Description:

The phrase live recording evokes mixed reactions among opera enthusiasts. Personally, I have always favored live performances over their often sterile studio counterparts. However, I recognize that many associate them with scratchy, poor-quality relics. In curating my collection, I have aimed to satisfy both perspectives by ensuring only recordings with adequate sound make the cut. With this in mind, I nearly dismissed this La Bohème recording due to its imperfect sound and missing sections.

Yet, just as my finger hovered over the eject button, the young Mario Del Monaco pulled me back in. His voice in 1950 was remarkably lyrical, with a slightly brighter timbre, and its sheer brilliance soon overpowered the surface flaws of the recording. Gino Bechi, as Marcello, proves another great asset, matching Del Monaco in both sound and youthful vigor. Elena Rizzieri, whom I had not known before, brings a luminous sheen and opulence to Mimì, holding her own alongside her formidable castmates.

There are a few technical shortcomings: the first few minutes of Acts One and Three are missing, a thirty-second gap appears before Donde lieta, and the final bars of the opera fade in and out. Fortunately, none of these interruptions occur during the most glorious singing. If you are undeterred by an imperfect recording, I highly recommend this wonderful (and nearly perfect) performance.

OD 10528-2