La Boheme - Pal [DVD] [1993]

Bravo, David Hobson for bringing out such a wonderful, wonderful Rodolfo. This is the Rodolfo you’ll be dreaming of. He is handsome, he is tall, and his lyric tenor rings out with beauty, clarity, and youthfulness. To make things even better, he acts brilliantly. Seldom did I see opera singer being able to act in such depth and with such spontaneity. The way he naturally blends opera singing and acting, with nuances and subtleties, is something that many others seem unable to do upon finding themselves on stage. Hobson had put himself so deep into the character that at the curtain calls - the drama ended on Mimi’s death - he was still in tears.

Brava, Cheryl Barker for conveying such a tender and lovely Mimi. Barker has a pure soprano, creamy in timbre and dramatic in expression. Her well-defined performance delivers every detail. She sang beautifully in Mimi’s death scene, in which the emotional depth she and Hobson had reached will move you to tears. On stage they make a very good match, between them chemistry is convincing, which makes their parting all the more heartbreaking.

Bravo, Baz Luhrmann for the creative mind and the courage of blazing new trails for classical opera, and for the distinctive artistic design. Instead of making a cliché of yet another production of classical opera, he has turned it into a great piece of modern theater, in which the essence is embodied with realism and bestowed with novelties.

For opera lovers, especially young opera lovers, this is a must!

First the production. Luhrmann has moved the action from the 1830's to the 1950's - a clever move that allows us to relate more immediately to the characters in an artistic, existentialist Paris complete with neon signs and roller-skating children. The cast are young and look right for their parts. The stage design is excellent (you can see where Luhrmann got some of his ideas for 'Moulin Rouge!') and dynamic.

The music - very well paced, lively and not too 'slushy' except in the bits where (this being Puccini) it has to be! The singers' voices are clear and youthful. Where some have criticised them for lack of power, I think this is a problem with the acoustic of the Sydney Opera House, where I've heard the orchestra always dominates.

The acting - brilliant, especially for an opera! The crowd scenes of Acts 2 and 3 are especially well handled, with the bustle of Act 2 being breathtaking. All the main characters come across as real and convincing. The minor ones are never merely space-fillers. And the lead roles! - Marcello and Musetta fall in and out of love, fighting like cat and dog all the way; Rodolfo and Mimi are played so convincingly by two brilliant young actor/singers that you're hooked from the moment they meet, holding your breath with anticipation through 'Che gelida manina' and with tears already pricking your eyes in 'O soave fanciulla'. And the final scene? - have many, many hankies ready!