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Puccini's La boheme in Building a Library with Flora Willson and Andrew McGregor

Flora Willson chooses her favourite version of Puccini's La boh猫me; and Kirsten Gibson explores an exciting selection of new releases.

Andrew McGregor with the best new recordings of classical music.

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Kirsten Gibson explores an exciting selection of new releases

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Building a Library
Flora Willson chooses her favourite version of Puccini's La boh猫me

Puccini's ever-popular opera is set in Paris around 1830 and depicts the life and loves of four Bohemian artists and students. The world premiere of La boh猫me was in Turin in 1896. It has become part of the standard Italian opera repertory and is one of the most frequently performed operas worldwide. It is full of great tunes, passionate love duets and light-hearted student frolics.

Recommended version:
Roberto Alagna (Rodolfo)
Leontina Vaduva (Mimi)
Thomas Hampson (Marcello)
Simon Keenlyside (Schaunard)
Samuel Ramey (Colline)
Ruth Ann Swenson (Musetta)
Philharmonia Orchestra
Antonio Pappano (conductor)
Warner Classics 9029573751

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Record of the Week: Andrew鈥檚 top pick.

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24 days left to listen

1 hour, 59 minutes

Music Played

  • Giacomo Puccini

    O mio babbino caro (Gianni Schicchi)

    Singer: Vannina Santoni. Orchestra: Orchestre national de Lille. Conductor: Jean-Marie Zeitouni.
    • ALPHA.
    • 9.
  • Henri Vieuxtemps

    Violin Sonata in D major Op.12 (2nd mvt)

    Performer: Tatiana Samouil. Performer: Johan Schmidt.
    • Vieuxtemps _ Vierne _ Faur茅 _ Sonates pour violon et piano.
    • Cypres.
    • 2.
  • Alessandro Scarlatti

    O Del Profondo (Il Giardino di Rose)

    Singer: V铆ctor Sordo. Singer: Luciana Mancini. Singer: N煤ria Rial. Singer: Alicia Amo. Singer: Jose Coca Loza. Ensemble: La Ritirata. Director: Josetxu Obreg贸n.
    • Deutsche Harmonia Mundi.
  • Antonio Vivaldi

    Violin Concerto in F minor RV.297, Op.8 No.4 'L'Inverno' (1st mvt)

    Ensemble: La Serenissima. Director: Adrian Chandler.
    • Signum.
  • Joseph Haydn

    Auf starkem Fittiche schwinget sich (The Creation)

    Singer: Lucy Crowe. Singer: Benjamin Bruns. Singer: Christian Gerhaher. Choir: Bavarian Radio Symphony Choir. Orchestra: Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Sir Simon Rattle.
    • BR Klassik.
  • Sergey Rachmaninov

    Isle of the Dead Op.12

    Music Arranger: Georg Kirkor. Performer: Boris Giltburg.
    • Naxos.
  • Maurice Ravel

    Lever du jour (Daphnis et Chlo茅)

    Choir: Tenebrae. Conductor: Sir Antonio Pappano. Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra.
    • Ravel: Daphnis et Chlo茅.
    • LSO Live.
    • 108.
  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Goldberg Variations BWV.988 (Vars. 1-5)

    Music Arranger: Nevermind. Ensemble: Nevermind.
    • Bach: Goldberg Variations.
    • Alpha.
    • 2.
  • Niccol貌 Paganini

    24 Caprices Op.1 (no.24 in A minor)

    Performer: Mar铆a Due帽as.
    • Deutsche Grammophon.

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