Baz Luhrmann's La Boheme (Highlights from the 2002 Original Broadway Cast) [Cast Recording]

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
With the visually dazzling efforts of his "Red Curtain" film trilogy behind him (Strictly Ballroom, Romeo + Juliet, Moulin Rouge), director Baz Luhrmann set his sights on Broadway and a reworking of his triumphant, career-forging 1990 Australian Opera production of Giacomo Puccini's evergreen tearjerker, La Boheme. With it now set in 1957, six young voices alternate in bringing the tale of the doomed love affair between the seamstress Mimi (Lisa Hopkins, Wei Huang, Ekaterina Solovyeva) and the writer Rodolfo (Alfred Boe, Jesus Garcia, David Miller) to life in its original Italian on this cast album. Other than using the vocal dream-team gambit, Luhrmann has played Puccini's music surprisingly straight in this production, a sharp contrast to the dizzying musical cut-and-paste of Moulin or his tellingly titled pop album, Something for Everybody. It's a wise tack, and wholly in step with the director's stated goal of emphasizing the story's timeless drama while keeping the operatic masterpiece true to itself for a new audience. The staging may showcase Luhrmann's dazzling production, but the music here is still pure Puccini. --Jerry McCulley

Baz Luhrmann's La Boheme (Highlights from the 2002 Original Broadway Cast), Music, Giacomo Puccini, Ekaterina Solovyeva, Wei Huang, Lisa Hopkins, Cast Recordings, Italian Romantic Opera, Opera, Original Cast Recordings, Pop, Showtunes / B'way

Average customer rating:

Sometimes pleasing

well performance by the young musicians

great to see, okay to hear

Enjoyable when viewed live

WHOOPS........!

Baz Luhrmann's La Boheme (Highlights from the 2002 Original Broadway Cast)
Giacomo Puccini , Ekaterina Solovyeva , Wei Huang , and Lisa Hopkins
Manufacturer: Dreamworks
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00006LLQ1
Release Date: 2002-12-10

Tracks:

Non sono in vena
Che gelida manina
Si, mi chiamano Mimi
O, soave fanciulla
E via I pensier!
Quando me'n vo'
Chi l'ha richiesto?
Mimi?! Speravo di trovarvi qui
Marcello, finalmente!
Addio! Che! Vai?
Dunque: e proprio finita!
O Mimi tu piu non torni
Gavotta! Minuetto
C'e Mimi...
Sono andati?
Oh! Dio Mimi!

Amazon.com

With the visually dazzling efforts of his "Red Curtain" film trilogy behind him (Strictly Ballroom, Romeo + Juliet, Moulin Rouge), director Baz Luhrmann set his sights on Broadway and a reworking of his triumphant, career-forging 1990 Australian Opera production of Giacomo Puccini's evergreen tearjerker, La Boheme. With it now set in 1957, six young voices alternate in bringing the tale of the doomed love affair between the seamstress Mimi (Lisa Hopkins, Wei Huang, Ekaterina Solovyeva) and the writer Rodolfo (Alfred Boe, Jesus Garcia, David Miller) to life in its original Italian on this cast album. Other than using the vocal dream-team gambit, Luhrmann has played Puccini's music surprisingly straight in this production, a sharp contrast to the dizzying musical cut-and-paste of Moulin or his tellingly titled pop album, Something for Everybody. It's a wise tack, and wholly in step with the director's stated goal of emphasizing the story's timeless drama while keeping the operatic masterpiece true to itself for a new audience. The staging may showcase Luhrmann's dazzling production, but the music here is still pure Puccini. --Jerry McCulley

Customer Reviews:

Sometimes pleasing.......2007-01-16

This CD is a bit awkward. It's difficult to get a feel for any of the singers, as the music is divided up between all 6 of them.

There's some good singing on here, notably Jesus Garcia as Rodolfo. Others have compared him to a young Pavarotti, & I tend to agree. I watched & heard him all through college, & he has the effortless style & pure tone.

I'm not too fond of the other tenors, but I thought all 3 women did good jobs.

well performance by the young musicians.......2006-08-31

I am not going to talk about who's review is fair and who's isn't. Everyone has the rights to comment on the performance base on their own interpretation . However, please keep in mind that, 1, this is a Broadway show/production, not an opera!!! 2, everyone in the show is classically trained, some of them are well trained.

Just a FYI.

great to see, okay to hear .......2005-03-22

Of course this recording of La Boheme will not come near, let alone surpass, the likes of Callas or Pavarotti. But that's not a fair comparison anyway, because we must remind ourselves that this recording is a modern(ish) day take, a'la Baz Luhrmann musical panache. To have seen the live performance I must say it was quite a treat. But as for listening to this recording, I am impressed upon only with the youth and novelty. If you are interested in La Boheme in the traditional tried and true Puccini way, then look elsewhere at the deluge of excellent recordings of this great classic. (My favorite is the one by Berlin Philharmonic, Pavarotti and Frenni.) If you are looking for a different take, something different, something of the musical genre--remember operatic singing is very different from musical singing--then I would heartily recommend giving this one a try, but keep in mind that seeing it is the true delight with this production, in all its vivacious splendor. (Hint: Baz Lurhmann's Moulin Rouge was also either a hit or miss.)

Enjoyable when viewed live.......2005-01-15

I saw the show a week after its Broadway opening, and I have to admit, it is visually rather stunning, especially the L'Amour sign on stage. The cast is refreshingly young, and rather good looking... which hence may explain the rawness of their voices in the recording versus Pavarotti's. Still remember Pavarotti played the role later in his life than some of the cast members in this recording.

Enjoy it for what it's worth but don't take it too seriously. Opera is an art, not a science.

WHOOPS........!.......2003-07-28

More than five stars for the CD cover and the tiny, tiny, tiny libretto with dy-no-mite photos circa 1957 ..... but in all fairness to the Young, Young Young cast ... this one's quite terrible.

One has to in all fairness {or unfairness} compare this version to the original 1993 Australian version WITH SINGERS, and there really is no comparision. David Hobson set the bar way, way high for any future Rodolfo as did Cheryl Barker's unforgettable Mimi. This present version just does not work on CD due to the confusion of the mixed cast - especially the highly 'indicated' theatricality of one of the Mimis - great in the looks department - but the emoting .....!

The original version tends to be a 'Method' Puccini - AND it works.

Try to get that [imported] CD instead - besides the original was recorded 'live' so the stakes were higher .....

Baz Luhrmann's Production of Puccini's La Boheme on Broadway
Average customer rating:
Baz Luhrmann's Production of Puccini's La Boheme on Broadway
Puccini
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD
ASIN: B000M8HXDW

Product Description

Track 1. Non Sono In Vena 2. Che Gelida Manina 3. Si, Mi Chiamano Mimi 4. O, Soave Fanciulla 5. E Via I Pensier! 6. Quando Me'n Vo' 7. Chi L'ha Richiesto?! 8. Mimi?! Speravo Di Trov... 9. Marcello, Finalmente! 10. Addio! Che! Vai? 11. Dunque: E Proprio Finita! 12. O Mimi Tu Piu Non Torni 13. Gavotta! Minuetto! 14. C'e Mimi 15. Vecchia Zimarra 16. Sono Andati? 17. Oh! Dio! Mimi!

Music:

Music

Music