Track Listing

Disc 1:

1. Act One: Questo 'Mar Rosso' Mi Ammollisce E Assidera
2. Act One: Aguzza L'igegno
3. Act One: Legna!... Sigari!
4. Act One: Si Puo?... Chi E La? - Fernando Corena
5. Act One: Al Quartiere Latin Ci Attende Momus
6. Act One: Chi E La? - The Columbus Boychoir
7. Act One: Oh! Sventata! - Jussi Bjorling
8. Act One: Che Gelida Manina! - Jussi Bjorling
9. Act One: Si. Mi Chiamano Mimi - Jussi Bjorling
10. Act One: Ehi! Rodolfo!
11. Act One: O Soave Fanciulla, O Dolce Viso
12. Act Two: Aranci, Datteri!
13. Act Two: Chi Guardi?
14. Act Two: Viva Parpignol!
15. Act Two: Oh! Musetta! - Fernando Corena
16. Act Two: Quando Men' Vo Soletta - Fernando Corena
17. Act Two: Chi I'ha Richiesto?

Disc 2:

1. Act Three: Ohe, La, Le Guardie!... Aprite! - Lucine Amara
2. Act Three: Sa Dirmi, Scusi, Qual'e L'osteria - Victoria De Los Angeles
3. Act Three: Mimi!... Speravo Di Trovarvi Qui
4. Act Three: Marcello. Finalmente.
5. Act Three: Mimi E Una Civetta
6. Act Three: Mimi E Tanto Malata!
7. Act Three: Addio... D'onde Lieta Usci Al Tuo Grido D'amore - The Columbus Boychoir
8. Act Three: Dunque E Proprio Finita? - Jussi Bjorling
9. Act Three: Che Facevi? Che Dicevi?
10. Act Four: In Un Coupe? - The Columbus Boychoir
11. Act Four: O Mimi, Tu Piu Non Torni
12. Act Four: Che Ora Sia?... L'ora Del Pranzo - The Columbus Boychoir
13. Act Four: Gavotta... Minuetto... Pavanella
14. Act Four: C'e Mimi... C'e Mimi - The Columbus Boychoir
15. Act Four: Ho Tanto Freddo. Se Avessi Un Manicotto!
16. Act Four: Vecchia Zimarra - John Reardon
17. Act Four: Sono Andate? Fingevo Di Dormire - Jussi Bjorling
18. Act Four: Mi Chiamano Mimi... Il Perch Non So - Jussi Bjorling
19. Act Four: Dorme?... Riposa

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #124927 in Music
• Released on: 2002-04-09
• Number of discs: 2
• Formats: Limited Edition, Original recording remastered
• Dimensions: .85 pounds

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

Customer Reviews

One of the greatest opera recordings ever
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.

The best of all
I have heard several Bohemes in my time - my favorites being the versions with Pav and Freni; Tebaldi and Bergonzi; and this one. Neither of the first two can match this recording in overall effect. Karajan with Pav/Freni, while firmly in possession of his own wonder, misses by a hair Beecham's sensuous conducting logic. Also Pav is not the best Rodolfo: he sings too opulently to convey a blue, starving poet. The Tebaldi/Bergonzi set is a sure contender, and might have stood right with this one if its sound weren't so bad.

Now as for this set itself - three words say it: Bjoerling with Beecham. These were two of the finest artists of the last century, and it is a blessing to have this record of their collaboration. Jussi, while perhaps not as romantic as Bergonzi, was a Rodolfo for all time. That ringing golden tenor truly could build castles in air. And hell, he was romantic enough for comfort. Add Beecham, and, if you please, you've got glory. His pacing is perfect. Just listen to about midway through "che gelida manina," where Bjoerling soars and Beecham expands the tempo to let Jussi's voice raise the rafters and burn deep. And I tell you what, Jussi could burn. The quantity of air that man had was astonishing at the least, and he didn't waste it: his phrases are easy, well-drawn, and thrilling.

I have no important complaints about anyone else in the cast. I actually prefer de Los Angeles's Mimi, though I think she sometimes doesn't support high notes with enough air. As for the orchestra, there are a few mishaps where accurate entrances with the singers are concerned, but that is hardly surprising - the ensemble was assembled in roughly two days and its memebers had barely played with one another or with Beecham. The sound of the set isn't as good as one might expect from the Great Recordings series, but it is acceptable, and a well-informed ear can fill in any lacking overtones.

Buy it. You'll love it for many years, and then pass down through your family.

Beecham - 10, Toscanini - 0
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.