BaL 15.02.25 - Puccini: La bohème

[Barbirollians]

Agreed. In addition to HvK/Pavarotti/Freni I only have Serafin/Tebaldi/Bergonzi, which will probably suffice unless I encounter the Beecham in a charity shop. I haven't heard Bohème in the opera house since the last outing of John Copley's classic ROH staging in 2012, was it ? Great cast headed by Joseph Calleja and Carmen Gianattasio.

Yes that was a great evening - went on the last Saturday .

The Richard Jones staging ( apart from its almost complete copy of Act 3 ) is not a patch on the old Copley.

[Ein Heldenleben]

Yes that was a great evening - went on the last Saturday .

The Richard Jones staging ( apart from its almost complete copy of Act 3 ) is not a patch on the old Copley.

You are so right . It’s just too lacking in any subtlety . I think I went to the final run of the old production with Calleja and Netrebko in 2015 . She sing the final act almost as one long diminuendo. The control she showed was extraordinary. I’ve only heard Georghiu sing it better.

[Barbirollians]

The best thing nowadays about BAL is being prompted to listen to what you already have . Heavens above Bjorling’s singing in Act 1 , de los Angeles showing Mimi’s fragility and such sensitive conducting from Beecham .