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L Y R I C O P E R A O F C H I C A G O
October 6 - 20, 2018
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21
La bohème
Synopsis
The opera is set in Paris.
ACT ONE
An attic in the Latin Quarter, Christmas Eve
Rodolfo and Marcello complain about the bitter cold. They need to
light their stove: Marcello suggests using a chair, but Rodolfo offers the
manuscript of the play he is writing. Colline enters and the remaining
acts of the play are burned.
Schaunard enters with wood, food, and wine. He explains that
an Englishman engaged him to play his violin to hasten the death
of a parrot. The friends decide to go to eat in the Latin Quarter but
are interrupted by Benoît, their landlord, who has come for the rent.
They ply him with wine and Benoît boasts of his sexual prowess. The
Bohemians pretend outrage at Benoît’s immorality and push him out.
Marcello, Colline, and Schaunard head to Café Momus, leaving
Rodolfo behind to finish an article. There is a knock at the door. It is a
young woman who asks for a light for her candle. She feels faint from
climbing the stairs. As she is leaving, her candle flickers out again and
she realizes that she has lost her key. Rodolfo’s candle also goes out
and they search for her key in the moonlight. Rodolfo takes the young
woman’s icy hand and tells her of his life as a poet. She tells him her
name, Mimì, and describes her simple life as a flower embroiderer.
Schaunard, Colline, and Marcello shout up to Rodolfo to hurry. Mimì
asks if she may join them at the Café Momus. Rodolfo suggests they
might stay in, but eventually they leave together singing of their love.
ACT TWO
The Latin Quarter
Rodolfo and Mimì wander through the Christmas Eve crowds. Rodolfo
introduces Mimì to his friends. When Mimì shows her new friends the
bonnet Rodolfo has brought her, Marcello expresses cynicism about
romance.
As they propose a toast, Marcello’s ex-girlfriend Musetta appears,
accompanied by Alcindoro, her rich admirer. Agitated at being ignored
by Marcello, Musetta launches into a song – to provoke and seduce him.
She complains of a painful foot and dispatches Alcindoro to buy new
shoes. The bill for supper arrives, but the Bohemians have already spent
their money. Musetta places their bill on Alcindoro’s plate. A marching
band arrives, and the Bohemians leave with Musetta. Alcindoro returns
and is presented with the bill.
ACT THREE
Outside the Barrière d’Enfer
Workers arrive from out of town to enter the city. From inside a
tavern comes the voice of Musetta. Mimì appears, ill and wracked with
coughing. She asks for Marcello. He tells her that he and Musetta are
now living at the inn and that Rodolfo turned up in the night. Mimì
explains that Rodolfo’s jealousy is destroying their relationship and he
wants to leave her. Marcello advises Mimì to go, but she hides nearby.
Rodolfo comes out of the tavern and says he will break up with
Mimì: her flirting has incensed him. Eventually, however, he reveals the
real reason for their separation: she is so ill that his miserable poverty
offers her nothing but the prospect of death. They hear Mimì crying
and coughing. As Rodolfo rushes to her, Musetta’s laughter is heard
and Marcello rushes into the tavern to see what she is doing. Mimì
says farewell to Rodolfo, telling him that she will send a porter for her
possessions. She proposes that he keep her bonnet as a memento of their
love. Marcello and Musetta quarrel and separate. Rodolfo and Mimì
decide to postpone their separation until the spring.
ACT FOUR
The attic, autumn
Marcello and Rodolfo taunt each other about their ex-lovers: Rodolfo
has seen Musetta in a fine carriage and Marcello has seen Mimì dressed
like a queen. They pretend not to miss their lovers, but then admit that
they do. Schaunard and Colline arrive with bread and a herring and the
four eat and amuse each other.
Suddenly Musetta enters. She has brought Mimì, who is desperately
ill. Musetta explains that she met her in the street and that Mimì
begged to be taken to Rodolfo. Mimì rallies and greets the friends.
Musetta instructs Marcello to sell her earrings to pay for medicine and a
doctor. Colline leaves to pawn his overcoat. Alone with Rodolfo, Mimì
expresses her boundless love for him. He shows her the bonnet and they
reminisce about their first meeting. The others return with a muff and
medicine, promising that a doctor will come. Mimì dies unnoticed while
they are preparing her medicine. Colline arrives with money from the
pawnbroker, but it is too late.
This synopsis was originally printed in the program of the Royal Opera House
Covent Garden.
La bohème
– Approximate Timings
ACT ONE 35 minutes
ACT TWO 20 minutes
Intermission
25 minutes
ACT THREE 25 minutes
ACT FOUR 30 minutes
Total 2 hours, 15 minutes