See buying choices for this item to see if it's one of the millions that are eligible for Amazon Prime.

18 used & new from $5.49

Have one to sell? Sell yours here
 
 
Puccini - La Bohème / Severini, Pavarotti, Freni, San Francisco Opera [VHS]
 
See larger image
 

Puccini - La Bohème / Severini, Pavarotti, Freni, San Francisco Opera [VHS] (1989)

Starring: Mirella Freni, Luciano Pavarotti Director: Brian Large Rating: NR (Not Rated) Format: VHS Tape
3.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (10 customer reviews)


Available from these sellers.


4 new from $29.94 14 used from $5.49
Also Available in: List Price: Our Price: Other Offers:
DVD $29.99 $26.99 46 used & new from $14.95

Special Offers and Product Promotions

  • Interact With Your Music: Discover, listen to, and buy new music, all from the pages of SPIN's digital edition, free to Amazon customers.


Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought

Verdi - Aida / Wanamaker, Price, Pavarotti, San Francisco Opera

Verdi - Aida / Wanamaker, Price, Pavarotti, San Francisco Opera

DVD ~ Margaret Price
4.1 out of 5 stars (8)  $26.99
Charlie Rose - Robert Draper & Luciano Pavarotti appreciation (September 06, 2007)

Charlie Rose - Robert Draper & Luciano Pavarotti appreciation (September 06, 2007)

5.0 out of 5 stars (1)  $24.95
Verdi - Don Carlo / Pavarotti, Dessi, Ramey, d'Intino, Coni, Muti, La Scala Opera

Verdi - Don Carlo / Pavarotti, Dessi, Ramey, d'Intino, Coni, Muti, La Scala Opera

DVD ~ Samuel Ramey
3.6 out of 5 stars (5)  $33.99
Verdi - Rigoletto / Luciano Pavarotti, Ingvar Wixell, Edita Gruberova, Victoria Vergara, Ferruccio Furlanetto, Riccardo Chailly

Verdi - Rigoletto / Luciano Pavarotti, Ingvar Wixell, Edita Gruberova, Victoria Vergara, Ferruccio Furlanetto, Riccardo Chailly

DVD ~ G. Verdi
4.4 out of 5 stars (59)  $18.97
Puccini - Madama Butterfly

Puccini - Madama Butterfly

DVD ~ Mirella Freni
3.4 out of 5 stars (33)  $18.97
Explore similar items

Product Details

  • Actors: Mirella Freni, Luciano Pavarotti, Gino Quilico, Stephen Dickson, Nicolai Ghiaurov
  • Directors: Brian Large
  • Writers: Giuseppe Giacosa, Luigi Illica
  • Format: Classical, Color, Original recording reissued, NTSC
  • Language: Italian
  • Subtitles: English
  • Rating: NR (Not Rated)
  • Number of tapes: 1
  • Studio: Kultur Video
  • VHS Release Date: April 29, 1997
  • Run Time: 116 minutes
  • Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
  • ASIN: 6304469527
  • Amazon.com Sales Rank: #29,154 in Video (See Bestsellers in Video)

    Popular in this category: (What's this?)

    #29 in  Video > Musicals & Performing Arts > Operetta

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
In 1989 when this production was taped, Luciano Pavarotti and Mirella Freni had already enjoyed long, distinguished careers. In other words, they were considerably older than La Bohème's romantic young couple, Mimi and Rodolfo. If you find this consideration important, it might be wise to skip this Bohème and invest instead in the bright, youthful, and energetic Sydney Opera production or the visually striking 1998 Metropolitan Opera production. So far, La Bohème has fared better on DVD than any other opera, and the San Francisco Bohème faces serious competition.

