La Bohème / Turandot performed in different languages

[J***@web.de]

Hi,

I'm a lover of the Puccini operas La Bohème and Turandot, but
unfortunately, I know only very little Italian, so I can hardly follow
them.

Are there any versions performed in English, French or German? Can you
give me links to CDs or DVDs?

Thank you in advance.

Alexander

[La Donna Mobile]

I will post a link to

http://www.pmf.org.uk/pag_puccini.php

which is the Puccini page for Chandos Opera in English CD series, which
includes both of what you mention.

However, I would encourage you to get DVDs of the operas in Italian,
with English (or German) and Italian subtitles so you can follow the
sub-titles in your chosen language and listen and watch the opera in
Italian. It's worth trying to alternate between English - in my case -
or German - in yours, I assume - and Italian, because the
English/German gives the understanding of the words and the Italian
subtitles spell out what you are hearing. And you should find, the more
you do this, the more intelligible the Italian should become. At least
in my experience

Post by J***@web.de
Hi,
I'm a lover of the Puccini operas La Bohème and Turandot, but
unfortunately, I know only very little Italian, so I can hardly follow
them.
Are there any versions performed in English, French or German? Can you
give me links to CDs or DVDs?
Thank you in advance.
Alexander

[jbollyn]

Post by J***@web.de
Hi,
I'm a lover of the Puccini operas La Bohème and Turandot, but
unfortunately, I know only very little Italian, so I can hardly follow
them.
Are there any versions performed in English, French or German? Can you
give me links to CDs or DVDs?
Thank you in advance.
Alexander

Hi Alex,

I agree with LaD, one way to quickly get familiar with opera is to
watch DVDs. Once you are familiar with the story, and have watched a
particular opera on DVD (a couple times) with appropriate subtitles,
you no longer need the subtitles. To my mind, especially with Puccini,
he always tells you (instrumentally) when it is time to sit up and take
note. Recognizing each word, IMHO, actually detracts from the beauty of
the melody.

I also absolutely insist that Puccini needs to be in Italian. That's
how he wrote it. That is how he heard it in his ear. That is how it
flows. Puccini in any other language comes off as stilted.

With Puccini, it is always the melody. Such lovely, heart-felt
melodies. As long as you have a general idea of what the particular
singer is on about, that is close enough for me.

Regarding DVD links, just search this forum for 'DVD Turandot' or
whatever. All the major DVD releases have been discussed in RMO.

E.g., I have the Met's DVD Turandot / Levine / Marton / Domingo /
Mitchell, which I enjoy. There are certainly CD recordings which the
RMO experts will tell you are better both vocally and instrumentally.
But, at this point, you need training wheels, not a racing bike.

As always - I defer to the RMO experts,

- Jay

[J***@web.de]

Hi,

thank you very much for the ideas. I have checked our local library for
Puccini operas and I've found several DVDs that I am going to fetch or
order in the next few days. They are in Italian and have subtitles.

Thank you!

Alexander