$4.65 delivery April 9 - 11. Details

Only 1 left in stock - order soon.

[{"displayPrice":"$32.99","priceAmount":32.99,"currencySymbol":"$","integerValue":"32","decimalSeparator":".","fractionalValue":"99","symbolPosition":"left","hasSpace":false,"showFractionalPartIfEmpty":true,"offerListingId":"p2hujPdP31eZ6F9OtQt3yLZwH6RXrKz1BH9bmNKmcQMrCuMa5jQWWw59OEX3ZjoMWuCmXyeYVotqSAoZrH2rB3oEgiSvEQ1WJGU1os5yAfdTp664HmV2Juq4K5PPlTc%2FeqjqjVI3DTD1baphhtjFO2tMx0W5hbIjrWlzAst9UIMmWemDxUAw9wDZx11iAf1A","locale":"en-US","buyingOptionType":"NEW","aapiBuyingOptionIndex":0},{"displayPrice":"$23.49","priceAmount":23.49,"currencySymbol":"$","integerValue":"23","decimalSeparator":".","fractionalValue":"49","symbolPosition":"left","hasSpace":false,"showFractionalPartIfEmpty":true,"offerListingId":"p2hujPdP31eZ6F9OtQt3yLZwH6RXrKz12QGkaWlrkgAJS3ItO2z5i5yFGcVnxzzpkv2ncIzv9Y%2FVD33m9oYaqq6TwUh6Rh53mZwb205Kgfgd4fmOeU2M6w8KD0HOdxLqww%2B6GwY%2FTwbijL0I%2BGm%2FBlMoTkG0rr3Mme0OEEQBRr2yB9S55SBO0g%3D%3D","locale":"en-US","buyingOptionType":"USED","aapiBuyingOptionIndex":1}]

$$32.99 () Includes selected options. Includes initial monthly payment and selected options. Details

Enhancements you chose aren't available for this seller. Details

${cardName} not available for the seller you chose

${cardName} unavailable for quantities greater than ${maxQuantity}.

Ships from

It's Show Time

Ships from

It's Show Time

Sold by

It's Show Time

Sold by

It's Show Time

Returns

Eligible for Return, Refund or Replacement within 30 days of receipt

Returns

Eligible for Return, Refund or Replacement within 30 days of receipt

This item can be returned in its original condition for a full refund or replacement within 30 days of receipt. You may receive a partial or no refund on used, damaged or materially different returns.

Read full return policy

Payment

Secure transaction

Payment

Secure transaction

We work hard to protect your security and privacy. Our payment security system encrypts your information during transmission. We don’t share your credit card details with third-party sellers, and we don’t sell your information to others. Learn more

Details

Get Fast, Free Shipping with Amazon Prime FREE Returns

Disk(s) may have lights marks on them or art may have light wear, but was tested and plays perfect or your money back, No digital codes if there was any. Looking for a new home, is it yours? Eligible for free 2-day prime or free super saver shipping. All orders ship fast from Amazon warehouses.

FREE delivery Saturday, April 6 on orders shipped by Amazon over $35

Or fastest delivery Wednesday, April 3. Order within 18 hrs 12 mins

Select delivery location

Only 1 left in stock - order soon.

$$32.99 () Includes selected options. Includes initial monthly payment and selected options. Details

Enhancements you chose aren't available for this seller. Details

${cardName} not available for the seller you chose

${cardName} unavailable for quantities greater than ${maxQuantity}.

Sold by Everything & the Kitchen Sink and Fulfilled by Amazon.

Image Unavailable

Image not available for
Color:

Sorry, this item is not available in
Image not available
To view this video download Flash Player

Puccini: La Boheme Great Recordings of the Century

Giacomo Puccini (Composer), Sir Thomas Beecham (Conductor), RCA Victor Chorus & Orchestra (Orchestra), Format: Audio CD

$32.99

$23.49

Get Fast, Free Shipping with Amazon Prime

FREE Returns

See all 4 formats and editions Hide other formats and editions

Listen Now with Amazon Music

Puccini : La Bohème

"Please retry"

Amazon Music Unlimited

Price

New from

Used from

MP3 Music, February 15, 2002

"Please retry"

$18.99

—

Audio CD, April 9, 2002

"Please retry"

$32.99

$6.57

Report an issue with this product or seller

Giacomo Puccini
42
Audio CD
29 offers from $2.99
Victoria de los Angeles
63
Audio CD
17 offers from $7.39
Victoria de los Angeles
5
Audio CD
6 offers from $28.02
Giacomo Puccini
31
Audio CD
32 offers from $3.55
Giacomo Puccini
297
Audio CD
64 offers from $2.00

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Every so often in the recording industry, there's a miracle, and this is one of them. This 1956 recording was organized quickly in New York, not on the heels of a stage performance and not even with a noted orchestra. All the right singers were in town at the same time--some popping in to sing a few bars before heading for the airport--and the result is the single greatest recording of this oft-recorded opera. The leads--Victoria de Los Angeles and Jussi Björling--would make it special in any case. But Robert Merrill is excellent and Lucine Amara is a light-voiced, French-sounding, ultra-stylish Musetta. This is also the only full-length Puccini recording by the great conductor Sir Thomas Beecham. A classic. --David Patrick Stearns

