Search - Puccini - La Boheme / Pavarotti, D'Amico, Servile, Renee, Mattsey, D'Artegna, Magiera, Beijing Opera on DVD

K. K. (GAMER)
Reviewed on 5/6/2023...

A must for Opera, Broadway and Concerto fans! Luciano Pavarotti, Mirella Freni and others are at the top of their game!

Fantastic performances!!!

P. Sutherland | Berea, Ohio, USA | 01/26/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Luciano Pavarotti owns the role of Rodolfo and here in this 1986 production filmed live in China, he proves it again! But, the rest of the cast was a pleasant surprise. Fiamma Izzo D'Amico was a wonderful Mimi in beautiful voice. A very pretty Madelyn Renee was Musetta, also in excellent voice. And that goes for Roberto Servile as Marcello; Jeffrey Mattsey as Schaunard; and, Francesco Ellero D'Artegna as Colline.



The acting was first rate, too. This production will not disappoint!



Other points of interest regarding this DVD: Pavarotti's father, Fernando, appears in this production as the non-speaking toy peddler in the street scene. According to Herbert Breslin (Pavarotti's manager for 36 years) in his book, The King and I, Madelyn Renee was Luciano's one and only voice student and his first "secretary." The trip to China is described in the book, which I also recommend.



"

Brilliant Road Show!

Wayne Kuhaupt | 10/16/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Although this production was staged in Beijing by a relatively small opera company, it was full of life and brilliance at times. Pavarotti, here much older than a young struggling artist, still manages to act rather convincingly. His singing is superb. Mimi also possessed an excellent voice. All principals were excellent voices,and all could act well. The sets looked a bit haphazard, but this was a road show, in Beijing, and I was not really distracted by the lack of first-rate sets.

The duet at the end of Act 1, was electric--and the Beijing audience was tumultuous in their deserving applause. Overall, a very satisfying production, with the added electricity that comes with introducing western opera to a culture that has rarely had the opportunity to share in this most global of art forms."

Super.....

Therese M. Bednarowski | 08/10/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"It is Pavarotti in one of his most celebrated roles. You cannot improve on the voice and technique of the greatest tenor of the century. Noone holds a candle to him. He is a joy to listen to and observe. His voice and his smile warm your heart. What a talent we lost. Thank goodness for DVD's such as these.

His supporting cast in this La Boheme in China is also excellent. I have several La Boheme's...with Freni, with Scotto, and this ranks right along with the initial Live from the Met in 1977. Buy it and enjoy it......."