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When Baz Luhrmann's production of La Bohème opened on Broadway in late 2002, opera cognoscenti fretted that more than just the sets and costumes would be brought up to date. It turned out there was no reason for concern. The locale was modernized to 1950s Paris, but Luhrmann didn't change a note of Puccini's well-loved score, and even the libretto remained in the original Italian with supertitles in English. Opera lovers breathed a sigh of relief, but furthermore, they soon grasped the unexpected promise of Luhrmann's production: Here was a reinvigorated, youthful Bohème that was truer to the spirit of the original than any number of worn-out revivals in established opera houses. Fresh, young voices were a key ingredient, of course, which is exactly as it should be -- Bohème is the story of two young lovers, after all. And Luhrmann found the right photogenically and vocally gifted stars to fill the two principal roles, Rodolfo and Mimi, although due to the heavy demands of the Broadway schedule, six singers were needed, performing in rotation. This original cast recording gives each of the three pairs of principals a chance to shine: Alfred Boe and Wei Hang express their newfound ardor for each other in Act One; Ekaterina Solovyeva and David Miller resign themselves to Mimi's impending fate in Act Three; and Lisa Hopkins and Jesús García give full voice to Act Four's tragic denouement. Along the way, there's Jessica Comeau's Musetta, who delivers the famous Act Two waltz in wonderfully sultry style, distressing her on-again-off-again lover, Marcello sung by Eugene Brancoveanu and then by Ben Davis in Act Three.
Condition:NEW. Brand New Factory Sealed
TRACK LISTINGS
Disc 1
1 Act 1. Non sono in vena (4:08)
2 Act 1. Che gelida manina... (4:26)
3 Act 1. Si, mi chiamano Mimi... (4:40)
4 Act 1. O soave fanciulla! (3:46)
5 Act 2. E via i pensier! (3:17)
6 Act 2. Quando me'n vo'... (4:43)
7 Act 2. Chi l'ha richiesto?! (2:21)
8 Act 3. Mimì?! Speravo di trovarvi qui (4:55)
9 Act 3. Marcello, finalmente! (5:34)
10 Act 3. Addio! Che! Vai? (3:00)
11 Act 3. Dunque: é proprio finita! (5:20)
12 Act 4. O Mimì tu più non torni (2:59)
13 Act 4. Gavotta! Minuetto (1:58)
14 Act 4. C'é Mimì... (3:38)
15 Act 4. Vecchia zimarra... (1:45)
16 Act 4. Sono andati? (5:15)
17 Act 4. Oh! Dio! Mimì! (5:13)
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