Puccini: La Boheme
This 1995 recording doesn't have an especially promising pedigree but confounds low expectations. Though Dame Kiri Te Kanawa often seems interpretively non-committal, the more mature version of her often thinks more about what she's singing now that the notes aren't so free. Thus, this is a dramatically credible Mimi while also having much of Te Kanawa's customary vocal luster. At the other end of the spectrum, Richard Leech is known for yelling but here is in gratifyingly restrained form. Kent Nagano is full of fresh responses to the music at every turn. The only thing that keeps this from being a standard setter are the secondary leads: Nancy Gustafson's Musetta sounds vocally worn while Alan Titus's Marcello is too vocally dark to be ideal.--David Patrick Stearns