Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A 'Bohème' to Treasure, 19 Jan 2007
I cannot tell you how many productions of 'La Bohème' I've seen. But I can assure you that I never see it live or on DVD, or hear it in a recording, without needing a Kleenex or three at its moving conclusion. Call me sentimental and without taste, but I believe Puccini (and his librettists Giacosa and Illica) have achieved one of the most nearly perfect operas ever written. There is not an extra note -- it's actually quite a short opera -- and there are few operas whose musical underscoring of the libretto's emotional content is better. Think, for instance, of the single loud chord interrupting the bohemians' hijinks in Act IV that announces the arrival of Musetta with her news that Mimì is downstairs, dying and unable to manage the stairs up to the bohemians' garret. Or, in the final scene, the two violins depicting Mimì's faltering heartbeat. And, as this Madrid Teatro Real production's stage director, Giancarlo del Monaco, says in his booklet interview (and in the excellent set of interviews, 'Reflections', on Disc II), 'Bohème' epitomizes cinematic treatment in music. Del Monaco takes advantage of that aspect of Puccini's music by giving us a very cinematic treatment onstage. Because of the specificity of Puccini's music one is rarely, even in the crowded stage scene of Act II, unaware of where the important action is; musically, it is always at the forefront. Consequently, del Monaco is able to give us an exquisitely thought-out staging that is both complex and truthful; there are many small details that enrich the narrative. The only misstep -- although I can see why he did it -- is at the end of the final scene when, after Mimì has died and Rodolfo has rushed to her bedside, the garret's walls fly up to reveal a beautifully lit backdrop of the streets of Paris into which Rodolfo then wanders, all alone, as if to show us what lies ahead for the grieving poet.
Musically, this production is top-notch. Jésus López Cobos is a superbly attentive opera conductor and his Teatro Real orchestra play beautifully. López Cobos manages the scherzando bits (e.g., the opening scenes of both Acts I and IV) and the emotionally resonant bits (e.g., Rodolfo/Mimì scene at the end of Act I, the entire Act III scene with the duet and quartet, the opera's final scene) with equal sensitivity and style. As for the singers, this is undoubtedly Inva Mula's show. She plays Mimì as not quite as naïve as often seen, and her portrayal of Mimì's physical deterioration and death are emotionally touching. And all with lovely control of her lovely voice. It does not hurt that she is a physically beautiful. Very nearly her equal is a tenor not previously known to me, Aquiles Machado, whose Italianate tenor is perfect for the role. He is a bit of a butterball, but that quickly becomes only a minor deficit. He is an artistic singer and a good actor who plumbs the emotional depths of the role.
Laura Giordano is a sexy-looking woman (with very good legs, which she shows to great advantage in Act II) whose soprano is not as rich as one might wish in Musetta's waltz song. Later, though, she comes into her own. Her acting is a realistic and effective. Really effective is the big, handsome Marcello, Fabio Maria Capitanucci, whose robust yet subtle baritone is particularly effective in the latter part of the opera. His scene with Rodolfo in Act III is superb. David Menéndez is excellent as Schaunard; his physical agility in the horseplay scenes is particularly effective. Felipe Bou, in his thick glasses, makes a awkward but lovable philosopher, Colline. He makes the most of his little aria in Act IV, 'Addio, vecchia zimarra'.
The opera has been set in 1890s Paris, some sixty years or so after the time of Murger's 'Scènes de la vie bohème', and this makes absolutely no difference to the feel of the opera except that there are some proto-modern touches like an old-style typewriter and some electric lights in the Café Momus scene (but candlelight in the garret of the poor artists). The quite beautiful sets and costumes are by Michael Scott and the creative and very effective lighting, influenced by del Monaco's cinematic approach, is by Wolfgang von Zoubek. The stage actions of the extras (e.g., the drunk in Act III, stilt-walkers and jugglers in Act II) are inventive; I did wonder how the revealingly dressed prostitute outside the Act III inn did keep from freezing to death.
The DVD was taken from live performance and the final bows are greeted with long and very enthusiastic applause by the Teatro Real audience. This is a Region 0 DVD (playable in all regions) and the fine sound is in either stereo or surround sound. Videography (using eight cameramen, according to the credits) and editing are simply superb.
This is a superior DVD that will be around a long time, deservedly so. I loved every minute of it.
Scott Morrison
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3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Great voices, nice set but very distracting direction., 29 Dec 2007
Vocally this is a strong production but be aware the direction will not be to everyone's taste and I found it very distracting and intrusive. I appreciate why other reviewers have enjoyed the production but I found the frenetic activity reduced the emotional impact of the opera. Do you really want to see one of the artists in Act 1 go to the toilet behind a curtain ? The smell from which forces Rudolpho to use air freshener before he opens the door for Mimi.No it was not a naturalistic detail but an absurdly self-conscious moment.What on earth was going on with the chorus in Act 2. I have seldom seen such messy crowd work or awkward blocking.Then we have the heavy handed freezing of activity for half of Musetta's aria before all hell breaks lose for the second half. As for the nonsense with the arrival and departure of the car - it reminded me of the sort of "spectacle" you expect in village hall theatricals, not on the stage of a major opera house.Similarly why cannot the director just let us enjoy the wonderful duet and quartet in Act 3 ? Do we need to be constantly distracted by soldiers and tarts so that the singers are upstaged ? Yes I know what the director is doing - or attempting to do - but it did not work for me or my friends when we watched it last night. On a positive note as I said at the start it is a vocally strong production and the DVD has great picture quality and sound. However if you want a truly spellbinding Bohem there are many better productions to choose from.Have a look at the Covent Garden version which, although a little old,is spectacular,well sung and dramatically excellent.
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0 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
Disappointing, 10 Sep 2008
This is a boring production. I have tried to watch this DVD a number of times, but it never grabs me. This is not Puccini, no melody, no romance, no drama and absolutely no passion. Only another day at work for the cast. Yes the singers are probably quite good in a technical way, but Puccini requires more. Where are the real stars that gives us Rodolfo, Mimi and Musetta to remember? They are definitely not present in this production. What is a voice without passion? There are much better DVD choices out there.
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