Puccini - La Boheme / Pavarotti, Scotto, Niska, Wixell, Plishka, Levine, Metropolitan Opera

Puccini - La Boheme / Pavarotti, Scotto, Niska, Wixell, Plishka, Levine, Metropolitan Opera

Puccini - La Boheme / Pavarotti, Scotto, Niska, Wixell, Plishka, Levine, Metropolitan Opera
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DVD details

Actor: Ingvar Wixell, James Levine, Luciano Pavarott, Maralin Niska, Renata Scotto
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: Italian (Original Language), Dolby Digital 5.1; German (Subtitled); English (Subtitled); Italian (Subtitled); Spanish (Subtitled); French (Subtitled)
Format: AC-3, Classical, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DTS Surround Sound, DVD, NTSC
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 123 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2005-10-11
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Deutsche Grammophon

DVD Reviews of Puccini - La Boheme / Pavarotti, Scotto, Niska, Wixell, Plishka, Levine, Metropolitan Opera

DVD Review: Not what I had hoped for
Summary: 3 Stars

I eagerly anticipated receiving this DVD in the mail and, when I did, I immediately popped it into the DVD player. I was disappointed. Pavarotti's singing, particularly in "Che gelida manina," is not inspiring. He was weak on the High-C and just seemed generally off his usual standard. Renata Scotto's portrayal of Mimi was particularly unconvincing in that there is no way that a woman of that size could ever be consumptive. Her singing seemed shrill, as well. The supporting cast was strong but, again, they did not seem to fit their parts (with the delightful exception of Italo Tajo as Benoit). Levine's conducting is wonderful.

So what to do? If I were to make a recommendation of a Met performance, I would recommend the Zeffirelli production with Teresa Stratas and Jose Carreras. Many might say that Carreras' weak top is a downside, but I think it is more than made up for by his rich voice and wonderful acting.

DVD Review: Pavarotti in his prime
Summary: 4 Stars

A DVD is pretty much a DVD, and because of the age of this performance the quality of the recording is less than today's standards. However, that is a small price to pay to see Pavarotti in his prime.

DVD Review: Perfection
Summary: 5 Stars

I found every detail of this production to be unimprovable. True, the film is old and grainy and sometimes slightly blurry. But it doesn't matter. The casting and vocals are unbeatable. I'm so glad to have seen Pavarotti in this role and in his prime, when he fully committed to everything with his whole being rather than just vocally doing so. He is superb (though he wobbles on the High C in "che gelida manina"), as is the rest of the cast. But the biggest revelation for me was Scotto. I grew up seeing her as Musetta on the other Met Boheme, and never really understood her following. Thank goodness I saw this. Her performance is something I cannot shake. It has an emotional depth to it that fits perfectly with her vocal choices - she crushed me. "Senza rancor" is the highlight of the night - I had to rewind it a few times. This is an ideal DVD to show non-opera people. I can't imagine not being swept into its magic!

DVD Review: A masterpiece!
Summary: 4 Stars

I remember seeing this live original broadcast, and it was thrilling then. Pavarotti and Scotto are at their best, and Levine supports them and the rest of the cast perfectly. I am glad I went looking for it, and recommend it to any Puccini or Pavarotti lover.

DVD Review: Beautiful Performance by All
Summary: 3 Stars

This DVD performance has a way of drawing you into the story so that you feel that you're on the stage with the performers. The singing and acting are superb but the quality of the recording is deficient. Camera angles and framing detract from the total enjoyment. Lighting is poor and obscure. If you want the feeling of sitting in the balcony watching the opera, this is for you. I, for one, don't want to be distracted by seeing more than what's happening on stage. Granted, the video/audio technology of the time is nothing compared to what we have today, but the amateurish camera work is independent of that. The performance deserved better treatment.

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