About La Bohème

La Bohème is a timeless story of young love, set in the heart of 19th century Paris. The opera follows the lives of a group of Bohemian artists, including the poet Rodolfo and his seamstress lover Mimi, as they navigate poverty, friendship, and romance.

 

The tale begins in the bustling streets of Paris, where Rodolfo and his friends Marcello, Colline, and Schaunard are living life to the fullest. Mimi, a shy and delicate woman, enters their world after Rodolfo accidentally drops his key and she helps him search for it. The two are immediately drawn to one another, and a passionate love affair blossoms.

 

Their relationship is, however, complicated by Rodolfo's fear of commitment, and Mimi's ill health. Despite their intense love for one another, their relationship becomes more and more fraught, until finally they are forced to part ways.

 

The second act finds the circle of friends at a café, where they run into their ex-lovers. Marcello is reunited with his former flame Musetta, while Rodolfo and Mimi's troubled relationship comes to the fore.

 

The finale is both moving and heartbreaking, as Mimi succumbs to her illness and Rodolfo is overcome by grief. La Bohème is a poignant and insightful portrayal of the complexities of love, loss, and friendship, set against the backdrop of bohemian Paris. It is a classic love story that has resonated across generations, a favorite of opera lovers and novices alike.

 

This will be a Semi-Staged production. What does that mean?

• The Orchestra is on stage, fully visible to the audience, and becomes the landscape of the piece.  Audiences are able to hear the orchestra with extra clarity, as Bass Performance Hall acoustics are designed to have the Orchestra on stage.

• The performers will be in full costume so you can experience the full depth of the characters.

• There will not be a full set for this production, but we will use platforms, props and effect to fully immerse you in the theatrical experience.

• Singers will be inhabiting their roles completely and there might be quite physical staging! There’s certainly no less drama than in a fully-staged opera production.

 

 

Poster Artwork ©Michael Voll 2023