Product details

Is Discontinued By Manufacturer ‏ : ‎ No
Product Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5 x 5.75 x 0.45 inches; 4.96 ounces
Manufacturer ‏ : ‎ EMI Classics
Date First Available ‏ : ‎ September 2, 2000
Label ‏ : ‎ EMI Classics
ASIN ‏ : ‎ B000063UM0

Best Sellers Rank: #194,208 in CDs & Vinyl (See Top 100 in CDs & Vinyl)
- #665 in Operettas (CDs & Vinyl)
- #22,607 in Classical (CDs & Vinyl)

Customer Reviews:
52

Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5

52 global ratings

2 star

How customer reviews and ratings work

Sort reviews by

Top reviews from the United States

There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.

John R. Mccormick

A great recording of any century

Reviewed in the United States on January 27, 2016

Verified Purchase

There are, of course, quite a number of recordings of this justifiably popular opera. My favorite so far has been the old Cetra recording with Ferruccio Tagliavini and Rosanna Carteri, a really beautiful performance that, to my mind, easily overshadows most more modern recordings. However, as I was listening to the first act duet on You Tube, my wife recognized it as having heard the recording in its entirety several years ago and loving it--so I ordered the recording and just received it. Having so far listened to the first act, I am prepared to state that my previous favorite is now in second place. This one is beyond beautiful. What with the genius conducting of Beecham along with the superb cast of singers, Bjorling and de los Angeles in particular, there is no recording on the market today that comes even close. There may be some who nit pick over the fact that it's a mono recording--but who cares? Over the history of recording, the vast majority ARE mono and that has nothing whatsoever to do with the greatness of the music and its performance. In my opinion, anyone who loves this opera needs this recording. You will never in your life hear it done better.

10 people found this helpful

Helpful

GaryBerger

Phenomenal Boheme

Reviewed in the United States on April 7, 2012

Verified Purchase

I haven't heard every recording of La Boheme, but if there is a better one out there I'd really like to know about it. I certainly haven't heard one. Contemporary recordings featuring the best voices of our time just don't compare to this. It's true that the recording technology in 1957 was not up to modern standards, but the remastering is very good and the original recording must have been state-of-the-art for its time. I didn't find the audio quality to be distracting at all. If you're an opera lover you need this recording. If you're more concerned with audio quality than with the music itself, well, that's up to you.

5 people found this helpful

Helpful

A "Regular People" Review

Reviewed in the United States on December 4, 2006

Verified Purchase

I'm just getting started with the Opera and I recently picked this up. You do not need to be some Opera Elitist to fall in love with this Opera. Do yourself a favor and read Opera 101. Then pop this in read the Synopsis and Libretto as things go along. If the end of Acts 1 and 4 don't have you fighting back tears then you need to check your pulse...and keep me updated!

6 people found this helpful

Helpful

Morgan Sundance

Worth Every Penny!

Reviewed in the United States on November 26, 2016

Verified Purchase

The most inspired of performances. Absolutely my most favorite, and so grateful to have this beautifully remastered version of my old RCA Red Label vinyl that I long lost. This recording did not let me down!

One person found this helpful

Helpful

P. Weber

Four Stars

Reviewed in the United States on January 30, 2016

good job

Reviewed in the United States on January 9, 2007

Verified Purchase

This La Boheme is the most beautifully sung and sensitively interpreted of any other version of the opera.

There are no longer any singers to compare with this production I have this opera on the original records and my CD is wearing out so I ordered another . I cannot live without it

8 people found this helpful

Helpful

Amazon Customer

Enjoyable album

Reviewed in the United States on July 26, 2014

Verified Purchase

I'm not an expert on opera, so I can't say much more than I have thoroughly enjoyed this recording. The artists are impressive and the audio quality is good.

One person found this helpful

Helpful

A. Berner

Best Boheme Ever

Reviewed in the United States on August 9, 2007

Verified Purchase

Not only the best Boheme ever, but maybe the best opera recording ever. Bjoerling and de los Angelese "own" these roles, and the supporting cast is great. A young John Reardon even makes the most out of Shaunard. And of course the great Sir Thomas Beecham conducting. A must own.

5 people found this helpful

Helpful

Top reviews from other countries

DAVID BRYSON

LO TROVO SCINTILLANTE

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 31, 2008

Verified Purchase

Away with revisionist deviationism, say I. For most of my life Beecham's has been regarded as the Boheme to end all Bohemes, and I maintain resolutely that it still is that, for all the advances in recording techniques since 1956. The digital remastering dates from as recently as 2002, but Beecham used to obtain very good technical quality of sound for his day, and for the usual reason that he demanded it and there was no use in arguing. I also offer the following consideration as regards sound-quality - when it is a matter of large forces, say a symphony orchestra let alone the battalions necessary for grand opera, the nature of the sound that can be offered to us in our sitting-rooms simply cannot resemble other than distantly their real sound in the concert hall or opera house. The effect resides to some extent on power of suggestion over the listener's ear, and although I routinely welcome every extra ounce of sound-quality that I can get, in the last resort once a certain level of quality and realism has been attained anything over and above that is secondary so far as I am concerned.

