Opera Australia presents La bohème at the Sydney Opera House

Who am I? A poet. What do I do? I write. How do I live? I just live." Rodolfo, Act 1

She is an impoverished seamstress. He is a poet. They live in downtown Paris with their artist friends, existing on little more than laughter and camaraderie, good fortune and love. It is a beautiful life, but not an easy one. It is Puccini's unforgettable La bohème.

Puccini's depiction of the bohemian lovers was hailed for its emotional and dramatic realism when it was first performed one hundred years ago. In this production, created by director Simon Phillips, Opera Australia is proud to present a Bohème for now - just as romantic, just as true, but with the immediacy and edge of a contemporary setting, and some of Opera Australia's finest young artists. Relive the romance as Rodolfo sings 'Che gelida manina', revel in Musetta's showstopping waltz and let Puccini's unerring instinct for melody win your heart.

The irresistible Hye Seoung Kwon opens in the role of Mimì and exciting young tenor Aldo Di Toro is her Rodolfo. Antoinette Halloran and Warren Mok take their places later in the season. The band of bohemians includes José Carbó, Warwick Fyfe and Jud Arthur. Amelia Farrugia and Taryn Fiebig share the show-stopping role of Musetta and Maestro Giovanni Reggioli conducts.

Schedule Details Departs: Please refer to the itinerary section

 

Departure Point: The Sydney Opera House is located at Bennelong Point, on Sydney Harbour. The Opera Theatre can be reached from the Concourse (44 steps). Departure Time: Please refer to the itinerary section Itinerary:

Departure Dates and Times:

• Wednesday 30 January, 2008 at 7:30pm
• Monday 4 February, 2008 at 7:30pm
• Wednesday 6 February, 2008 at 7:30pm
• Thursday 14 February, 2008 at 7:30pm
• Saturday 16 February, 2008 at 7:30pm
• Thursday 21 February, 2008 at 7:30pm
• Saturday 23 February, 2008 at 1:00pm
• Saturday 1 March, 2008 at 1:00pm
• Wednesday 5 March, 2008 at 7:30pm
• Friday 14 March, 2008 at 7:30pm
• Thursday 20 March, 2008 at 7:30pm
• Tuesday 14 October, 2008 at 7:30pm
• Saturday 18 October, 2008 at 1:00pm
• Monday 20 October, 2008 at 7:30pm
• Wednesday 22 October, 2008 at 7:30pm
• Monday 27 October, 2008 at 7:30pm
• Wednesday 29 October, 2008 at 7:30pm

Marcello and Rodolfo, in the Parisian garret which they share with Colline and Schaunard, are doing their best to keep warm on a freezing Christmas Eve. As they burn the manuscript of the play Rodolfo has been writing, Colline enters, then Schaunard, with attendant food, wine and fuel, bought with money he earned from giving music lessons. But Schaunard insists that they dine out.

As they prepare to leave, the landlord, Benoit, comes in asking for his rent; they offer him wine, then tease him about a woman they have seen him with, and finally hustle him out in mock disgust at such behaviour in a married man. When the others go off to the Café Momus, Rodolfo says that he will follow shortly - he has an article to finish.

Suddenly there is a knock on the door. Mimì, a frail young girl who lives in a room above, is on the threshold, half fainting; her candle has blown out and she wants it re-lit. Rodolfo helps her to a chair and gives her wine. She soon feels better and starts to go; but she loses her key and her candle again goes out. His conveniently goes out too and they are soon both in the dark, groping for the key which Rodolfo finds and hides. Their hands meet; Rodolfo takes hers in his.

His friends call from the street below; he asks them to keep a place at the Café. Rodolfo and Mimì find themselves falling in love. He agrees to take her with him to the café, and their voices are heard as they go together down the staircase.

In the square outside the Café Momus, in the Latin Quarter, there is a large crowd. Rodolfo introduces Mimì to his friends. Meanwhile, there is commotion in the street as the toy seller Parpignol comes along, followed by children and their mothers.

The vivacious Musetta appears. Formerly Marcello's lover, she now comes with an elderly admirer, Alcindoro, whom she treats like a tame dog. She spots the "Bohemians", insists on taking the table next to them and tries harder and harder to attract Marcello's attention. He becomes increasingly inflamed.

Eventually Musetta sends Alcindoro off on an errand, pretending one of her shoes is hurting, and she and Marcello embrace passionately. The waiter brings the bill, which the friends cannot pay. Now soldiers with a band approach. Children pursued by their mothers come out into the street. In the general excitement the friends rush off, leaving Alcindoro to pay both bills on his return.

Two months later - it is early morning at one of the gates of Paris. Day is just dawning when Mimì arrives at the inn, where she asks for Marcello. He tells her that he and Musetta have been living there for a month, he as a jobbing painter and she teaching singing. On learning that Rodolfo is there also, she refuses to enter and bursts into tears. They still love one another, she tells Marcello, but Rodolfo is fiercely jealous. He advises them to part, and she agrees that they must.

Rodolfo emerges. As he talks to Marcello, Mimì conceals herself. At first he says that he wants to leave Mimì as she is such a coquette, but eventually he gives the true reason - her failing health, which is further aggravated by their life together in his chilly room. Mimì can control her tears no longer, and Rodolfo hears her. They embrace, then bid each other a sad farewell.

Several weeks later, Marcello and Rodolfo have both left their girls and are back sharing the garret. They are pretending to work, but memories of former happiness overwhelm them. After Schaunard and Colline enter carrying meagre provisions, Musetta suddenly appears, highly agitated. She has found Mimì, very ill. They bring her in and prepare a bed for her; soon she feels better, but it is clear that she is dying. Musetta takes off her earrings, to be sold to provide food and medical attention, and she promises a muff, to warm Mimì's icy hands. Colline decides to pawn his coat.

The lovers, left alone, sing of their happy memories of their first meeting. On the return of Schaunard, Musetta and Marcello, Mimì delightedly takes the muff, sinking back a moment later into unconsciousness. As Colline returns with money for the doctor, Schaunard murmurs to Marcello that Mimì is dead. Rodolfo sobs over her lifeless body.

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