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111332-33 bk LaBoheme EU.qxd 2/11/08 13:23 Page 12 Also Available PUCCINI La bohème IA CAL AR LA M S 8.111240-41 Mark Obert-Thorn Mark Obert-Thorn is one of the world’s most respected transfer artist/engineers. He has worked for a number of 195 ing specialist labels, including Pearl, Biddulph, Romophone and Music & Arts. Three of his transfers have been 6 Record nominated for Gramophone Awards. A pianist by training, his passions are music, history and working on projects. He has found a way to combine all three in the transfer of historical recordings. Obert-Thorn describes himself as a ‘moderate interventionist’ rather than a ‘purist’ or ‘re-processor,’ unlike Maria Callas • Giuseppe Di Stefano • Rolando Panerai those who apply significant additions and make major changes to the acoustical qualities of old recordings. His philosophy is that a good transfer should not call attention to itself, but rather allow the performances to be heard Anna Moffo • Nicola Zaccaria with the greatest clarity. There is no over-reverberant ‘cathedral sound’ in an Obert-Thorn restoration, nor is there the tinny bass and Chorus and Orchestra of La Scala, Milan piercing mid-range of many ‘authorised’ commercial issues. He works with the cleanest available 78s, and consistently achieves better results than restoration engineers working with the metal parts from the archives of the Antonino Votto modern corporate owners of the original recordings. His transfers preserve the original tone of the old recordings, maximising the details in critical upper mid-range and lower frequencies to achieve a musical integrity that is absent from many other commercially released restorations. 8.111332-33 12 111332-33 bk LaBoheme EU.qxd 2/11/08 13:23 Page 2 Great Opera Recordings Rodolfo is sitting at the table trying to write. Rodolfo found her, exhausted and begging to be taken once has seen Musetta riding in a carriage and finely dressed, again to Rodolfo so that she may die near him. Mimì is and she has told him that she has no feeling of love: her happy now and embraces Rodolfo. Musetta asks what Giacomo finery is compensation enough. Marcello tries to force a they can give Mimì, but the friends have nothing, no laugh, but is upset. He tells Rodolfo that he has seen wine and no coffee. PUCCINI Mimì riding in a carriage, and dressed up like a queen. 6 Mimì complains of the cold: she has no feeling in her (1858-1924) Rodolfo is equally annoyed and curses his pen, which hands, which Rodolfo, as once before he had done, tries he throws onto the floor, as Marcello throws down his to warm in his own. Schaunard and Colline sit apart, brush and secretly takes out a bunch of ribbons that he sadly, while Musetta takes off her ear-rings and tells La bohème kisses. Marcello to go quickly and sell them, to buy medicine Opera in Four Acts 2 Rodolfo, to himself, laments the loss of Mimì, taking for Mimì and to pay for a doctor. out the bonnet that he keeps to remember her by. 7 Musetta and Marcello leave the room and Colline Libretto by Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa Marcello too is haunted by his memory of Musetta. philosophically plans to part with his coat to raise After Henry Murger’s Scènes de la vie de bohème 3 They wonder how soon Schaunard will be back. At money. He and Schaunard leave the lovers together. this point the latter comes in carrying bread and 8 Mimì opens her eyes and asks if the others have accompanied by Colline with a paper bag, from which gone: she has much to say to Rodolfo and embraces he takes out a herring. They all sit down at the table and him. She asks if she is still beautiful and he tells her that Rodolfo. Giuseppe Di Stefano (tenor) pretend that they are at a banquet, water serving for she is as beautiful as dawn. Mimì . Maria Callas (soprano) champagne, the salted fish for salmon and the bread for 9 Together they recall their first meeting and their love Marcello . Rolano Panerai (baritone) parrots’ tongues. for one another, as she repeats his words to her, as he Schaunard. Manuel Spatafora (baritone) 4 The mock banquet is to be followed by singing and first held her hand. Schaunard returns. Colline . Nicola Zaccaria (bass) dancing, as Schaunard announces, and the mock-ball 0 He is followed by Musetta, who asks if Mimì is Benoit . Carlo Badioli (bass) begins, leading to a feigned quarrel and duel with fire- sleeping. Marcello has brought medicine and Musetta Alcindoro. Carlo Badioli (bass) irons between the musician and the philosopher. gives Mimì her muff, which she thinks is from Rodolfo. Musetta . Anna Moffo (soprano) 5 Their merriment is interrupted by the sudden arrival Mimì seems to sleep, while Musetta prepares the Parpignol. Franco Ricciardi (tenor) of Musetta, who brings with her Mimì, now seriously ill medicine with a spirit lamp on the table and murmurs a Customs Officer . Eraldo Coda (bass) and unable to climb the stairs unaided. The men help prayer. Schaunard approaches Mimì and realises that Sergeant. Carlo Forti (bass) her in and make her as comfortable as they can on a bed she is dead but Rodolfo is the last to see the truth, as he that they drag forward. Musetta explains to the others throws himself on Mimì’s body in his final grief. Chorus and Orchestra of La Scala, Milan how she had heard that Mimì had left her protector, the (Chorus Master: Norberto Mola) old viscount, and was destitute and dying. She has just Keith Anderson Antonino Votto Recorded 20th-25th August and 3rd, 4th and 12th September, 1956 in the Teatro alla Scala, Milan First issued on Columbia 33CX 1464 and 1465 Reissue Producer and Audio Restoration Engineer: Mark Obert-Thorn Special thanks to Maynard F. Bertolet for providing source material 8.111332-33 211 8.111332-33 111332-33 bk LaBoheme EU.qxd 2/11/08 13:23 Page 10 followed by Marcello and Colline, carrying Musetta, who now lies asleep on a tavern bench. She breaks into CD 1 79:02 $ Viva Parpignol! 2:23 without her shoe, Rodolfo and Mimì, with Schaunard a fit of coughing again, to Marcello’s alarm, and tells (Chorus, Marcello, Mimì, Schaunard, Colline, blowing his new hunting-horn. Alcindoro comes back, him how Rodolfo has left her that night, telling her Act 1 Rodolfo) carrying a carefully wrapped pair of new shoes, to be everything is finished. 1 Questo “Mar Rosso” mi ammollisce greeted by the waiter with the bill. ¡ Mimì hides, as Rodolfo comes out, telling Marcello e assidera 2:38 % Oh! Musetta! 3:16 that he wants to leave Mimì, now that his love for her is (Marcello, Rodolfo) (Rodolfo, Schaunard, Colline, Marcello, Chorus, dead, only to revive when he looks into her eyes. Alcindoro, Musetta, Mimì) Act 3 Marcello advises separation, if love brings such misery 2 Aguzza l’ingegno 3:08 and jealousy. (Rodolfo, Marcello, Colline) ^ Quando men’ vo soletta 4:42 * The third act opens at the Barrière d’Enfer, by the ™ Rodolfo complains of Mimì’s behaviour, which (Musetta, Marcello, Alcindoro, Mimì, Rodolfo, toll-gate, with a tavern and streets leading off in either Marcello doubts. Rodolfo is bound to agree. 3 Legna! … Sigari! 3:41 Schaunard, Colline) direction. The tavern sign is Marcello’s painting, The £ He goes on to declare that he really loves her, (Rodolfo, Marcello, Colline, Schaunard) Passage of the Red Sea, with the title underneath At the explaining about her illness and increasing weakness & Chi l’ha richiesto? 2:25 Port of Marseilles. Light shines from the tavern window and approaching death. Mimì overhears all this. 4 Si può? … Chi è là? 4:22 (Colline, Schaunard, Rodolfo, Chorus, Marcello, into a gloomy February dawn. The ground is covered in Rodolfo blames himself for the poor conditions in (Benoit, Marcello, Schaunard, Colline, Rodolfo) Musetta, Mimì) snow and the trees are grey and gaunt. There is an which she must live with him. She is like a rare flower, occasional sound of revelry from the tavern. A gang of wilting in his poor room. Mimì is racked by another 5 Al Quartiere Latin ci attende Momus 2:01 Act 3 street-sweepers approaches the toll-gate, calling for spasm of coughing and Rodolfo anxiously rushes (Schaunard, Marcello, Rodolfo, Colline) * Ohè, là, le guardie! … Aprite! 3:44 admission into the city, and one of the guards stirs towards her. Musetta’s laughter is heard from the (Chorus, Customs Officer, Musetta) himself and goes to open the gate. The men pass tavern, as she flirts with the men there, and Marcello 6 Chi è là? 2:16 through and he closes the gate again. The sound of goes in. (Rodolfo, Mimì) ( Sa dirmi, scusi, qual’è l’osteria 1:32 merriment comes from the tavern, singing accompanied ¢ (Mimì, Sergeant, Customs Officer) Mimì bids Rodolfo farewell: she must die and now 7 by the clinking of glasses, followed by the voice of she asks him to send her the few possessions she has left Oh! sventata, sventata! 1:33 ) Musetta. A group of milk-women approaches the gate, in his room, the presents he has given her. He can keep (Mimì, Rodolfo) Mimì! … Speravo di trovarvi qui 5:10 (Marcello, Mimì) which is opened for them, as the dawn grows lighter. the little bonnet that she has treasured as a souvenir of 8 They are followed by peasant-women, carrying baskets. Che gelida manina! 4:51 their love.