Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #30286 in DVD
• Released on: 2002-10-01
• Rating: Unrated
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Formats: Classical, NTSC
• Original language: Italian
• Subtitled in: English
• Running time: 112 minutes

From Amazon.com
It might be possible to know this La Bohème and not love it, but I have never met anyone who felt that way. "Oh yes," said a friend, "that's the good one where everybody is the right age." The youth and freshness of the singers are, in fact, major assets in this production. Youthful high spirits and vulnerability are delicately portrayed, with sharp contrasts between the Parisian bohemians' abject poverty and their carefree lifestyle. On DVD, La Bohème is the work where the competition is strongest. Solid arguments can be made for the staging of the Metropolitan Opera production or the vocal quality of the San Francisco production, but the Australian Opera offers the closest identification of performers with the characters they represent. The effect is usually touching, sometimes downright electrifying.

For this production, the story is moved up to Paris in the 1950s. A veneer of existentialism, a sense of the absurd, can be detected in the young men's lifestyle, but the implicit message is that, even with electricity (e.g., a massive neon sign celebrating "L'Amour"), bohemian life in the 1950s was essentially unchanged from the 1830s. There are good performances throughout, particularly by David Hobson (Rodolfo) and Cheryl Barker (Mimi), and the direction of Baz Luhrmann (Strictly Ballroom, Moulin Rouge) is outstanding. --Joe McLellan

Video Details
Baz Luhrmann, the director of "Moulin Rouge," and his Academy Award-winning creative team including designers Catherine Martin and Bill Marron, bring you this compelling and artful reworking of the legendary Puccini opera. Recorded live from the Sydney Opera House, this unabashedly romantic interpretation uses the post-war setting of 1950s Paris to capture the youthfulness and intensity of the story with raw sincerity. Cheryl Barker and David Hobson head an ensemble production as Mimi and Rodolfo, whose dramatic and ultimately tragic romance anchors an unforgettable musical journey. Conducted by Julian Smith.

Synopsis
This imaginative production of Puccini's beloved opera about the triumphs and tragedies of a group of young artists in Paris is set in the early 1950s, using the economic doldrums in post-war Europe as its subtext. It was staged by director Baz Luhrmann and designers Catherine Martin and Bill Marron, who later went on to make the film Strictly Ballroom. Taped in a live performance at the Sydney Opera House, this production features The Australian Opera and Ballet Orchestra under the direction of Julian Smith, and stars Cheryl Baker, David Hobson, and Roger Lemke. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

Customer Reviews

Simply Brilliant
In the hand of the very creative film director Baz Luhrmann, who gathered a cast with young opera singers, updated the story to the 1950s, but rightfully left Puccini's music intact, this Bohème challenged the stereotyped opera form, and yet, came off triumphantly. It is great theatre with drama conveyed by great acting and singing. Who cares whether or not the singers were able, if they ever cared, to make the finals of Metropolitan audition, what they have created is simply brilliant.
You have to watch this Boheme to believe how brilliant it is. It is not average opera production people have in mind...perhaps it is what opera ought to be.

This Boheme is Superb
All singing and acting is close to perfect. The directing is, to say the least, imaginative and well-conceived.
My only beef (which prevents the 5th star) is with the conductor: his tempos repeatedly fail to square with the score, and the orchestra seems woodwind-heavy under his baton.
Buy it? Yes, siree.
Definitive version? Probably not.

one of the best filmed versions of an opera.....
First of all, what drew me to watch this performance back in 1994 was director, Baz Luhrmann, who brought us the beautiful, delightfully quirky Strictly Ballroom. I was interested to see how he would direct one of the most beautiful and heartbreaking operas I know. Needless to say, I was completely enchanted!
The story of a group of Bohemians living together, and barely scraping by, and then the writer of the group, Rudolfo (David Hobson) meeting the beautiful and frail Mimi (Cheryl Barker) who brings sunshine and hope into his life is timeless.
Not only is the acting strong, but the singing is positively stirring. I know other customers have mentioned David Hobson's portrayal of Rudolfo, but I had to add my two cents as well. He is a magnificent and stirring singer and smouldering actor. I kept wishing I was Mimi instead of Cheryl Barker. From his expressive eyes, to his beautiful and graceful renditions of the arias, I was in love from the moment I saw him. Cheryl Barker is also beautiful and very believable in her portrayal of Mimi. Just lovely. The supporting cast was great, too. Schaunard, Musetta, and all of the others were portrayed with zest. Please check this out!!!!! You won't be disappointed.