Puccini, Giacomo, Metropolitan Opera Company / La Boheme (With Licia Albanese, Carlo Bergonzi)
| Album: | La Boheme (With Licia Albanese, Carlo Bergonzi) | Collection: | Classical | |
| Artist: | Puccini, Giacomo, Metropolitan Opera Company | Added: | May 2011 | |
| Label: | Sony Classical | |||
A-File Activity
| Add Date: | 2011-06-12 | Pull Date: | 2011-08-14 | Charts: | Classical/Experimental |
|---|
| Week Ending: | Jul 31 | Jun 19 |
|---|---|---|
| Airplays: | 1 | 1 |
Recent Airplay
| 1. | Jul 27, 2011: | consummate classical
Act 4, 8 Tracks, Total Time: (29:12) |
2. | Jun 14, 2011: | Bisous Bijoux
Mimi! Disc 2. Act 3, track 3: |
Album Review
Larry Koran
Reviewed 2011-05-31
Reviewed 2011-05-31
Puccini / La Bohème (Metropolitan Opera Production)
Label: Sony Classical
Larry K.
Reviewed 2011-05-30
PUCCINI: / La Bohème (Licia Albanese, Carlo Bergonzi, Metropolitan Opera)
Sony Classical, 2011
La bohème is an opera in four acts by Giacomo Puccini, based on Scènes de la vie de bohème by Henri Murger. The world premiere was in Turin on 1 February 1896, conducted by the young Arturo Toscanini. Since then, La bohème has become part of the standard Italian opera repertory and is one of the most frequently performed operas internationally.
The story is set in the Parisian Latin Quarter, around 1830 and focuses on the love between the seamstress, Mimì, and the poet, Rodolfo. Meeting when Mimi loses her keys, they almost immediately fall in love. Later, Rodolfo wants to leave Mimì because of her flirtatious behavior and his wish that she find a wealthier companion. However, Mimì is mortally ill (with TB), and Rodolfo feels guilty, since their life together likely had worsened her health further. They reunite for a brief moment before Mimì dies.
Disc I (52:34)
Act 1 (34:00). Ten musical numbers (tracks 1-10), Mimi enters on track 6. Action: Nearly destitute artist, Marcello, and poet, Rodolfo, trying to keep warm in their garret apartment, are joined by their roommates, Colline, a philosopher, and Schaunard, a musician. After an encounter with the landlord seeking rent, three leave for a café, but Rodolfo stays behind. His pretty neighbor, Mimi, knocks on the door, having lost her key. Love is soon born.
Act II (18:34). 7 musical numbers (tracks 11-17). Action: Rodolfo buys Mimi a bonnet, introduces her to his friends, and they order supper. A toy vendor passes along with eager children. Marcello’s former sweetheart, Musetta, enters with an elderly suitor, gains Marcello’s attention and his arms. Soldiers march by, and the bohemians follow, leaving the bill for the horror-stricken suitor.
Disc II (52:23)
Act III (24:37). 7 musical numbers (tracks 1-7). Action: Amid farm women entering Paris, Mimi, sick and coughing, enters a tavern seeking Marcello and Musetta’s dwelling. Rodolfo has abandoned her. She tells Marcello of Rodolfo’s incessant jealousy. Rodolfo, asleep in the tavern, wakes and while Mimi is hiding nearby unbeknownst, he tells Marcello he left because of Mimi’s fickleness, then confesses he fears his poverty will kill her and he wants her to seek a wealthier suitor. She coughs and is found out, and she and Rodolfo sing of their lost love, agreeing to remain together until spring. Meanwhile, Marcello and Musetta quarrel over her flirting.
Act IV (27:46). 8 musical numbers (tracks 8-15). Action: Spring has past. Rodolfo and Marcello, back together in the garret, are brought a meager meal by Colline and Schaunard, but dance and mock duel to lighten their spirits. Musetta bursts in – Mimi left her wealthy patron, is deathly ill and has asked to be taken here to Rodolfo. She is brought in, made as comfortable as possible, and the two lovers are left alone. They recall their meeting and happy days, but Mimi begins violent coughing, and after the others return, drifts in unconsciousness, and dies. Rodolfo throws himself despairingly on her body, weeping and repeatedly calling her name.
Label: Sony Classical
Larry K.
Reviewed 2011-05-30
PUCCINI: / La Bohème (Licia Albanese, Carlo Bergonzi, Metropolitan Opera)
Sony Classical, 2011
La bohème is an opera in four acts by Giacomo Puccini, based on Scènes de la vie de bohème by Henri Murger. The world premiere was in Turin on 1 February 1896, conducted by the young Arturo Toscanini. Since then, La bohème has become part of the standard Italian opera repertory and is one of the most frequently performed operas internationally.
The story is set in the Parisian Latin Quarter, around 1830 and focuses on the love between the seamstress, Mimì, and the poet, Rodolfo. Meeting when Mimi loses her keys, they almost immediately fall in love. Later, Rodolfo wants to leave Mimì because of her flirtatious behavior and his wish that she find a wealthier companion. However, Mimì is mortally ill (with TB), and Rodolfo feels guilty, since their life together likely had worsened her health further. They reunite for a brief moment before Mimì dies.
Disc I (52:34)
Act 1 (34:00). Ten musical numbers (tracks 1-10), Mimi enters on track 6. Action: Nearly destitute artist, Marcello, and poet, Rodolfo, trying to keep warm in their garret apartment, are joined by their roommates, Colline, a philosopher, and Schaunard, a musician. After an encounter with the landlord seeking rent, three leave for a café, but Rodolfo stays behind. His pretty neighbor, Mimi, knocks on the door, having lost her key. Love is soon born.
Act II (18:34). 7 musical numbers (tracks 11-17). Action: Rodolfo buys Mimi a bonnet, introduces her to his friends, and they order supper. A toy vendor passes along with eager children. Marcello’s former sweetheart, Musetta, enters with an elderly suitor, gains Marcello’s attention and his arms. Soldiers march by, and the bohemians follow, leaving the bill for the horror-stricken suitor.
Disc II (52:23)
Act III (24:37). 7 musical numbers (tracks 1-7). Action: Amid farm women entering Paris, Mimi, sick and coughing, enters a tavern seeking Marcello and Musetta’s dwelling. Rodolfo has abandoned her. She tells Marcello of Rodolfo’s incessant jealousy. Rodolfo, asleep in the tavern, wakes and while Mimi is hiding nearby unbeknownst, he tells Marcello he left because of Mimi’s fickleness, then confesses he fears his poverty will kill her and he wants her to seek a wealthier suitor. She coughs and is found out, and she and Rodolfo sing of their lost love, agreeing to remain together until spring. Meanwhile, Marcello and Musetta quarrel over her flirting.
Act IV (27:46). 8 musical numbers (tracks 8-15). Action: Spring has past. Rodolfo and Marcello, back together in the garret, are brought a meager meal by Colline and Schaunard, but dance and mock duel to lighten their spirits. Musetta bursts in – Mimi left her wealthy patron, is deathly ill and has asked to be taken here to Rodolfo. She is brought in, made as comfortable as possible, and the two lovers are left alone. They recall their meeting and happy days, but Mimi begins violent coughing, and after the others return, drifts in unconsciousness, and dies. Rodolfo throws himself despairingly on her body, weeping and repeatedly calling her name.
Track Listing