this performance comes from the 1980 run, 11 July 1980. The 1977 run at the Paris Opera was conducted by Patané and had Freni as Mimi.

Cher Andy,Je viens, grâce à toi , de récupérer l'enregistrement une demi douzaine de soirées auxquelles j'ai assisté il y a près d'un demi-siècle.Dear Andy,Thanks to you, I just picked up the recording of half a dozen parties I attended, almost half a century ago.

Remember the HRE series on records? There was a two disc set devoted to Te Kanawa that featured highlights from this Boheme and a Covent Garden Faust (also in Opera Depot's collection.) The Bella Voce label had the same excerpts on CD. I would bet a number of opera lovers would quickly dismiss this performance because Te Kanawa and Domingo aren't known for these roles - don't you be one of them! Te Kanawa sings a loving, but not passive Mimi. Furthermore her voice is head-spinningly beautiful. Domingo sings a virile, passionate Rodolpho. He transposes the big aria down a half-step, but joins his ladies on the high B at the end of Act Two. He sings the end of " O soave fanciulla" as written, allowing Te Kanawa a gorgeous top C by herself.Krause is a great Marcello perhaps a little intimidated by his take-no-prisoners Musetta, Fernandez. She justifies her reputation by singing a memorable Musetta with ringing high B's. Soyer makes much of Colline and Michel Roux is a funny Benoit. Santi leads a beautiful performance in good broadcast sound. The opening track on disc 1 is marred by some momentary radio signal problems, but that fortunately doesn't last long.Boheme lovers should have this recording!

La date exacte de cette représentation est 11 Juillet 1980