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Giacomo Puccini's bittersweet opera of high-spirited bohemians and the doomed love between Rodolfo, the idealistic poet and Mimi, the consumptive flower-maker, is a beautifully balanced series of tableaux depicting the infectious joie de vivre of youth and the tragic waste of disease and separation.
The legendary and incomparable partnership of Mirella Freni and Luciano Pavarotti as the two lovers has been captured in this special live recording from stage of the San Francisco Opera. Brian Large has adapted Francesca Zambello's production for video, further illuminating the fascinating interaction of Puccini's characters.
Gino Quilico sings Marcello, the colorful and moody painter, whose tempestuous relationship with the flirtatious Musetta (sung by Sandra Pacetti), comically mirrors the more profound love of Rodolfo and Mimi. Nicolai Ghiaurov sings Colline.
"Filmed in 1989 at the San Francisco Opera, Francesca Zambello’s production is straightforward... Mirella Freni and Luciano Pavarotti were well into their fifties at the time this was recorded... but once they start singing, they become the eternal young lovers. Pavarotti is surprisingly agile... Gino Quilico is an exceptional Marcello."
- Joel Kasow, FANFARE
"In short, a splendid production which in this DVD format is a feast for the ear and the eye."
- Ian Lace, Music Web international
