A historian and I, a biologist, used this staggering scene, so profoundly sung and acted, as an artistic expression of the tragedy of recognizing that a loved one is terminally I’ll. Confusion, lying, anger, fear and most of all, overwhelming love are in this Stratas/Carreras performance. They embody the part and vocalize Puccini’s brilliant music.
That melody that starts at 9:15 in the climax perfectly captures the intensity of love and the desperate despair both feel over a fate that cannot be changed. Puccini once again at his best. I will always remember my father saying that he was told to bring two handkerchiefs to the performance--one just to contain the inevitable tears. Tragically his wife died very much like this when she was only 43, and his reaction was just like Rodolfo's. 50 years later it rings in my ears and tears at my heart!
Well my mother was just as much an operalover like I became later in life and could not keep her tears when sitting once front row with this Puccini masterpiece a stone's throw away. She was sobbing so hard her seat in the row moved to and fro to her embarrassment to the people sitting next to her. It was one of many moments her marriage to my father was under pressure and he hoped an opera performance would solve this. The last present he gave here, just before their divorce was a Boheme recording with Mirella Freni. 24 years later after his second divorce he noted: death is as a final end easier to bear than a divorce, since one always keeps hoping on a return (which for him never came)..
Yes, this is the advantage of digitalisation of VCR material and lifelong conservation via RUclips. Of course by now we got accostumed by far superior image & sound quality, even from small gadgets like smartphones
Wouldn't know this and last year I sold my last still working V2000 recorder and all the tapes & their bookkeeping with it. So I can not even check the source tape with this opera or my own notes at the time of recording anymore . Maybe Googling/Wikipedia on the other singers helps?..
Has Carreras ever looked more handsome or sounded more sweet? Such a romantic part suits him beautifully.
This is a wonderful performance to introduce newcomers to the beauty of opera.
Carreras was outstanding in this production- It is the best Boheme ever 👏
Awsome!! There will never be another Boheme like this performance of Carreras and Stratas!!!
A historian and I, a biologist, used this staggering scene, so profoundly sung and acted, as an artistic expression of the tragedy of recognizing that a loved one is terminally I’ll. Confusion, lying, anger, fear and most of all, overwhelming love are in this Stratas/Carreras performance. They embody the part and vocalize Puccini’s brilliant music.
To my knowledge, the greatest performance of La Boheme ever. I needed a whole box of tissues.
i agree with you , I have it on video and now on disc. never surpassed.Stratas has always been my no.1 soprano .
Excellent acting and Glorious singingAnd
Perfectly casted!!
That melody that starts at 9:15 in the climax perfectly captures the intensity of love and the desperate despair both feel over a fate that cannot be changed. Puccini once again at his best. I will always remember my father saying that he was told to bring two handkerchiefs to the performance--one just to contain the inevitable tears. Tragically his wife died very much like this when she was only 43, and his reaction was just like Rodolfo's. 50 years later it rings in my ears and tears at my heart!
Well my mother was just as much an operalover like I became later in life and could not keep her tears when sitting once front row with this Puccini masterpiece a stone's throw away. She was sobbing so hard her seat in the row moved to and fro to her embarrassment to the people sitting next to her. It was one of many moments her marriage to my father was under pressure and he hoped an opera performance would solve this. The last present he gave here, just before their divorce was a Boheme recording with Mirella Freni. 24 years later after his second divorce he noted: death is as a final end easier to bear than a divorce, since one always keeps hoping on a return (which for him never came)..
Such a hearetbreaking scene, and due to so much amazing music, too often neglected by larger audiences!
Bravo, Bravíssimo! Strattas ia wonderful
Stratas is an incredible actress👑. I had this on VCR but ruined by time. Arnold Bourbon Amaral
Yes, this is the advantage of digitalisation of VCR material and lifelong conservation via RUclips. Of course by now we got accostumed by far superior image & sound quality, even from small gadgets like smartphones
Wouldn't know this and last year I sold my last still working V2000 recorder and all the tapes & their bookkeeping with it. So I can not even check the source tape with this opera or my own notes at the time of recording anymore . Maybe Googling/Wikipedia on the other singers helps?..
Just saw this. As far as I know, videos of this production are on sale at the Met and Covent Garden
Who is singing Marcello's role? Thank you!
Richard Stilwell