Puccini - La Bohème - Netrebko and Villazon2CDs - DDD - 52'36 & 52'52
Deutsche Grammophon 477 6600 1, released 2008
Netrebko · Villazón · Daniel Cabell · Degout · Kowaljow
Chor des Bayerischen Rundfunks · Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks
Bertrand de Billy
The hottest soprano/tenor combination in opera today follow up their sensational pairing in "La Traviata", portraying another immortal star-crossed couple in Puccini's "La Bohème." A youthful cast bring a special authenticity and enthusiasm to this timeless tale of bohemians in Paris. Recorded in concert, with the excitement and spontaneity of a live performance; but in studio-like conditions, for superior sound quality. Classic FM raved about the performances: "We get a Latinate passionate Rodolfo and a more delicately responsive Mimì, who blossoms under the warmth of the other's yearning into a full declaration of love at the end." The perfect new recording of his most popular opera with which to celebrate the Puccini year (150th anniversary of his birth in 1858), Amazon
. . . Puccini's glorious masterpiece is brought to such vigorous and passionate life by a cast young enough to give a sense of reality to this tale of young bohemians taking a chance on love and life in Paris. Such is the vitality of the performances from Netrebko, Villazón, Nicole Cabell and Boaz Daniel that this passion would have been almost impossible to create in the sterile environs of the studio, yet the quality of the recordings makes it hard to believe this was indeed recorded as performed on the stage . . . Simply magical . . . Rolando Villazón and Russian soprano Anna Netrebko are opera's golden couple, combining immense talent with relative youth and beauty . . . Netrebko is a wonderful Mimi; innocent yet warmly sensual. Her voice is bright in its higher registers, yet the ringing tonalities never become harsh. Villazón is full of passion as the young poet Rodolfo . . .Record Review / Clare O'Brien, HMV Choice Magazine / 01. May 2008
Find more details at La Bohème Homepage, Deutsche Grammophon and Amazon
