Puccini: La Boheme (Von Karajan) [DVD] [1965] [2006]

Despite its flaws, this is in my opinion the best 'historic' recording for most people. By that I mean one that predates digital recording. The best ever excerpt is the Renata Tebaldi, Jussi Bjoerling film of Act One from Mimi's entrance to the end of the act. Unfortunately this is all there is and it is not a full recording, it is in Black and White and mono. However this recording is as near as you will get to that level of performance in a full recording.The star of the performance is undoubtedly Mirella Freni, after Renata Tebaldi she is probably the finest soprano in the past 70 years. Some would argue that Callas is the best but unfortunately Callas could be inconsistent,even within one performance. Freni and Tebaldi in my mind anyway embodied a more reliable and professional outlook to their art, while delivering performances of the very highest standard. In this performance she was 30 years old and just starting to peak. She looks believable in the role and her acting is, for the period this was recorded in, exceptionally good. There is a youthfulness in her voice which she was able to maintain until her early 50's this suites the role of Mimi and is less 'stodgy' than some later performances by the likes of Renata Scotto (with Pavarotti), Teresa Stratas (with Carreras) and Ileana Cotrubas (with the much underrated Neil Shicoff) We have to wait till the 2009 Film staring Anna Netrebko and Rolando Villazon to recapture some of the magic of this 1965 recording, with Anna Netrebko being the first soprano since Mirella Freni to bring that youthfulness back to the role.Gianni Raimondi is also very good, there have been better Rodolfo's but in some respects the fact he is not just quite as good as Freni helps you concentrate more on her performance. Don't get me wrong, in the big scheme of things Raimondi sings this as well as Carreras, Domingo or Villazon but he lacks the believability of Villazon and certainly acting wise he is not as good. I was not disappointed in any way with his voice so don't let my over critical comments put you off.HVK conducts this in his usual efficient manner, he is like marmite, some love him and others well...... He is extremely good but for me Antonio Pappano is a much better Puccini maestro.The film itself is as you would expect from something shot in 1965 and if you ignore some of the technical flaws then you will really enjoy this DVD. Anyone who loves La boheme should have this in their collection and anyone who loves Mirella Freni MUST have this in their collection.

This is a very old recording at was a little scratchy but nevertheless well worth watching. Excellent singing.

This is a good production, I must admit I have seen better - particularly live at the Dorset Opera a couple of years ago - and this is creaking a bit with age, but it's still good. The voices are dubbed onto the film, but this doesn't really affect it and the singing is sublime.

Everything is lovely about this recording : the cast, the director, the conductor, the orchestra. However ! On this recording, the orchestra (brilliantly conducted and brilliantly played,) sometimes comes in a little too heavily. It almost overpowers the singers. Is this the fault of the studio sound mixers ? This is supposed to be the most melodious of all operas !Von Karajan's recording in Falck's 1968 film of Cavalleria Rusticana comes across so well that hearing this recording was, for me, I am sorry to say, somewhat of an anti climax. So, I can award this much acclaimed recording only four stars.

Over 50 years old, but you're not likely to find a better version than this: performed brilliantly in the costumes and setting of the period, and such a refreshing change from modern 'directors' opera' where the music and libretto take a back seat to some nonsensical, trendy interpretation. Puccini's operas are a celebration of love, youth and beauty amid the sorrows and pain of the world, and none more so than this one. Prepare to shed a tear.

The Met spend their money on the singers and the sets. I gather even they are now having to watch their finances. This is a great traditional production , well sung

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Film version. Freni and Pavarotti are splendid and especially the young Freni at the beginning of her career is very convincing. The staged version, also with Zefferelli sets with Pavarotti and Renato Scotto is better for the staging. Puccini: La Boheme [DVD] [2005 ]