Conducts La Boheme

Giacomo Puccini (Artist, Composer), Toscanini (Artist, Conductor), Arturo Toscanini (Performer), Licia Albanese (Orchestra), Jan Peerce (Artist), Francesco Valentino (Artist), Anne McKnight (Artist), NBC Symphony Orchestra And Chorus (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Arturo Toscanini
• Orchestra: Licia Albanese
• Conductor: Toscanini
• Composer: Giacomo Puccini
• Audio CD (February 23, 1999)
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: Grammofono 2000
• ASIN: B00000I6N5
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,416,952 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. La bohème, opera - Francesco Valentino

2. La bohème, opera - Jan Peerce

3. La bohème, opera - Jan Peerce

4. La bohème, opera - Jan Peerce

5. La bohème, opera - Licia Albanese

6. La bohème, opera - Licia Albanese

7. La bohème, opera - Licia Albanese

8. La bohème, opera - Francesco Valentino

9. La bohème, opera - Francesco Valentino

10. La bohème, opera - Francesco Valentino

See all 13 tracks on this disc

Disc: 2

1. La bohème, opera - Arturo Toscanini

2. La bohème, opera - Licia Albanese

3. La bohème, opera - Licia Albanese

4. La bohème, opera - Jan Peerce

5. La bohème, opera - Licia Albanese

6. La bohème, opera - Licia Albanese

7. La bohème, opera

8. La bohème, opera

9. La bohème, opera

10. La bohème, opera

See all 12 tracks on this disc

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com essential recording

La Bohème, straight from the horse's mouth to your CD player. Arturo Toscanini led the world premiere of this indestructible opera in 1896, and his fiftieth anniversary broadcast performance crackles with nervous energy, rollicking brio in the ensembles, and the Maestro's uniquely controlled rubatos. And it's wonderful to hear him croaking along with Licia Albanese in Mimi's Act 1 aria while turning that act's concluding love duet into a vocal ménage à trois! The dry acoustics of NBC's Studio 8-H are surprisingly vibrant and lifelike, and the principals make up in commitment and attentiveness to words for what they lack in pure vocal sheen. Your basic stereo Bohème is still Pavarotti/Freni/Karajan, but Toscanini's authenticity shines across the decades. --Jed Distler

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Sonic Miracle Restores Classic "'Boheme", February 23, 2000

By 

Marc Neil Jacobs "Opera Director" (Mt. View, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Conducts La Boheme (Audio CD)

I had owned this version on the RCA budget label, and, though I found the performance compelling, could'nt put up with the boxy muffled sound. What a surprize when I put on these CD's! The engineers have truly worked a miracle, bringing the sound quality up to the standard of many of the best mono recordings. The performance is the most involved and commited you will ever encounter, with Albanese's voice given much more bloom by the new remastering. Incredible detail is heard in the orchestra, and all of the characterizations! These sound like living people, not opera singers performing roles. This is the true "Boheme" experience!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars you wont find better,its the true Puccini work ., April 7, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Conducts La Boheme (Audio CD)

I HAVE OWN THIS RECORDING FOR OVER 20 YEARS. TOSCANINI SING ALL THROUGH THIS OPERA. YOU WILL NEVER HERE IT DONE LIKE THIS ANYWERE NOW OR LATER.,THERE ARE BETTER SINGERS BUT NOT BETTER CONDUCTING, THE NBC GOT IT OVER EVERYONE.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best Boheme of all time., June 13, 2000

By 

George Jess (Tampa, Florida) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Conducts La Boheme (Audio CD)

This is the BEST recording of La Boheme. The Maestro conducting is wonderful ! This is a must have! Something different.

And a love that Toscanini sings!