la Boheme Veronesi

Mimì, the happy-go-lucky young Parisian discovering the torments of love and facing the dread of illness and finitude is an endearing character, easy to identify with. If Maria Callas never had the opportunity to portray it live on stage, she masterfully embodied her on record in 1956. Mimì’s zest for life, simplicity and frailty have rarely been more intensely rendered than in this fiery version featuring a beautiful cast. Callas and Di Stefano’s love duet sends sparks flying!

Yes! It is a brilliant work and does contain some of Puccini's most memorable melodies. So if you have to have a Puccini La Bohemè in your collection, then, this is the one. It has THE best casts on record , You have Scotto at her riveting best as Mimi & the wonderful Carol Neblett as Musetta, the best in these rolls.Then there are the men: Alfredo Kraus as Rodolfo, Sherrill Milnes as Marcello, Paul Plishka as Colline & Matteo Manuguerra as Schaunard. What more can you ask for, eat your heart out.-Amazon-

Deutsche Grammophon is proud to present Franco Zeffirelli's iconic staging of La Bohème as recorded liveat the Metropolitan Opera on January 16, 1982, available once again on DVD. This timeless production continues to thrill audiences almost every season since it was first introduced in 1981, and this performance captures the production at the very beginning with the original cast. Teresa Stratas, renowned for her acting abilities, captures the essence of Mimì–her fragility, her resolve, her passion. Stratas is partnered by José Carreras as Rodolfo, the poet and love of her dreams. The cast is rounded out with a lively Renata Scotto (who was filmed as Mimì in an earlier MET production, also available on DVD from Deutsche Grammophon) and sonorous Richard Stilwell.