This is a touching but not essential performance of La Boheme. I purchased it primarily for the Musetta of Anneliese Rothenberger, a favorite artist whom I wanted to hear in this rep. She sings well but adds no special dimension to the character. Janowitz and Cossutta are in fresh, youthful voice and make a touching pair of lovers. Cossutta always had a voice that was burly rather than soaring, but he inhabits the spirit of the young poet and makes his Racconto touchingly intimate.

Ottimi gli interpreti-Ho acquistato anche Favoita, ma il baritono non è Aiusensi, Nella copertina c'è Zanasi. Vorrei sapere chi è veramente il baritono, anche perchè ancora non l'ho ascoltata. Grazie

Janowitz's voice is angelic, and she's the reason I got this set. I loved this approach to Mimi, although it's an alternative to the mainstream (Tebaldi, Scotto, Freni). The performance has a real theatrical momentum. Sound is 1960 radio quality.

I didn't expect Janowitz to be so delighful and touching as Mimi. Beautifully done. I drop one star only becuase the recorded sound is not perfect. But how wonderful to have this document of her in a role she should have had the chance to do in studio. Cossutta is a deliciously virile Rodolfo and balances with her very well.

Even if you have umpteen Bohemes (and who among us opera lovers doesn't?) make room for this one. It has a fine cast, some of whom didn't sing these roles often. Janowitz is a lovely Mimi. She has absorbed the traditions of the role well, but is very much her own person. Cossutta may not be the most mellifluous Rodolfo; yet his voice has a very unique sound and he interprets the role honestly without becoming lacrimose in the closing moments of the opera. He transposes "Che gelida manina" down a half-step, but sings the written ending to "O soave fanciulla", allowing Janowitz to soar alone to the top C where it shines like a lovely star.One can hear why Rothenberger was so popular in the role of Musetta. Her singing is effortless and her characterization is lovable and maddening, just as Musetta should be. Panerai is a sexy Marcello and Siepi heartbreaking in his coat aria. Holecek is very good as Schaunard. Hager's conducting is fine, but a few more rehearsals would've helped everyone to stay together better.The sound is pitched correctly and listenable; sure, I wish it were better, but I'm thankful we have this at all.

I wanted to listen to Gundula Janowitz in this role and she never deceives. Also the rest of the cast, especially Cesare Siepi, is very interesting.

Awful sound

For me the main interest was in hearing Janowitz's Mimi, and all my expectations were fulfilled. Her luminous seamless voice is well suited to this music, bringing with it a fragility and even a sense of her own doom. Carlo Cossutta is a poetic, musically sensitive and responsive Rodolfo. Pleasingly, unlike most tenors, he takes the lower alternative at the end of the love duet, an infinitely better choice.Rolando Panerai is an attractive and expressive Marcello, even if his voice is not as sappy as it was five or ten years before,Caesars Seipi is the Colline. He is in fine voice, although he offers a somewhat uninteresting performance.Anneliese Rothenberger is a pert attractive, if not particularly alluring, Musetta.There is also a perticularly good Benoit (uncredited)The sound is very good.