“L’autore ha cercato invece pingervi uno squarcio di vita”* November 21, 2007
Posted by Jeff in Italian, La Boheme, Opera, Theater, Tito Gobbi.3 comments
* “Instead, the author has sought to paint for you a scene from life”
If you have ever read program notes for Pagliacci, Ruggero Leoncavallo’s first and best-known opera, you’ve probably seen the story that the composer based his libretto on a true murder case that had been tried by his father, who was a judge.
Great story … too bad it probably isn’t true.
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Luciano Pavarotti, 1935-2007 September 6, 2007
Posted by Jeff in In memoriam, Italian, La Boheme, Opera, Theater.1 comment so far
Luciano Pavarotti sings “Che gelida manina” from Act I of Puccini’s La Boheme, with soprano Mirella Freni.
Before the bombast and the insane managers and the overhype, there was, truly and honestly, one of the great tenors of the twentieth century.
“Si, mi chiamano Mimì” May 10, 2007
Posted by Jeff in Italian, La Boheme, Opera, Renata Scotto, Theater.1 comment so far
Many opera singers have sung Musetta in Puccini’s La Boheme early in their careers and gone on to sing Mimì, but Renata Scotto went in the other direction.
La boheme, act IV December 27, 2006
Posted by Jeff in Italian, La Boheme, Opera, Theater.3 comments
I spoke yesterday about Teresa Stratas’ childhood asthma, but the real medical miracle of the cast of this Boheme is the Rodolfo, José Carreras.
La Boheme, act III December 26, 2006
Posted by Jeff in Italian, La Boheme, Opera, Theater.2 comments
If Teresa Stratas seems more physically suited to play the roles of consumptives than most sopranos (Boheme and La Traviata), it’s because she suffered from asthma as a child.
La boheme, act II December 25, 2006
Posted by Jeff in Italian, La Boheme, Opera, Theater.add a comment
Renata Scotto is the Mimì in my other La Boheme DVD, from a 1977 Met performance with Luciano Pavarotti as Rodolfo. It was the first Met performance in twenty-five years to be broadcast live on TV. I’ll never forget watching it live with my parents who had never heard of Pavarotti, and who scoffed that anyone could possibly hold a candle to Bjöerling who they had both seen live in the 1940s.
I don’t know of any other soprano of Scotto’s stature who started her career playing Mimì and then willingly switched to Musetta, which is after all not the starring role.
But that’s Scotto for you … not only one of the best opera singers of her generation but also just about the smartest: she was a very good Mimì, but far and away a better Musetta.
La Boheme, act I December 24, 2006
Posted by Jeff in Italian, La Boheme, Opera, Theater.1 comment so far
It was especially hard to choose between the two DVDs I own of Giacomo Puccini’s masterpiece, both of Metropolitan Opera productions that I saw live with most of the same principals.
Siamo in due July 9, 2006
Posted by Jeff in Italian, La Boheme, Opera, Theater.add a comment
Hey wait a minute, you say — you’ve already posted the Bohème Act I finale.
Yes, well, that’s what being an opera queen (het division) who can’t make up his mind is all about. And when you have these performances to choose from, why choose?
Renata Tebaldi as Mimi, Jussi Björling as Rodolfo. Which is better, this or the Pavarotti/Freni? You tell me. In any event, since this clip omits the offstage amici, you’ll have to watch the other one to figure out the title of this post.
Two kids from Modena June 24, 2006
Posted by Jeff in Italian, La Boheme, Opera, Theater.add a comment
In three parts, the second half of the first act of Puccini’s La Boheme. The first video is from the exit of the amici through “Che gelida manina” …
The second is “Si, mi chiamano Mimi” …
The third is “O soave fanciulla” to the end of the act.
Although they didn’t know each other in their youth, Luciano Pavarotti and Mirella Freni grew up a few blocks apart in the city otherwise best known for aceto balsamico vinegar. According to legend, they shared the same wet-nurse (“Get me that wet-nurse!” – Rudolf Bing).
From a San Francisco Opera production; I confirmed this is from 1989 (the YouTube posting says 1990). Just shows how relatively quickly he declined. Okay, so it’s easy to make fun of him for the Three Tenors, that awful movie and for taking way too long to retire. I saw him live seven times, both in operas and recitals; he was underrated as an operatic actor, and vocally … believe me, at his best he was da bomb.
PS Fair warning: any whining about the lack of subtitles will not be tolerated. Print this out and follow along …
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