REQUESTS


23 March 2012

Puccini: La Bohème

2 CD | FLAC + CUE | Covers | 455 Mb
2008 | Deutsche Grammophone
The world, arguably, didn't need another complete recording of Puccini's La bohème (there are 84 currently available) but if opera's most charismatic couple – Anna Netrebko and Rolando Villazon – record it, it's worth exploring. She is lovely, as ever, creating a fragile, if willful Mimi, and he is the very picture of young, ardent love, infusing every word and note with meaning and what seems like spontaneity. If Nicole Cabell's Musetta is a bit bland then Boaz Daniel's light-voiced, energetic Marcello more than makes up for it. Bertrand de Billy leads a warm, loving reading, with the comic moments truly charming and the intimate moments very personal. One gets the feeling that there's a better performance of this opera in each of the two leads, but their fans – and there are millions - will not be able to resist this. The performance of choice remains the Pavarotti/Freni/Karajan recording. -- Robert Levine
. . . the central duo and the fine conductor are excellent reasons for sampling this performance . . . Netrebko sings with expansive, gleaming tone . . . The jewel of the set is Villazón's impassioned Rodolfo, a portrayal of overwhelming generosity of spirit . . .
Record Review / Hugh Canning, The Sunday Times (London) / 11. May 2008
. . . Rolando Villazón is magnificent, by turns ardent and angry and there's a stream of bright golden tone in a ringing 'O soave fanciulla' . . . Bertrand de Billy and the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra make Puccini's score as fresh as a new coat of paint . . .
Record Review / Christopher Cook, BBC Music Magazine (London) / 01. May 2008
Anna Netrebko, Mimi
Nicole Cabell, Musetta
Rolando Villazon, Rodolfo
Boaz Daniel, Marcello
Stephane Degout, Schaunard
Vitalij Kowaljow, Colline
Bayerischen Rundfunks
Bertrand De Billy (Conductor)
I'm beginning here to resurrect some of the works that "disappeared" from Avax or were "abandoned" from the original uploaders. There's not a real thought behind it, I'm just cleaning up my HDs and following the wind. What I downloaded long ago is flowing back. All credits go to the first uploader. Enjoy...

1 comment:

Peppino said...

My favorite La Bohème is the version with Callas and Di Stefano.