Search - Giacomo Puccini, Sir Thomas Beecham, RCA Victor Orchestra :: La Boheme

La Boheme
Giacomo Puccini, Sir Thomas Beecham, RCA Victor Orchestra
La Boheme
Genre: Classical
 
  •  Track Listings (17) - Disc #1
  •  Track Listings (19) - Disc #2

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 ...  more »

     
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CD Details

All Artists: Giacomo Puccini, Sir Thomas Beecham, RCA Victor Orchestra, Victoria De Los Angeles, Jussi Bjorling, Giorgio Tozzi, Robert Merrill, Fernando Corena, John Reardon, Lucine Amara
Title: La Boheme
Members Wishing: 1
Total Copies: 0
Label: EMI Classics
Release Date: 4/9/2002
Album Type: Limited Edition, Original recording remastered
Genre: Classical
Style: Opera & Classical Vocal
Number of Discs: 2
SwapaCD Credits: 2
UPCs: 724356775329, 724356775350

Synopsis

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

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CD Reviews

One of the greatest opera recordings ever
Operaman! | Chicago, IL United States | 09/22/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)

"In the pantheon of recorded opera, Beecham's Boheme stands out eternally. The magic of Beecham's conducting, and the beautiful pairing of de los Angeles and Bjoerling has simply not been equaled in any other recorded version. To think this recording happened "on the run" in a series of New York recording sessions is some sort of miracle. This was one of the first opera sets I ever listened to as an adolescent, and I was hooked for life. I have literally bought this recording four times - the Seraphim mono reissue, Seraphim's "stereo" reissue, the first CD incarnation and this new Great Recordings reissue. Just for the record, the audio quality between the first and latest CD is ever so slight (and in some ways I like the audio "space" in the first CD version) so if you own the first edition, it really isn't necessary to replace it with the latest one."
Beecham - 10, Toscanini - 0
James Weathers | EL PASO, TEXAS United States | 05/07/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)

"Although Toscanini conducted at the premier and had a close relation with the composer, Beecham later received correspondence from Puccini that indicated he preferred a more leisurly pace to the opera as opposed to the almost frantic pace of Toscanini. The result is this marvelous recording; the slower tempo renders the music voluptuous and sensual. Probably would have been given an X-Rating if such a think existed at that time. The principal singers are in top voice. Well worth adding to your collection."
Legendary!!!
The Cultural Observer | 02/01/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is THE La Boheme to own, and regardless of what others say, the Pavarotti/Freni version will never ever come close to the beauty of this recorded version with de los Angeles and Bjorling. Sir Thomas Beecham is also one of the main reasons to buy this recording, as his graceful musicianship gives this Boheme an insight that no other recording could ever provide. Truly a beautiful Boheme. De los Angeles is touching, and Bjorling is amazing as Rodolfo, truly passionate! Mimi has never been sung better by any other singer. Another great Boheme would be the Caballe/Domingo version, sung with great pianissimos, and if you want fire and drama, go for the beautiful Boheme by Callas and di Stefano, with Anna Moffo as the foxy Musetta!"