Organization

Conductor

Tiziano Severini

Stage director

Francesca Zambello

Set designer

David Mitchell

Lighting designer

Thomas J Munn

Tenor

Luciano Pavarotti

Rodolfo

Soprano

Mirella Freni

Mimi

Sandra Pacetti

Musetta

Baritone

Gino Quilico

Marcello

Bass

Nicolai Ghiaurov

Colline

Italo Tajo

Alcindoro

Benoît

San Francisco Opera

La Bohème

San Francisco

United States

Luciano Pavarotti and Mirella Freni's incomparable partnership as Rodolfo and Mimi, the tragic lovers in Puccini's much-loved bittersweet opera, is captured for posterity in this live recording from the San Francisco Opera. Francesca Zambello's production boasts a superlative cast with Gino Quilico as Marcello, Nicolai Ghiaurov as Colline, Stephen Dickson as Schaunard and Sandra Pacetti as Musetta. The Italian conductor Tiziano Severini drew critical acclaim for his passionate and spontaneous reading of the score.

Puccini's bittersweet opera of high-spirited bohemians and the doomed love between Rodolfo, the idealistic poet and Mimi, the consumptive flower-maker, is a beautifully balanced series of tableaux depicting the infectious joie de vivre of youth and the tragic waste of disease and separation.

The legendary and incomparable partnership of Mirella Freni and Luciano Pavarotti as the two lovers has been captured in this special live recording from stage of the San Francisco Opera. Brian Large has adapted Francesca Zambello's production for the video, further illuminating the fascinating interaction of Puccini's deeply human characters.

Gino Quilico sings Marcello, the colorful and moody painter, whose tempestuous relationship with the flirtatious Musetta (sung by Sandra Pacetti), comically mirrors the more profound love of Rodolfo and Mimi. Nicolai Ghiaurov sings Colline.

La bohème Puccini

Public

Approved

Watch full performance here: La Bohème (1988)

La Bohème - Preview clip

The incomparable partnership of Mirella Freni (Mimi) and Luciano Pavarotti
(Rodolfo) is captured for posterity in this live recording from the San Francisco
Opera. Puccini's bitter-sweet tale of the high-spirited bohemians and the doomed
love between Rodolfo, the idealistic poet and Mimi, the consumptive flower-maker,
is a beautifully balanced series of tableaux, depicting the infectious joie de vivre of
youth and the tragic waste of disease and separation. Brian Large has adapted
Francesca Zambello's production for television, further illuminating the fascinating
interaction of Puccini's boldly defined characters. Gino Quilico sings Marcello, the

colourful and moody painter, whose tempestuous on-off relationship with the
flirtatious Musetta (Sandra Pacetti), comically mirrors the more profound love of
Rodolfo and Mimi. The distinguished Bulgarian bass, Nicolai Ghiaurov, sings the
philosopher Colline, with the veteran Italo Tajo taking on the dual roles of
Alcindoro and Benoit.
Luciano Pavarotti's youthful ardour, his passionate concern for Mimi's well-being
and Mirella Freni's shy, determined and intensely moving Mimi have made their
partnership a famous and definitive one for many years.
The young and exciting Italian conductor, Tiziano Severini, already acclaimed for
his Bohème at La Scala, gives a passionate and spontaneous reading of the score,
bringing out all of Pucini's pathos and sensuous lyricism.

English

La Bohème by Puccini, From (1988/1988), Directed by Francesca Zambello,, Conductor Tiziano Severini

Performance credits (Cast & Crew )

Cast

Crew

Programme, About & Synopsis

Videos

Photos

Further reading

Performance Dates & Venues

Venues