VHS : The Metropolitan Opera - La Boheme (Puccini )
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In association with Amazon.com
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starring: Richard Stilwell, Jose Carreras, James Morris, Allan Monk, Italo Tajo
Audience Rating: Unrated
Binding: VHS Tape
EAN: 9786300215245
Format: Classical, Color, HiFi Sound, NTSC
ISBN: 6300215245
Label: Paramount
Manufacturer: Paramount
Number Of Items: 1
Publisher: Paramount
Release Date: November 11, 1998
Running Time: 141 minutes
Sales Rank: 14508
Studio: Paramount
Related Items:- Verdi - La Traviata / Levine, Stratas, Domingo
- Puccini - Turandot / Franco Zeffirelli - Marton, Domingo, Mitchell, Plishka, Cuenod - James Levine, MET (1988)
- Verdi - Aida / Levine, Domingo, Millo, Metropolitan Opera
- Puccini - La Boheme / Pavarotti, Scotto, Niska, Wixell, Plishka, Levine, Metropolitan Opera
- Puccini - Tosca (remastered)
- see more
Editorial Review:
Amazon.com essential video:
The first recording of Puccini's La Bohème to be issued on DVD is the best visual treatment of this opera that anyone's ever likely to see. Director Franco Zeffirelli always seems to have television in mind when he directs an opera production, and his orientation toward visual impact and acting skills comes across effectively. Teresa Stratas (Zeffirelli's soprano of choice in one unforgettable production after another) is totally convincing as Mimi, and José Carreras is nearly as impressive as Rodolfo--most notably in the frequent closeups where acting skills are most crucial. Renata Scotto's Musetta is properly flirtatious, fickle, and verbally violent in Acts II and III, and warmly sympathetic in the heartbreaking finale. The supporting cast is superbly chosen and directed. There have been slightly better voices in some other Bohèmes (Pavarotti, for example), but the solo singing here is good, the chorus and orchestra are wonderful, and the visual treatment is magnificent. This should be considered a first choice among available DVDs. An interesting alternative is the fresh, innovative Australian Opera production, directed by Baz Luhrmann and updated to the 1950s. --Joe McLellan
Customer Reviews
Average Rating: 
Rating:  - Ultimate rapture
I have both of the Metropolitan Opera DVDs of la Boheme and consider this the finer production, Carreras and Stratas are not only vocally excellent they look the part. Renata Scotto is perfect as Musetta. In the other copy she plays Mimi and Pavarotti is Rodolfo. They are just too healthy to be dying of TB or look like a starving playwright. That copy I would rate as 4 stars.
Rating: - Superb male cast in this heart wrenching Boheme.....
I'm relatively new to opera, but still an ardent Carreras-fan who thinks his singing is heavenly and I think he makes a more than convincing Rodolfo here. And his looks at the time is certainly no drawback for him. His acting skills are in my opinion very good; his facial expressions projecting his feelings perfectly. (I prefer a subtle actor instead of someone overacting to compensate for poor voice.)It's heartbreaking watching and listening to him singing in the final scene where Mimi is dying. ... Read More
Rating: - Great cinematography
I remember this production being televised in the mid 1980s and what impressed me was that it was done on a set rather than on a stage. There was no audience, so it was basically a movie of an opera rather than a video of a stage performance. I don't know, if, as in the making of movies, there were multiple takes until the producer (Franco Zeffirelli) and director (James Levine) were satisfied or if it was recorded straight through, as a stage production would be. Regardless, I think the movie style ... Read More
Rating: - Almost wonderful
I've listened to this opera for years, but only seen it twice, both this production, first on VHS, now on DVD. Stratas was perfection as always, with her beautiful voice, and her acting, not that it matters that much, was touching too. The first time I saw this I cried. Carreras and Scotto also were wonderful, especially Scotto with her acting (as well as her voice). I felt that the other singers were adequate, they did good jobs, but were not in a class with the three I already mentioned. I do ... Read More
Rating: - Open your eyes for details, close them to the big picture
I was so excited to watch this opera years ago. It was the first one I had ever seen, and had only heard highlights on a CD (with Pavarotti as Rodolfo). I was overwhelmed at first, because there is so much emotion in this opera: Act 1 is charming, Act 2 is exciting, Act 3 is depressing, and Act 4 is crushing...
Probably my favorite part of this production is Act 2, in which there is an elaborate 2-story set (characteristic of Zefirelli), a gigantic crowd, and Musetta is brought in by horse ... Read More
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