29 VI

Puccini 100: La Bohème
1 hr 56 min.

Vintage recording from the San Francisco Opera 1988

An all-star cast: Luciano Pavarotti – Rodolfo, Mirella Freni – Mimi, Nicolai Ghiaurov – Colline, Gino Quilico – Marcello, Sandra Pacetti – Musetta, Stephen Dickson – Schaunard.

Chorus and Orchestra of The San Francisco Opera House conducted by Tiziana Severini.

Directed by Francesca Zambello.

Pavarotti and Freni – are the incomparable performers of the two main characters of La Bohème. The excellent singers valued and liked each other. They knew each other since childhood. They were both born in Modena, in the same year (1935). This is not insignificant in a partnership on stage. The personal relationship between the performers makes its way across the ramp and into the audience.
The recording we will see at the Music Gardens captures their creations from one of the performances at the San Francisco Opera, which is of unique value. Pavarotti and Freni were already mature singers, much older than the protagonists of La Bohème, but the artistry of artists of this class makes the audience believe them and see them in their twenties, because they hear youth in their voices.
The production is directed by Francesca Zambello, an American with Italian roots.
Italian conductor Tiziano Severini was praised by reviewers of this production for his insightful reading of the score, from which he brought out what is most essential in Rodolfo and Mimi’s relationship – passion.

 

EVENT UNDER THE HONORARY PATRONAGE OF THE ITALIAN INSTITUTE OF CULTURE IN WARSAW

AS PART OF THE SERIES PUCCINI 100.