August 2024 Meeting
La Bohème
Sept 13, 2024, 6pm - Lodge Theatre
The most popular of Puccini's operas is also considered his greatest masterpiece. It premiered in Turin on February 1st, 1896. The libretto is based on a serialized novel by Henry Murger, "Scènes de la vie de boh&3grave;me", published in 1851 of a story set in Paris in 1830. The premiere was conducted by a then 28 year old Arturo Toscanini.
Click on poster to open version to be shown
Many people today will know the story from Jonathan Larson's "Rent", which opened a century later, off-Broadway, on February 13th, 1996 in New York. While others will find echoes in Baz Luhrman's 2001 musical film, Moulin Rouge.
But don't let the bright colors distract you, the best telling of the story of Mimi and Rodolfo is Puccini's version.
Interestingly, La Bohème was not an initial success. Some audience members found the subject immoral, others objected to Puccini's musical innovations. A popular music critic wrote after the premiere that it "would leave no great mark on the history of opera." Of course, no prediction could be more wrong. It is one of the most frequently performed works in the canon, and is proudly part of the careers of the most successful tenors in the entire history of opera.
In fact, this opera is so well known, that no short synopsis is offered here. Rather, find below background content to expand your appreciation of this masterpiece.
The original Murger story is an autobiography of sorts and Puccini's librettists Giocola and Illica altered the main characters for the opera. For example, whereas, Murger's girlfriend was more like the gold-digger Manon, the romanticized Mimi is a purer spirit. For example, when she and Rodolfo part in Act III one of the objects she asked to be returned is her prayer book.
Please find below several versions of "Che gellida manina" by superstar tenors of past and present.
Enrico Caruso
Remastered Feb 11, 1906 recording
Mario Lanza
May 5, 1949 RCA recording
Luciano Pavarotti
March 3, 1965 Paris TV Broadcast
Plàcido Domingo
1973 Studio recording with Sir Georg Solti
Jose Carreras
Nov 16, 1973 San Francisco Opera
Jonas Kaufman
2021 Bayerische Staatsoper
Rolando Villazon
Apr 25, 2009 Film version
Juan Diego Florez
June 20, 2022 Teatro Colon
Libretto
