It is ironic, though not untypical of the “Bob and Ange” soap opera, that this live version of Mascagni’s sweet, lyrical Alsatian love idyll should be released just as opera’s most feted love couple announce their separation and divorce. The Cherry duet from Act II has long been one of their joint party pieces, but they have waited a long time, perhaps too long, to commit the entire opera to disc. It is unfortunate that they sound superannuated beside Pavarotti and Freni on the classic EMI set — made in 1968, when those singers were both in pristine, juicily youthful voice. Alagna and Gheorghiu have never been ideally matched, artistically and vocally: his timbre sounding more French than hers, she more Italianate. They are at their most ardent and inside the music in the famous duet.

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