voices of Mirella Freni and Luciano Pavarotti, under the expert direction of Herbert von Karajan who leads the Berlin Philharmonic, this truly is operatic gold. The original recording has been remastered in 96kHz/24-bit sound for incredible clarity and depth. The deluxe package includes a bonus disc of Mirella Freni discussing Puccini (whose works played a significant role in her career) and working with Herbert von Karajan: a valuable living document of one of opera's greatest sopranos! The entire package includes essays, a full libretto and numerous rare photographs from the historic recording session. Rarely has a recording retained such an honored place of distinction in the catalog--and there is not better tribute to Puccini than this deluxe limited edition release.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Perfection just got better !, November 12, 2008

By 

Roderick Keech (Australia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: La Boheme (Audio CD)

This 1972 recording of what is arguably Puccini's favourite opera, has long been considered the bench-mark, despite its age. Both Pavarotti and Freni were in their prime, the supporting cast equally excellent, and von Karajan at his most sympathetic leading the Berlin Philharmonic in an opera recording. Add the simply glorious recording by the expert Decca technicians in the acoustically perfect Jesus-Christus-Kirche, Berlin, and you have sheer magic. And that, simply, is how this recording has been considered, over these last 36 years.

To commemorate the 150th anniversary of Puccini's birth, Decca have remastered this jewel in 96kHz-24bit sound to make it even more beautiful, if that were thought possible. This Limited Edition 'Book' contains the complete opera plus a fascinating bonus CD of Mirella Freni talking about Puccini, whose works formed a large part of her repertoire, and what it was like working with the legendary Herbert von Karajan. The 300 page booklet incorporates the full libretto in Italian, German, English and French, plus rare session photographs and interesting biographies.

I have had this set, in its original issue for more than 2o years, and I never thought it could be improved upon. I was pleasantly surprised. For those wanting a defintive recording of La Boheme, this is the one to have. For those who, like me, already own the original version, upgrade now while this Limited Edition is available.

I only have two criticisms: the new cover art is decidedly dull. You would have thought that when putting so much effort into restoring not only one of Decca's 'Crown Jewels', but that of all Opera, it could have looked a little more attractive, but then it is the story of a poor girl dying from TB, so ... ? The other is that, like so many issues these days the discs are housed in tightly bound cardboard slots that require very careful handling when taking out and replacing the discs, to avoid finger prints or scratching. My advice is to overlook the packaging and revel in the delights within.

Cast: 5 stars
Orchestra: 5 stars
Conductor: 5 stars
Original Recording: 5 stars
Remastering: 5 stars
Repackaging: 4 stars

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Get the 1990 Release - Richer, More Natural Sound, December 5, 2009

By 

Great Faulkner's Ghost (Washington, DC) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: La Boheme (Audio CD)

I can recommend this release for the booklet and the bonus disk, but the sound of this remaster is too bright and digital sounding. The bloom has been lost from the orchestra, and the voices have been made to sound like the engineers pinned little lapel microphones on the singers. That, unfortunately, is what passes for "improved" remastering nowadays. The original Decca release from 1990 is pretty close to a straight transfer from the LP master, and sounds sublime. It's still in print, and is the one to get, before it disappears.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the three best recordings, December 23, 2009

By 

Ralph Moore "Ralph operaphile" (Bishop's Stortford, UK) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: La Boheme (Audio CD)

In a recent BBC3 "CD Review" broadcast, Alexandra Wilson made a gallant attempt to achieve the impossible task of choosing amongst forty or so recordings of "La Boheme" - and while I agreed with her ultimate choice of the Beecham recording with Bjorling, Merrill and De Los Angeles, I have rather more regard for this discarded Karajan recording simply because Pavarotti's voice, in its prime, as she herself put it, "runs through the recording like a golden seam". The rest of the cast is wonderful, too, although Karajan's love for the score is manifested in a rather deliberately "beautiful" approach and thereby slightly undercuts the drama. I cannot be without either recording of this eternally youthful and moving opera, and although Freni was captured in slightly fresher, more limpid voice in the earlier Schippers set, for me Gedda is absolutely no substitute for Pavarotti at his best. Both Merrill and Panerai are infinitely touching in the great duet "O Mimi, tu piu non torni" and although Beecham's recording is a little rough around the edges, he conveys greater energy and fun in the slapstick scenes while, Karajan extracts slightly more pathos from the last act, in better sound. Acquire both sets for the complete experience.

However, since having another careful listen to the Callas/Di Stefano/Votto account re-issued on Naxos (see my review), I must concede that it is up there with these two. We are spoilt for choice: all three are equally valid and moving but still very different.