Bergonzi, Tebaldi - Puccini: La Boheme
List Price:
Our Price: $9.63
You Save: $8.35 (46%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $7.89 (click here)
Category: Music CD
See more CD details
Buy this Music CD at online store in your country
Canadian Music Store
Canadian Music Store
CD Details
Artist: Bergonzi, TebaldiComposer: Puccini
Conductor: Serafin
Orchestra: Saint Cecilia Academy Orchestra
Edition: Music CD
CD Release Date: 2002-08-20
Music Label: Decca
Soundtracks:
- La bohème, opera: Act 1: Chi è là ?! - Scusi
- La bohème, opera: Act 1: Si sente meglio?
- La bohème, opera: Act 1: Che gelida manina
- La bohème, opera: Act 1: Sì, Mi chiamano Mimì
Music reviews of Puccini: La Boheme
Music Review: An All Time Great Recording
Rating: 5 Stars
I can remember the exact moment I purchased the Tebaldi/Bergonzi LA BOHEME and the first time I listened to it. I was in high school and went to the counter with my purchase. The cashier said "This has to be the best cast ever assembled for this opera. Certainly better than the cast of that other set." She then pointed to a display with the horrible "other set." The other set she was referring to was the Pavarotti/Freni cast under the direction of Karajan. It was not a new set at the time, but it was featured on sale. Truth to be told, I had no idea I was purchasing such a superior set. It was already released at mid-price, the box was damaged so it was further marked down, and it fit my high school budget. I went home, listened to it from start to finish, and to this day, I'm not sure if I've ever been as mesmerized by a musical recording as I was that evening as a high school student listening to my first BOHEME. Puccini's beautiful music, even if it's not as sophisticated as some of his later works, has power. How many people claim that LA BOHEME is what hooked them on opera, and it's a sentimental favorite of millions.
I'm not going to argue as to whether this is the best cast ever assembled for this opera. This is an argument that could never be settled. I will say that the principals are phenomenal. Throughout the opera Mimi goes from an innocent to a woman in love to a woman hurt to a woman dying. Renata Tebaldi is able to bring forth the nuances of Mimi in a sweet yet forceful manner I believe is unsurpassed. Carlo Bergonzi is able to convey vocally a young man of youthful energy and bravado who in a short time loses the woman he loves, knowing that even if he finds love again, he'll never find another a Mimi. The twisted antics of the lovers Musetta and Marcello come across through the performances of Ettore Bastianini and Gianna D'Angelo. I particularly enjoy D'Angelo's Musetta. All too often she's portrayed in a too brassy manner. I suppose it's a natural temptation for a soprano to play her a bit over the top, and many audiences expect it, but that's not the case here and I believe it is an advantage of the recording. D'Angelo is a Musetta with a multi faceted personality and not just a bold woman who does a few good deeds. She's still a flirt, she's still bold, and she's still comical. Yet she sings in a smooth manner that allows her personality to come across through the music. Listening to this set helps us understand not only why the men find her attractive: she is a girl who knows more than her prayers, so to speak, but also understand why Marcello loves her. When I've followed this recording with the libretto, it's believable that she a bit wild but is also compassionate enough to care for Mimi when she's ill. Tullio Serafin is a conductor in control. There are small orchestral details in this recording that are ignored in other sets. This is one of his later recordings and for me, it has historical significance. Puccini died in Serafin's lifetime and the conductor actually knew the composer. This could be the sort of recording the composer would have had in mind.
I've listened to many recordings of this work and have a number of sets I love, including the Pavarotti/Freni set which I don't believe is the abomination the cashier made it out to be. Still, there's something about this set that has been released in a number of different formats over the years that still moves me. I know it's a set loved by opera lovers and may be the best set for people new to the work. This set does not have the printed libretto which previous released included but the disc can be used in a CD Rom drive and read with Adobe Acrobat.