But this is a vintage production deserving attention on its own merits. As a matter of survival, veteran singers learn how to make experience compensate for the loss of youth, and Freni and Pavarotti are outstanding examples of how this can be done. They are aided by a sensitive stage director, a visual treatment responsive to the opera's changing moods, and an expert supporting cast deeply involved with the story and the music. They fit convincingly in roles with which they have been living for decades; both are still in good vocal condition, and the emotions are convincingly conveyed. In the supporting cast, note the excellent performances of Gino Quilico and Nicolai Ghiaurov. --Joe McLellan


Customers Who Viewed This Item Also Viewed

Giacomo Puccini - La Bohème / Franco Zeffirelli ·  James Levine -  T. Stratas ·  R. Scotto ·  J. Carreras ·  MET

Giacomo Puccini - La Bohème / Franco Zeffirelli · James Levine - T. Stratas · R. Scotto · J. Carreras · MET

DVD ~ Teresa Stratas
Puccini - La Boheme / Pavarotti, Scotto, Niska, Wixell, Plishka, Levine, Metropolitan Opera

Puccini - La Boheme / Pavarotti, Scotto, Niska, Wixell, Plishka, Levine, Metropolitan Opera

DVD ~ Renata Scotto
4.3 out of 5 stars (25)  $18.97
Giacomo Puccini - La Bohème / Barker, Hobson, Luhrmann (Australian Opera)

Giacomo Puccini - La Bohème / Barker, Hobson, Luhrmann (Australian Opera)

DVD ~ Cheryl Barker
4.4 out of 5 stars (75)  $26.99
Puccini - La Boheme

Puccini - La Boheme

DVD ~ Mirella Freni
3.9 out of 5 stars (13)  $18.97
Puccini: La Boheme (Live from the Met)

Puccini: La Boheme (Live from the Met)

DVD ~ Angela Gheorghiu
4.6 out of 5 stars (16)  $19.99
Explore similar items

Suggested Tags from Similar Products

 (What's this?)
Be the first one to add a relevant tag (keyword that's strongly related to this product).
Check a corresponding box or enter your own tags in the field below.
(92)
(12)
(9)

Your tags: Add your first tag
 
Help others find this product — tag it for Amazon search
No one has tagged this product for Amazon search yet. Why not be the first to suggest a search for which it should appear?

 

Customer Reviews

10 Reviews
5 star:
 (5)
4 star:
 (2)
3 star:    (0)
2 star:
 (1)
1 star:
 (2)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
3.7 out of 5 stars (10 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
Share your thoughts with other customers:
Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
36 of 37 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars An outstanding production, February 12, 2000
By A Customer
Although not listed under La Boheme and not as easy to find under Comp/Boheme, the search was well worth it for this oustanding production of La Boheme. Pavarotti (Rodolfo) was probably at the zenith of his abilities when this was filmed in 1989. Mirella Freni does a spectacular job as Mimi. She has a depth and "thickness" perfect for this role. The supporting cast is also extremely good. Sandra Pacetti delivers the flirtatiousness needed for Musetta. Gino Quilico also does a superb job as Marcello. The filming is good and the subtitles are placed well. What more can I say? A first-rate production by an oustanding cast. This would be an ideal DVD to have as an introduction to opera as it is well done and Boheme may be the most accessible of all operas. Definite buy!
Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)



 
16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Heartbreaking!, June 24, 2003
By G. Golding (Seattle, WA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
Anyone who has read my reviews knows that I am the biggest Freni fan imaginable. She does not disappoint me here. Yes, at this stage, her voice is a size too large for Mimi, more suitable for heavy verismo such as Tosca, Fedora and Manon Lescaut. The voice is far heavier than in her two previous studio recordings from the 60's and 70's. The vibrato is also a trifle wider than it was but all this is amply excused by her warmth and mature insight into the role. The tragedy of Mimi has never before been so heartfully portrayed. The emotions are stronger than before and by the end of the opera she totally hits her stride and a quarter of a century melts away. This is a must for all Freni fans.
Pavarotti, unfortunately, does not begin to match Freni's contribution. As many singers, such as Freni, experience a lowering of voice and a widening of vibrato, they become greater interpereters, greater artists. For Pavarotti, you don't find this. As his vocal resources diminish, so does his artistry. he sings faster than before, without as much inspiration. Still, he musters up some of the old magic and, in the end, provides a decent, if not splendid partner to Freni.
The rest of the cast is pretty darn good. The voice of Musetta may not be the most beautiful, but she provides much pleasure for this viewer. Quilico is a great Marcello! So is Ghiaurov as Colline, the one bass that can dominate an ensemble. The conducting doesn't set me on fire, but it's not bad.....serviceable. I love the staging and the sets.
Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)



 
27 of 33 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent La Boheme, March 13, 2000
By N. Gallimore (Upminster United Kingdom) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
To hear Pavarotti in the very best voice in one of his best roles was shear magic. The great Mirella Freni was fantastic, and the production near perfect. In England these productions are almost impossible to obtain, and yet one click of the mouse from Amazon.com was enough to deliver this wonderful DVD to my door in London, and all within 6 days.

I will certainly purchase from Amazon again.

Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)


Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
 
 
 
Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars My Favorite
This DVD was purchased as a gift and the recipient is as thrilled with it as I have been. I have watched it many times and will never get tired of watching it. Read more
Published 6 months ago by Rebecca Keller

5.0 out of 5 stars Happy Birthday MIMI
Today I received this in the mail. It arrived on Mirella Freni's 71st birthday. So I did watch it and really enjoyed it. I'm a really big Freni fan and enjoy her in this role. Read more
Published on February 27, 2006 by maiden pa.

1.0 out of 5 stars Pavarotti and Freni pretending to be bohemians
One thing I find dissapointing in many Pavarotti opera productions is that everything seems to be adapted for Pavarotti instead of Pavarotti being adapted for the plot (or the... Read more
Published on January 17, 2003 by Rafael Fernandez Fernandez

4.0 out of 5 stars A special thrill for fans of Mirella Freni
As someone fell in love with Mirella Freni as Susanna in The Marriage of Figaro and who heard of her pre-eminence as a Puccini interpreter, I have been quite satisfied with this... Read more
Published on November 10, 2001 by Raymond Yee

2.0 out of 5 stars star-studded dull performance
Despite the vocal stars (and the previous effusive reviews), this performance is quite simply dull thanks to the leaden conducting. Read more
Published on September 22, 2000 by W. Russell

4.0 out of 5 stars Great!
Since we don't have an opera house in our city, I am thrilled to see any production of Puccini's operas. The music is so beautiful, it makes up for any other disapointments. Read more
Published on May 8, 2000 by Kathryn E. Turnquist

1.0 out of 5 stars The vocals are 5 star, the lip-syncing no stars.
Operas are meant to be heard primarily in theatres, especially Scalla, with live big performances. In front of your small TV this video seems contrived because the wonderful... Read more
Published on January 5, 1999 by dgtw23a@prodigy.com

Only search this product's reviews



Customer Discussions

 Beta (What's this?)
New! See all customer communities, and bookmark your communities to keep track of them.
This product's forum (0 discussions)
  Discussion Replies Latest Post
  No discussions yet

Ask questions, Share opinions, Gain insight
Start a new discussion
Topic:
First post:
Prompts for sign-in
  [Cancel]


   


Product Information from the Amapedia Community

Beta (What's this?)



Look for Similar Items by Category


Bath Wonders from LUSH

LUSH bath bombs
Find bath bombs, bath melts, shower jellies, and more great gifts for yourself (or a friend!) from LUSH Fresh Handmade Cosmetics.

Shop LUSH now

 

Wallpaper like a Pro

Shop for Wallpaper Supplies
Find the tools to apply or remove wallpaper like a pro. From wall decals to steamers, you can find everything you need in the Home Improvement Store.
 

A Breakthrough Performance

Shop for jackhammers
Whether you need to drill into rock or break up pavement, a jackhammer provides the force you need.

Shop for jackhammers now

 

Remodel Your Bathroom

Shop for Bathroom Remodeling Products
Transform one of the most essential rooms in your home. Browse functional and attractive bathroom faucets, sinks, and accessories.

Shop for bathroom products

 

 

Feedback

If you need help or have a question for Customer Service, contact us.
 Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
Is there any other feedback you would like to provide?

Your comments can help make our site better for everyone.



Where's My Stuff?

Shipping & Returns

Need Help?

Your Recent History

  (What's this?)
You have no recently viewed items or searches.

After viewing product detail pages or search results, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to pages you are interested in.

Look to the right column to find helpful suggestions for your shopping session.

Continue shopping: Top Sellers

Conditions of Use | Privacy Notice © 1996-2009, Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates