Music to my ears
Luiza Borac Pianist
The Met in New York has been streaming a lot of operas from its archives recently. One of my favourites is the 1970 performance of Puccini’s La bohème , with singers including Renata Tebaldi, Ion Bozea and Cesare Siepi, and conducted by Fausto Cleva. I love old recordings, especially if they’re live performances, and this one has so much energy and passion, plus great voices and acting – Tebaldi is breath-taking as Mimì and so sensitive. It is very moving.
One disc that I usually put on when Spring arrives, but which I have, performed by tenor Peter Pears with Benjamin Britten at the piano. I think this is the greatest of all recordings – it is very delicate, poetic and emotional. Britten’s piano playing is so beautiful and accomplished, and his partnership with Pears is exceptional.
