CD-Charts Position 1
Average Rating:

Puccini - La Boheme / Pavarotti, Scotto, Niska, Wixell, Plishka, Levine, Metropolitan Opera

starring: Renata Scotto, Luciano Pavarott, Maralin Niska, Ingvar Wixell, James Levine

Release Date October 11, 2005
This production was filmed live at the met in 1977 and it's an affecting one.
I had seen Renata Scotto perform as Musetta in another production with Carreras and that performance was quite memorable so i really looked forward to seeing her as Mimi.
Scotto performs from the soul and from the heart and it's a very moving experience to hear and see her perform.
Her singing is so poetic with such sensitive artful display of dynamics to convey the words she is singing.
This is a performance not about ego but about art.
There's a moment in the final scene when she's in bed and everybody has left and she slowly rises with such fragile strain out of the bed to stand and it's simply heartbreaking.
Bravo Ms. Scotto. ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 2
Average Rating:

Verdi - Rigoletto / Chailly, Pavarotti, Wixell, Gruberova, Vienna Philharmonic

starring: Ingvar Wixell, Edita Gruberova, Luciano Pavarotti, Victoria Vergara, Ferruccio Furlanetto
directed by: Jean-Pierre Ponnelle

Release Date June 19, 2001
Pavarotti is in his element. Wixell is OK. I do not see any special qualities in his performance. Gruberova looks and sounds mediocre. Enjoy Pavarotti! R.K.

CD-Charts Position 3
Average Rating:

Mozart - Le Nozze di Figaro / Bohm, Berry, Grist, Mathis, Wixell, Watson, Kelemen, Bence, Salzburg Festpiele

starring: Walter Berry, Reri Grist, Wiener Philharmoniker, Ingvar Wixell, Claire Watson
directed by: Günther Rennert

Release Date October 21, 2003
This is one of the few DVDs of Reri Grist singing Mozart. She is one of the greatest opertic singers you will ever hear. The rest of the cast is marvellous too! Don't waste your time wondering whether or not to buy this recording, just do it.

Recorded in 1966, at least two of the performers have since left this world, the Countess, sung by Claire Watson and Figaro sung by Walter Berry. We are so lucky to be able to enjoy them, in this production.