EMI Classics UK | Release | Puccini: La boheme (Live from the Met)

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Puccini: La boheme (Live from the Met)

Ludovic Tézier, Ramón Vargas, Oren Gradus, Quinn Kelsey, Paul Plishka, Angela Gheorghiu, Meredith Derr, Paul Plishka, Ainhoa Arteta, Robert Maher, Richard Pearson / The Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and Chorus, Nicola Luisotti

Series: DVD

Released: 15/09/2008

Cat. No: 2174179

Format: DVD

Number Of Discs: 1

Barcode: 5099921741791

Met Opera DVD Series Minisite

Angela Gheorghiu leads a magnificent cast in Franco Zeffirelli’s iconic production of Puccini’s La Bohème – filmed live at the Metropolitan Opera in Hi-Definition. This grand, sumptuous production of Puccini’s timeless masterpiece is brought to you on DVD by EMI Classics, continuing its collaboration with the Metropolitan Opera and its hugely successful Metropolitan Opera : Live in High-Definition series. La bohème, set in Paris around 1830, depicts a society fraught with conflict. Amid the turmoil, it is the love that blossoms between two young artists in a time that appears both bleak and turbulent that makes this story so very special. Mimì and Rodolfo, sung by Angela Gheorghiu and Ramón Vargas respectively, charm as the young couple that fall in love while Marcello and Musetta are sung by Ludovic Tezier and Ainhoa Arteta. Gheorghiu, the leading Puccini soprano of our time, reprises the role of Mimì at the MET for the first time in twelve years. She sings the role with the beauty and perfection that is expected by an artist of her great stature and experience. Following its debut at the Metropolitan Opera in 1981, Franco Zeffirelli’s stunning production is as loved and as magnificent today as the day it was first staged over 27 years ago. This live broadcast is therefore the 347th time Zeffirelli’s Bohème has been performed making this, the most performed production in the MET’s history. Conducting, Nicola Luisotti is described as “a man who knows what he is doing in this repertoire: the way he can control the orchestra to move with the singers' expressive tempo fluctuations is breathtaking, a quality which helps to show Puccini at his best." - musicalcriticism.com Only the hardest of hearts will remain untouched by this passionate and unforgettable story depicting the joys and sorrows of love and loss.

La Bohème

Disc 1

Opening titles

Introduction by Renée Fleming

Act I

Questo 'Mar Rosso' mil ammollisce (Marcello, Rodolfo, Colline)

Pensier profondo (Colline, Marcello, Rodolfo)

Legna!...Sigari!...Bordo! (Rodolfo, Marcello, Colline, Schaunard)

Si può?...Chi è là? (Benoit, Marcello, Schaunard, Colline, Rodolfo)

Timido in gioventù (Benoit, Marcello, Schaunard, Colline, Rodolfo)

Non sono in vena (Rodolfo, Mimì)

Si sente meglio? (Rodolfo, Mimì)

Che gelida manina! (Rodolfo)

Sì. Mi chiamano Mimì (Mimì, Rodolfo)

Ehi! Rodolfo! Rodolfo! (Schaunard, Colline, Marcello, Rodolfo, Mimì)

O Soave fanciulla, a dolce viso (Rodolfo, Marcello, Mimì)

Act II

Aranci, datteri! (Chorus, Schaunard, Colline, Rodolfo, Mimì, Marcello)

Chi guardi? (Rodolfo, Colline, Mimì, Schaunard, Marcello, Parpignol, Chorus)

Viva Parpignol! (Chorus, Marcello, Mimì, Schaunard, Colline, Rodolfo)

Ch'io beva del tossico!...Oh!...Musetta! (Marcello, Schaunard, Colline, Rodolfo, Alcindoro, Musetta, Mimì, Chorus)

Quando m'en vo' (Musetta, Marcello, Alcindoro, Mimì, Rodolfo, Schaunard, Colline)

Chi l'ha richiesto? (Colline, Schaunard, Rodolfo, Marcello, Musetta, Mimì, Chorus)

Backstage at the Met: Renée Fleming interviews Met Technical Director Joe Clark

Act III

Ohè, là, le guardie...Aprite! (Chorus, Customhouse Officer, Musetta)

Sa dirmi, scusi, qual è l'osteria (Mimì, Customhouse Sergeant, Customhouse Officers)

Mimì?!...Speravo di trovarvi qui (Marcello, Mimì)

Marcello, Finalement (Rodolfo, Marcello, Mimì)

Mimì è una civetta (Rodolfo, Marcello, Mimì)

Mimì è tanto malata! (Rodolfo, Marcello, Mimì)

D'onde lieta uscì (Mimì)

Dunque è proprio finita? (Rodolfo, Mimì, Marcello, Musetta)

Backstage at the Met: Renée Fleming interviews Angela Gheorghiu and Ramón Vargas

Act IV

In un coupé? (Marcello, Rodolfo)

O Mimì, tu più non torni (Rodolfo, Marcello)

Che ora sia? (Rodolfo, Marcello, Schaunard, Colline)

Gavotta...Minuetto...Pavanella...Fandango (Colline, Marcello, Rodolfo, Schaunard)

C'è Mimì...c'è Mimì (Musetta, Rodolfo, Schaunard, Mimì, Marcello)

Vecchia zimarra (Colline, Schaunard)

Sono andati? (Mimì, Rodolfo, Schaunard)

Che avvien? Dorme? Riposa (Musetta, Rodolfo, Marcello, Mimì)

Che ha detto il medico? (Rodolfo, Marcello, Musetta, Schaunard, Colline)

End credits

Excerpts from Puccini's 'La Boheme' live from the MET

Puccini: Manon Lescaut (Live from the Met)

Britten: Peter Grimes (Live from the Met)

18th November '10	Angela Gheorghiu	Royal Opera House, London	Click here to book tickets.
22nd November '10	Angela Gheorghiu	Royal Opera House, London	Click here to book tickets.
25th November '10	Angela Gheorghiu	Royal Opera House, London	Click here to book tickets.
27th November '10	Angela Gheorghiu	Royal Opera House, London	Click here to book tickets.
30th November '10	Angela Gheorghiu	Royal Opera House, London	Click here to book tickets.
4th December '10	Angela Gheorghiu	Royal Opera House, London	Click here to book tickets.
7th December '10	Angela Gheorghiu	Royal Opera House, London	Click here to book tickets.
10th December '10	Angela Gheorghiu	Royal Opera House, London	Click here to book tickets.

“Zeffirelli at his best" - musicalcriticism.com

“[Gheorghiu] was superb as Mimì. From her first notes, sung from behind a closed door, she was distinctive and alluring. She sang with extraordinary precision, subtlety, control, nuance, and, above all, musicality. She is a natural, having gifts that are simply unearned — they are, indeed, gifts. She put a number of colours in her voice, all to a purpose. And her soft singing, as usual, was exemplary." – New York Sun

"Angela Gheorghiu, returning as Mimi…revealed exquisitely veiled tones in a performances that was as tenderly touching as it was vibrant. " - New York Post