Our Own Jungfer Marianne Leitmetzerin demonstrates the enduring quality of art with two performances of La Bohème four decades apart.

Giacomo Puccini: La Bohème
Metropolitan Opera
Giuseppe Antonicelli, conductor
16 December 1948
In-house recording (amazing sound quality!)

Mimì – Bidu Sayão
Rodolfo – Jussi Björling
Musetta – Mimi Benzell
Marcello – John Brownlee
Schaunard – Hugh Thompson
Colline – Nicola Moscona
Benoît – Melchiorre Luise
Alcindoro – Melchiorre Luise
Parpignol – Anthony Marlowe
A sergeant – Lawrence Davidson

Giacomo Puccini: La Bohème
Highlights
Metropolitan Opera
Carlos Kleiber, conductor
25 January 1988
In-house recording

Mimì – Mirella Freni
Rodolfo – Luciano Pavarotti
Musetta – Barbara Daniels
Marcello – Jonathan Summers
Schaunard – Thomas Hampson
Colline – Gwynne Howell

This was the second of 19 performances Carlos Kleiber conducted at the Met through October 1990.

Requested by and lovingly dedicated to La Cieca.