Sesto Bruscantini is a Marcello to remember and appreciate--he was 50 when this was taped, but he continued singing for another 20 years. Nicolai Ghiuselev's Colline, while not a star-turn, is very good. The lesser-known Gianni Maffeo is a good Schaunard, full of life and vocal bite. Rita Talarico's Musetta is not world-class by any means, but she's nicely in character. Schippers gets the sadness as well as the hijinks in this work just right, and his Rome forces play as if they knew they were among stars. The recording, with the voices a bit close-miked, is very fine stereo. The set offers full libretto and translation, good notes, and low price. If you have no Bohème recording, this one would be just right; it also makes a fine second one if the same two leads aren't in the first.