Giacomo Puccini 's
LA BOHEME
Henry Murger's autobiographical novel ' La vie de Boheme ', which was serialised
in a French periodical, was the inspiration for Puccini's opera. At
least one other character from 'La vie de Boheme' also published his memoirs
~ that being Alexander Schanne, who became the character 'Schaunard'.
'La Vie de Boheme' is a comical series of related incidents. Almost every
chapter contains an episode or reference that Puccini used in his opera,
but strangely , the opera's central situation ~ Rodolfo's affair with Mimi
and her death ~ is based on "Francine's Muff", a chapter that is not about
Murger's main characters, but is a separate little story about a seamstress
named Francine and a sculptor by the name of Jaques.
Puccini also chose to change some of the characters personalities for his
opera. For instance, in the book Mimi is cold and calculating and Musetta
is the gay, warmhearted coquette.
Less than 30 years after it's Metropolitan Opera premiere, La Boheme rana
close second to Aida as the most often performed opera at that house, and
certainly one of the most loved opera's in the world.
Short Plot Summary :
Act 1 : Takes place in a worn down garret
in Paris on Christmas eve, about 1830. Marcello paints at his easel . Rodolfo
and Marcello complain about the cold, until Rodolfo decides to burn his
unpublished drama. Colline and Schaunard enter bringing with them food, wine
and cigars etc... Remembering what the day is, the friends decide to
eat out! Benoit, their landlord enters and by plying him with wine, they
get away without having to pay him. Three of the friends leave for the 'cafe
maximus' and leave Rodolfo behind, as he wishes to complete his unfinished
article. Mimi knocks at the door and asks for her candle to be re-lit.
Momentarily weak, she faints dropping her key , which Rodolfo sneaks into
his pocket. Feeling Mimi's hand he remarks at how cold it feels! The two
tell each other about themselves and then singing of their new found love,
go to meet the others at the cafe.
Act 2 : Takes place at the 'cafe Momus', in a crowded square
in the Latin Quarter. Rodolfo buys a bonnet for Mimi and the friend all sit
down outside the cafe. Parpignol the toy seller enters the square followed
buy many children. As Rodolfo introduces Mimi to his friends, Marcello sees
his estranged mistress Musetta with her dandy, elderly, Alcindoro. Mussetta
tries to get Marcello's attention, but he ignores her. She pretends her foot
is hurt by her shoes and send Alcindoro off to but her new ones. As Alcindoro
leaves, Marcello and Musetta rush into each others arms. Musetta then tells
the waiter that Alcindoro will also pay for the bill of her friends!! The
friends leave the square behind a parade of
soldiers.
Act 3 : Takes place the following February, before dawn on a
bitter cold morning, at an inn just outside one of the gates to Paris.
Mimi arrives through the gate and she asks a woman to fetch Marcello from
the inn. When he comes out Mimi tells Marcello that Rodolfo is being very
jealous. Marcello explains that Rodolfo is asleep in the inn, and suggests
that maybe a separation would be a good idea. Rodolfo comes out of the inn
, and Marcello begs Mimi to go home and not cause a scene. Mimi goes out
of sight and hides. Rodolfo begins to tell Marcello that Mimi is a terrible
flirt and that he wants to separate from her, but then he brakes down and
explains that he is worried as Mimi is ill and living with him in poverty
is only making things worse. Mimi over hears and realises just how ill she
is! Her cough gives her away, and rodolfo rushes to her. A loud noise can
be heard from the inn and Marcello goes inside to investigate. In the ensuing
quartet, Marcello and Musetta shout insults at each other , while Rodolfo
and Mimi, recalling memories and the thoughts of spring, decide to stay together
until the season of flowers.
Act 4 : Takes place a few months later, in the same garret
as Act 1. Marcello is painting and Rodolfo is trying to write. Rodolfo says
he has seen Musetta, and Marcello has the same news of Mimi ~ they both pretend
to be pleased. They then sing a duet about their lost loves. When Colline
and Schaunard enter, some fun begins. The friends are fooling around, when
Musetta comes in and cries that Mimi is too weak to climb the stairs. Rodolfo
and Marcello fetch Mimi and lay her on the bed. Rodolfo is overjoyed to see
Mimi, but his friends realise that Mimi is dying. Mimi's only request is
a muff to warm her cold hands. The two are left alone and they remenice.
Exhausted by her coughing, Mimi falls asleep. When Marcello and Schaunard
return they go to Mimi's bedside and realise that she has died. Rodolfo realises
what has happened, gives a wild cry, and throws himself across Mimi's bed,
sobbing.
In 1998,'La Boheme' was produced by "Dal Teatro Communale di Cagliari" , show-caseing the following performers :
Andrea Bocelli ~ Rodolfo
Daniela Dessi ~ Mimi
Renato Girolami ~ Marcello
Erwin Schrott ~ Colline
Patrizia Ciofi ~ Musetta
Davide Damiani ~ Schaunard
Pictures from this production of 'La Boheme'