The appeal of Giacomo Puccini’s La Bohème is eternal, a masterwork of the operatic repertoire where both the ecstasy and the agony of those in love speak to audiences across the generations. In communicating those emotions through music of incomparable beauty and sensitivity, Puccini created a work that gives endless joy while also leaving the listener profoundly moved at its tragic conclusion.

Throughout its history, few artists have been as closely associated with Bohème as Luciano Pavarotti. The incomparable Italian tenor, who made his operatic debut as Rodolfo, subsequently made the role his own worldwide. It suited him ideally, allowing him to express everything he had to give as an artist. Decca’s 1973 Bohème recording presents him in his glorious vocal prime, collaborating with his most cherished partner, Mirella Freni, under the baton of Herbert von Karajan, one of the most celebrated conductors of the twentieth century. The result is a performance that reveals the romantic spirit of this opera as no other recording has done.

Cast:
- Mimì: Mirella Freni
- Musetta: Elizabeth Harwood
- Rodolfo: Luciano Pavarotti
- Marcello: Rolando Panerai
- Schaunard: Gianni Maffeo
- Colline: Nicolai Ghiaurov
- Parpignol: Gernot Pietsch
- Benoît, Alcindoro: Michel Sénéchal
- Doganiere: Hans-Dietrich Pohl
- Sergente dei doganieri: Hans-Dieter Appelt