Customer Reviews

La Boheme

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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

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.

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.