In fact I thought that this set started very promisingly in the matter of `real presence'. The sound is quite forward and it `socked it to me' quite effectively. However as matters advanced the general impact (in the technical sense) seemed to recede somewhat. I believe that this is due in part to the style of the performance. I never heard a more beautiful or affecting Che gelida manina than I do here, but I have certainly heard many that were more vigorous. I believe, simply, that Beecham and Bjorling have decided to ration the quota of `can belto' in their presentation, and it is let loose principally in duets and ensembles. This in turn, I'm inclined to think, is of a piece with the policy on tempi, which have drawn comment for being on the slow side. By way of a comparison in that respect I replayed my old Toscanini LP set, and the difference is admittedly marked, with Beecham taking 107 minutes and Toscanini, renowned and to some extent properly renowned for fast tempi, clocking out after barely 95. Without going through more exhaustive comparisons I suppose I can take Toscanini as representing the opposite extreme, which leaves me wondering how significant the issue of tempi can really be. At any speed this is a distinctly short 4-act opera, and I hope that anxiety regarding the extra 12 minutes is not a matter of the pace of modern life and fitting in La Boheme between other commitments, much as Sir Malcolm Sargent was suspected of speeding up symphonic finales in the interests of finishing before the 9 O'Clock News.

Myself, I could take any amount of musicianship like this. The performance came about at all through the alertness of a musical agent who spotted that Beecham, de los Angeles and Bjorling were all simultaneously in New York, and with awesome efficiency an orchestra and chorus together with a supporting cast were conjured up. It would have been worth hearing this Boheme for the sake of Merrill, Corena and above all Tozzi alone, as anyone ought to concur who has heard Tozzi's colossal `For He is like a refiner's fire' in Beecham's Messiah. However what most of us want it for above all is of course that sublime trinity. De los Angeles had possibly the loveliest soprano voice of her generation, and Bjorling, whose voice will bear comparison with any later tenor I can think of, even Pavarotti, did not live long enough to leave us the legacy we would have wanted. When I say, not for the only time, that I think Beecham the greatest conductor of the 20th century what I mean is this. His work has about it a peculiar sense of God-given grace (Beecham was of course an unbeliever), an aura of pure and abstract music, that is irrespective of the `weight' of the compositions he handles. He did not turn out complete Beethoven cycles (largely because he did not greatly like Beethoven) but he cast that special radiance on music of all kinds, finding and even sometimes implanting a shining particle at the core of works that had seemed base metal in other hands. At the very pinnacle of musical creation, this is the characteristic with which Mozart invests both his most obviously awesome inspirations and his seemingly lightest pieces.

I am in no hurry to get to the end of La Boheme, but there is another aspect to the matter too. The libretto is witty and the self-mocking banter of the penniless artists in their Parisian garret requires a certain kind of sophistication in the way it is sung and acted. When I ask myself Which conductor is most in tune with this kind of idiom, I reflect that greatly as I revere, say, Fuertwaengler I can hardly envisage him in this context, and indeed for this question to be answered it only has to be asked. I could point also to Beecham's handling of Puccini's orchestration, which he admired to the extent of rating it more highly than Strauss's, suggesting as I do so that you will hear good enough sound-reproduction in this set to appreciate what it is that differentiates Beecham from, say, Karajan, and which is far more important than any niceties of digital recording.

I have never yet wept at La Boheme, because to me it is not art imitating life but just Italian opera being itself. The gale of life blows high among this community of impoverished creators, but clearly they need youth on their side to sustain such a precarious existence, while in the meantime l'haleine de la mort (in Maeterlinck's chilling phrase) is there to envelop the weakest of them, catching the rest by surprise. Vita brevis, ars longa, and this is a recording for the ages.

33 people found this helpful

Matthew Haddon

La Boheme Bjorling / de Los Angeles

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 30, 2010

Verified Purchase

What a cracking recording this is. Although it is only mono it really is superb and there is a definite stereo spread to the sound. You can clearly pick out the performers and orchestra in slightly different positions in front of the listening position.
Jussi Bjorling is on great form although I thought that I detected a slight blemish here and there, but the other performers are also first class which makes the double CD box set excellent value.

2 people found this helpful

jacquicorn

Parody

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 13, 2019

Verified Purchase

Product as described. Received quickly and discs in good working order.

Larry Wolkin

One of the great recordings of the century sung by some of the ...

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 20, 2015

Verified Purchase

One of the great recordings of the century sung by some of the greatest singers of the century- especially Bjeorling

One person found this helpful

See more reviews

Return this item for free

Image Unavailable

Puccini: La Boheme Great Recordings of the Century

Return this item for free

Customers who viewed this item also viewed

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Product details

Videos

Customer reviews

Top reviews from the United States

There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.

Top reviews from other countries