Puccini - La bohème / Haymon · O'Neill · Opie · McLaughlin · A. Miles · Dazeley · Shore · PO · Parry
A thoughtful ensemble cast stars in this tender, introspective reading ofLa Bohème, and maestro David Parry ekes all of the emotionalism out of the opera's sadder moments. One might ask for more rambunctious comedy in the light scenes, especially those featuring Musetta--although Marie McLaughlin certainly sings beautifully enough--but then again, we might not be able to understand the words as well if the cast were allowed to run free. As it stands, Dennis O'Neill is an ardent Rodolfo missing only some sheer loveliness of sound, Cynthia Haymon's Mimi is handsomely sung and quite moving, and Alan Opie's Marcello is the good friend to Rodolfo. In short, a nice, believableLa Bohèmeand complement to thebest-known recorded versionof Puccini's beloved masterpiece.--Robert Levine