Giacomo 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 video, further illuminating the fascinating interaction of Puccini's 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.
Tiziano Severini
as Self - Conductor
Mirella Freni
as Mimì
Luciano Pavarotti
as Rodolfo
Gino Quilico
as Marcello
Nicolai Ghiaurov
as Colline
Stephen Dickson
as
Italo Tajo
as
Orchestra of the San Francisco Opera House
as Self - Orchestra
Chorus of the San Francisco Opera House
as Self - Chorus
Giacomo Puccini
as Self - Composer
