No surprises this week: back to normal with what is perhaps the world’s most favorite opera: Puccini’s La bohème.

Following the removal of more than 30 of my uploads from Mixcloud, I am now in the process of rebuilding the basic repertoire. I hope you will enjoy this week’s La bohéme. It was an historic performance for several reasons: Franz Welser-Möst’s debut as music director of Wiener Staatsoper, plus the company debuts of Stephen Costello, a frequent guest, and of Adam Plachetka (pictured) at age 26, who has become the company’s leading Don Giovanni and Figaro, and will graduate to the role of Il conte in the 2015/2016 season. He also made his Met debut as Masetto a few months ago and will be Figaro in the new production at Salzburg this summer.

Giacomo Puccini: La bohéme

Wiener Staatsoper
Franz Welser-Möst, conductor
06 September 2010

Mimì – Krassimira Stoyanova
Rodolfo – Stephen Costello (debut)
Marcello – Boaz Daniel
Musetta – Alexandra Reinprecht
Schaunard – Adam Plachetka (debut)
Colline – Sorin Coliban
Benoit – Alfred Šramek
Alcindoro – Alfred Šramek
Parpignol – Dritan Luca