Description of Puccini: La Boheme
All products are BRAND NEW and factory sealed. Fast shipping and 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed.Classical CDs
Music Genres
Bestsellers in Classical CDs
Winterscapesby London Philharmonic
Prophetic Voice; Published: 2000-07; Audio CD; Book
Best price: $2.75
Price in other shops:
The Queen, the Bear, & the Bumblebeeby Dini Petty
Children's Group; Published: 2001-03; Audio CD; Book
Best price: $13.38
Price in other shops:
Classical Kids - Beethoven Lives Upstairs CdrRelease date: 2000-04-05; Music CD
Best price: $24.98
Tchaikovsky (Life and Works (Naxos))by Malcolm Sinclair, Jeremy Siepmann
Naxos; Published: 2003-11; Audio CD; Book
Best price: $35.99
![Jose Carreras - Jubileum Concert [VHS] Image](/images/Jose-Carreras-Jubileum-Concert-VHS-1584481471-X.jpg){kind=small}
Jose Carreras - Jose Carreras - Jubileum Concert [VHS]Sling Shot; Release date: 2000-04-18; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $5.86
Price in other shops:
![Tchaikovsky - The Nutcracker / Nureyev, Park, Royal Ballet [VHS] Image](/images/Tchaikovsky-The-Nutcracker-Nureyev-Park-Royal-Ballet-VHS-156127092X-X.jpg){kind=small}
Tchaikovsky - The Nutcracker / Nureyev, Park, Royal Ballet [VHS]Kultur Video; Release date: 1997-09-09; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $29.89
Price in other shops:
![Lonely Town Lonley Street / Sergeant's Early Dream [VHS] Image](/images/Lonely-Town-Lonley-Street-Sergeant-Early-Dream-VHS-1561270857-X.jpg){kind=small}
Rambert Dance Company - Lonely Town Lonley Street / Sergeant's Early Dream [VHS]Kultur Video; Release date: 1997-10-28; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $14.99
Price in other shops:
Winter Music: Composing the Northby John Luther Adams
Wesleyan; Published: 2004-11-10; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $21.88
Price in other shops:
![Puccini - La Fanciulla del West / Santi, Domingo, Neblett, Royal Opera Covent Garden [VHS] Image](/images/Puccini-La-Fanciulla-del-West-Santi-Domingo-Neblett-Royal-Opera-Covent-Garden-VHS-0769720382-X.jpg){kind=small}
Puccini - La Fanciulla del West / Santi, Domingo, Neblett, Royal Opera Covent Garden [VHS]Kultur Video; Release date: 1999-05-25; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $6.38
Price in other shops:
![Verdi - Falstaff / Giulini, Bruson, Ricciarelli, Nucci, Royal Opera Covent Garden [VHS] Image](/images/Verdi-Falstaff-Giulini-Bruson-Ricciarelli-Nucci-Royal-Opera-Covent-Garden-VHS-0769720358-X.jpg){kind=small}
Verdi - Falstaff / Giulini, Bruson, Ricciarelli, Nucci, Royal Opera Covent Garden [VHS]Kultur Video; Release date: 1999-05-25; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $12.95
Price in other shops:
Similar CDs
Verdi: Rigoletto / Cappuccilli, Cotrubas, Domingo, Ghiaurov, Obraztsova, Moll; GiuliniRelease date: 1999-06-15; Music CD
Best price: $14.87
Price in other shops:
Puccini: Tosca (complete opera) with Maria Callas, Carlo Bergonzi, Tito Gobbi, Georges PretreRelease date: 1998-03-17; Music CD
Best price: $19.99
Price in other shops:
Tchaikovsky - Pytor Illych Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker - Complete BalletTCHAIKOVSKY,P.I.; Release date: 1998-10-20; Music CD
Best price: $9.18
Price in other shops:
Bizet: Carmen (Complete Opera); Mirella Freni; Jon Vickers; Grace BumbryRelease date: 2004-06-01; Music CD
Best price: $6.96
Price in other shops:
Mozart: Don GiovanniRelease date: 2006-11-14; Music CD
Best price: $13.02
Price in other shops:
Moonstruck (1987 Film)Release date: 1990-10-25; Music CD
Best price: $5.93
Price in other shops:
Verdi - La Traviata / Sutherland, Pavarotti, Manuguerra, NPO, BonyngeRelease date: 1991-10-11; Music CD
Best price: $22.00
Price in other shops:
Puccini - Turandot / Sutherland · Pavarotti · Caballé · Ghiaurov · Krause · Pears · LPO · MehtaPAVAROTTI,LUCIANO; Release date: 1990-10-25; Published: 1990; Music CD
Best price: $21.99
Price in other shops:
Puccini: Madame ButterflyRelease date: 2002-08-20; Music CD
Best price: $9.47
Price in other shops:
Puccini: Madama ButterflyRelease date: 1999-03-09; Music CD
Best price: $7.03
Price in other shops: