La bohème 2019

Synopsis
Artists

Better to have loved and lost…

Young, poor and consumed with love, six Bohemians lead “charming and terrible lives” in 19th-century Paris. They live in Latin Quarter garrets furnished mostly with hope for the future. Strolling medieval streets crowded with toy vendors, fruit sellers, street urchins and military bands, they fraternize with famous writers and artists at the Café Momus and find their places in a rapidly changing society. They taste the freedom and perils of a freelance economy, and brave epidemics of passion, jealousy, sorrow and loss.

Conductor Jader Bignamini and director Mary Birnbaum bring Puccini’s boisterous, poignant, heartbreaking score to life onstage.

See it with someone you love.

Music By

Giacomo Puccini

Libretto By

Luigi Illica and ‎Giuseppe Giacosa

Sung In

Italian

Act I

Rodolfo, a poet, and Marcello, a painter, huddle around a dwindling fire in their attic apartment. Rodolfo decides to burn his latest play in order to keep warm. Their two roommates enter: Colline, a philosopher, and Schaunard, a musician, who brings a bounty of wood, food and wine for the group. The four friends prepare to celebrate Christmas Eve at a nearby café, but just as they are about to leave, their landlord, Benoit, enters and demands their delinquent rent. He is quickly overwhelmed with wine and good cheer and leaves empty-handed, after which the artists head to the Café Momus. Rodolfo stays behind to work. Mimì, a neighbor, arrives and asks him to relight her candle but faints once she enters the apartment. After she revives, Rodolfo invents excuses to keep her there, finally declaring his love for her. Mimì responds that she loves him too and they leave together for the Café Momus.

Act II

At the Café Momus, Rodolfo introduces Mimì to his friends, who welcome her with bohemian bonhomie. Meanwhile, Marcello’s old flame Musetta has arrived at the café in the company of her new admirer Alcindoro, a rich old civil servant. Musetta, however, is tired of Alcindoro and sends him off on an errand so that she can reunite with Marcello. The friends head off together into the night, leaving Alcindoro to pay their bill.

Act III

Outside an inn near the gates of Paris, Mimì searches for Marcello, who is now living there with Musetta. Rodolfo has abandoned her in a fit of jealousy and Mimì seeks Marcello’s advice. Seeing that Mimì is very ill, Marcello tells her that he thinks it is best that she and Rodolfo part. As Rodolfo enters, Mimì conceals herself. Rodolfo confesses to Marcello that he left Mimì because he is afraid that she is dying. If she leaves him, she could find a wealthy suitor to make her final days more comfortable. Realizing that he has been overheard, Rodolfo rushes to Mimì. Simultaneously, Marcello rages at Musetta about her flirtatious behavior. As Mimì and Rodolfo reconcile, Musetta and Marcello separate.

Act IV

Several months later, back in their attic apartment, Marcello and Rodolfo try to forget Musetta and Mimì, who have both left them for wealthier men. Schaunard and Colline enter with a modest supper and the four men do their best to cheer each other up. Suddenly, Musetta arrives with Mimì, whom she had found ill in the street. The friends go out to fetch help, leaving Mimì and Rodolfo alone together. Shortly after the friends return, Mimì appears to be resting comfortably but the gravity of her illness soon becomes evident and Rodolfo is forced to face grim reality.

Synopsis

Act I

Act II

Act III

Act IV

Artists

Vanessa Vasquez

Vanessa Vasquez

Gabriella Reyes

Gabriella Reyes

Mario Chang

Mario Chang

Zachary Nelson

Zachary Nelson

Will Liverman

Will Liverman

Soloman Howard

Soloman Howard

Dale Travis

Dale Travis

Duke Kim

Duke Kim

Elliott Paige

Elliott Paige

Jarrett Logan Porter

Jarrett Logan Porter

Seungyun Kim

Seungyun Kim

Jader Bignamini

Jader Bignamini

Mary Birnbaum

Mary Birnbaum

Grace Laubacher

Grace Laubacher

Camelia Koo

Camelia Koo

Anshuman Bhatia

Anshuman Bhatia

Susanne Sheston

Susanne Sheston

La bohème 2019