Puccini - La Bohème: Vinyl 2LP Box Set
Release date: 22 November, 2024
Puccini, Pavarotti, Karajan - a combination that reached its unrivalled climax in October 1972 in a masterful recording of ‘La Bohème’ at the Jesus Christ Church in Berlin. Puccini's opera continues to touch and inspire opera lovers worldwide. Luciano Pavarotti, who once made his operatic debut as Rodolfo, later made the role his own. In the ‘La Bohème’ recording Pavarotti presents himself in his ravishing vocal prime. Together with his singing partner for decades, Mirella Freni, and a stellar cast of soloists, and under the direction of Herbert von Karajan, a recording was made that remains groundbreaking to this day. To mark the 100th anniversary of Puccini's death, two high-quality box sets will be released on either 2 Hybrid SACD or 2LP, using a new 24-bit 192 kHz high-definition transfer from the original master tapes. For the vinyl edition the LPs have been cut at Abbey Road Studios and are pressed on 180gm vinyI.
Meticulously researched and lavishly presented hardback book housed in a deluxe rigid slipcase, including full libretto (with translation), an extended new essay, facsimiles from the original booklet, features about the main artists and original session photographs.
Side A:
1. Puccini: "Questo Mar Rosso" [La Bohème / Act 1] - Remastered 2024
2. Puccini: "Pensier profondo" [La Bohème / Act 1] - Remastered 2024
3. Puccini: "Abasso, abbasso l'autor!" [La Bohème / Act 1] - Remastered 2024
4. Puccini: "Si può...Chi è là?" [La Bohème / Act 1] - Remastered 2024
5. Puccini: "Io resto" [La Bohème / Act 1] - Remastered 2024
6. Puccini: "Chi è là?" [La Bohème / Act 1] - Remastered 2024
7. Puccini: "Si sente meglio?" [La bohème, SC 67 / Act 1] - Remastered 2024
8. Puccini: "Che gelida manina" [La Bohème / Act 1] - Remastered 2024
9. Puccini: "Sì. Mi chiamano Mimì" [La Bohème / Act 1] - Remastered 2024
Side B:
1. Puccini: "Ehi! Rodolfo!" [La bohème, SC 67 / Act 1] - Remastered 2024
2. Puccini: "O soavefanciulla" [La Bohème / Act 1] - Remastered 2024
3. Puccini: "Arranci,datteri!" [La Bohème / Act 2] - Remastered 2024
4.Puccini: "Chi guardi?... Ecco i giocattoli di Parpignol" [La Bohème / Act 2] - Remastered 2024
5. Puccini: "Viva Parpignol...Una cuffietta a pizzi" [La Bohème / Act 2] - Remastered 2024
6. Puccini: "Oh!...Essa!...Musetta!" [La Bohème / Act 2] - Remastered 2024
7. Puccini: "Quando m'en vo'" [La Bohème / Act 2] - Remastered 2024
8. Puccini: "Chi l'ha richiesto?" [La Bohème / Act 2] - Remastered 2024
Side C:
1. Puccini: "Ohè, là, le guardie!...Aprite!" [La Bohème / Act 3] - Remastered 2024
2. Puccini: "Sa dirmi, scusi" [La Bohème / Act 3] - Remastered 2024
3. Puccini: "Mimì! - Speravo di trovarvi qui" [La Bohème / Act 3] - Remastered 2024
4. Puccini: "Marcello. Finalmente!" [La Bohème / Act 3] - Remastered 2024
5. Puccini: "Mimì è una civetta" [La Bohème / Act 3] - Remastered 2024
6. Puccini: "Mimì è tanto malata!" [La Bohème / Act 3] - Remastered 2024
7. Puccini: "Donde lieta uscì" [La Bohème / Act 3] - Remastered 2024
8. Puccini: "Dunque: è proprio finita!...Addio, dolce svegliare" [La Bohème / Act 3] - Remastered 2024
Side D:
1. Puccini: "In un coupé?" [La Bohème / Act 4] - Remastered 2024
2. Puccini: "O Mimì, tu più non torni...Che ora sia" [La Bohème / Act 4] - Remastered 2024
3. Puccini: "Gavotta" [La Bohème / Act 4] - Remastered 2024
4. Puccini: "C'è Mimì..." [La bohème, SC 67 / Act 4] - Remastered 2024
5. Puccini: "Vecchia zimarra, senti" [La Bohème / Act 4] - Remastered 2024
6. Puccini: "Sono andati" [La Bohème / Act 4] - Remastered 2024
7. Puccini: "Oh Dio! Mimi! ...Che avvien?" [La Bohème / Act 4] - Remastered 2024
- Formats:
- Vinyl Box Set
- Label:
- Decca
Reviews
“Pavarotti’s best recording.” — HIGH FIDELITY, 1973
“Pavarotti's Rodolfo… is perhaps the best thing he has ever done… Karajan is a great Puccini conductor (oh yes, there is such a thing, and they are rare) who can linger over the beauties of the orchestration without ever losing his grip on the drama or relaxing his support of the singers.” — GRAMOPHONE, 1987
“Decca has assembled a singing cast to match and even outshine those on previous versions. But of course the contributor who most clearly distinguishes this set from any competitor is the conductor…even while making his extra demands on technique, Karajan considers the voice very closely. Luciano Pavarotti…gives what is probably his finest performance…Of Freni’s Mimì little needs to be said…amazing. The Decca recording helps, for with spaciousness the keynote and the voices kept in the right perspective, never too close, the gradations of dynamic are beautifully caught. When it comes to a recommendation, this new Karajan set must now clearly take first place … There is everything to praise… Every word is bright-eyed and full of meaning. Here is a complete character, actually concerned for Mimi, actually in love, and the range of expression is enchanting…. a Pavarotti interpretation through and through, entirely individual.” — GRAMOPHONE MAGAZINE, 1973
“Revelatory.” — OPERA NEWS, 1973
“Karajan understood every last detail in the score, and knew that the inner drama of the opera is played out in the orchestra in Puccini's deft manipulation of his themes and the masterly orchestration . . . [Mirella Freni as Mimi] is magnificent -- her Act III farewell duet with Rodolfo would make stones weep. It helps that Pavarotti's Rodolfo is arguably one of his finest recordings -- ardent and accurate and in character too as the headstrong student engulfed by love. Has anyone recorded a more tender 'Che gelida manina' in the past 40 years?” — BBC MUSIC MAGAZINE, 2010