Search - Giacomo Puccini, Georg Solti, John Alldis Choir :: Puccini: La Bohème Highlights (RCA Victor Basic 100, Vol. 28)

BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY

05/17/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"One of the greatest La Boheme records in history, this has Montserrat Caballe as Mimi and Placido Domingo as Rodolfo under the baton of Sir Georg Solti. What results is a work that invokes a whole plethora of emotions from start to end. The vibrancy and involvement of the orchestra is well represented in the opening and in the scene at Cafe Momus. The orchestra also excels in the intimate moments like the conclusion to the garret scene where it beautifully accompanies the lovers to ecstatic heights. Montserrat Caballe woos us with her pensive and beautifully vocalised Mimi. From "Mi chiamano Mimi" she holds us enthralled and in rapture as she soars with her floated pianissimi. This is brought to a must apt climax where she floats the ending of "O soave fanciulla" with Domingo to perfection. This is unheard of in any other recording. Domingo charms with his potrayal of Rodolfo, his voice young and healthy. His reading of "Che gelida manina" is imbibed with passion and shows his voice at its most involved. The entire recording is like an experiment perfected, with the supporting characters well represented by Milnes, Blegen, Sardinero and Raimondi. Each and every scene unfolds with beauty and well-thought out continuity that captures our attention. One of the better recordings that can hold its own against any current competition."

Solti adds a touch of razor wire

Santa Fe Listener | Santa Fe, NM USA | 09/24/2005

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Domingo and Caballe, here both relatively young, would have made a convicning Mimi and Rudolfo in another recording, but in this one the wiry, grainy RCA sound and hard-charge conducting from Solti make it pretty tough going. There isn't a touch of charm or romance, just a strong cast trying to keep up with Solti's coarse, driven conception. No thanks."