Puccini La Boheme Beecham

[Rabin_Fan]

Which mastering is the best one around? There are 4 masterings of this - Regis, Naxos, EMI or Documents label. Any-one with the answer? Thanks, R-F

[Harry Collier]

Whatever the latest EMI transfer is, I would guess. EMI has the original tapes, and the set is one of the company's very great and very eternal classics. I get the impression they devote a lot of care and attention to reissues of such recordings. Only time I have ever cried in a record store (listening to the LPs in an audio booth in Oxford when I was a student there). I have EMI transfers from the late 1980s/ early 1990s. Probably been improved since then.

[Rabin_Fan]

Hi Harry - I suppose that it is indispensable then. I have Serafin & Karajan on CD but I may add the Beecham to my collection. Thanks for your reply. Lee

[Harry Collier]

The Beecham Bohème is now a GROC. But buy soon; EMI has been sold, so heaven only knows what will happen to its "old" classical department once the modern philistine money men get their noses in the door.

[Peregrine]

I have the GROC and sounds fine to me, although there's an interesting thread here from RMCR:

http://groups.google.co.uk/group/rec.music.classical.recordings/browse_frm/thread/6d3682ca5988999a/1a6849cf72aa7046?lnk=gst&q=la+boheme+naxos&rnum=5&hl=en#1a6849cf72aa7046

Mark Obert-Thorn (A Naxos producer) suggests there is problem with the pitch, which he has corrected for the Naxos issue (and it contains supplementary recordings and a talk from Beecham).

FWIW, despite my profound admiration for Beecham and many of his recordings, this one isn't the 'one' for me, much prefer the Serafin with Bergonzi and Tebaldi. A truly hot blooded affair....

[Rabin_Fan]

Odd  how music is. One person may like Serafin but another may like Beecham.
Anna Picard (a critic on Bloomberg for music) suggests that Beecham is "best".

Peregrine - why don't you like Beecham as much? Care to share why? Thanks.

[Peregrine]

My favourite tenor and probably favourite conductor (who knew this opera inside out) should probably result in an unqualified success, but it's just never moved me. I've not a great fan of De Los Angeles and just find the whole performance a little too sluggish and pretty - preferring the 'fire in the belly' approach from Serafin.

Beecham brings out the detail in the score, but to these ears misses a certain degree of pathos. But hey, most seem to think it's not only the greatest Boheme, but maybe one of the greatest operas on disc, so what do I know!

I've always kept it, more for my love of Bjorling and Beecham and will probably get the Naxos issue at some point for the extra's, but I don't think I'll ever see the greatness in this recording that others see...

[Mark]

Lis, forgive me, but while I agree that this thread is about an opera, the OP clearly states it's the matter of the recording that's of interest to him. Which means it properly belongs on the Great Recordings board, no?