La bohème is an Italian opera in four acts, with music and libretto by Ruggero Leoncavallo, based on Scènes de la vie de bohème (1851) by Henri Murger. The opera received a successful premiere at the Teatro la Fenice, Venice, on 6 May 1897.
Leoncavallo wrote his opera La bohème contemporaneously with Giacomo Puccini's own treatment of the same story. Leoncavallo later revised the work, titling it Mimì Pinson, but despite initial respect, it did not survive. Puccini's version has become a standard in the operatic repertoire, whereas Leoncavallo's opera is rarely performed. Leoncavallo's version did not receive its UK premiere until May 1970.
Allan Atlas has analysed in detail the different treatments of the death of the Mimì character in both Leoncavallo's and Puccini's versions of La bohème, contrasting the historical success of Puccini's opera and the relative failure of Leoncavallo's.
Roles +RoleVoice typePremiere cast, 6 May 1897Conductor: Schaunard, a musicianbaritoneHolden, p. 489Jacques [Gianni] IsnardonMarcello, a paintertenorGiovanni BeduschiRodolfo, a poet baritoneRodolfo Angelini-FornariMimìsopranoRosina StorchioMusettamezzo-sopranoElisa "Lison" FrandinGaudenziotenorEnrico GiordaniLoafertenorColline, a philosopher bassLucio AristiEufemiamezzo-sopranoClelia CappelliBarbemuchebassGiuseppe FrigiottiDurandtenorEnrico GiordaniStudents, working girls, townsfolk, shopkeepers, street-vendors,soldiers, waiters, women and children – chorus
Synopsis
Place: Paris. Time: one year from Christmas, 1837 to Christmas, 1838.
Act 1 Café Momus
The innkeeper Gaudenzio tries in vain to eject the Bohemians, who never pay and are continually up to no good. During the conversation another piece of horseplay on their part is discovered. They sit down to dine, while Musette gaily sings. (Canzonette: "Mimì is the name of my sweet blonde.") Naturally when they are asked to pay the bill, they have no money. A comic fight ensues between them and the innkeeper, who has called his servants to assist him. It is ended by Barbemuche, who offers to pay the bill.
Act 2 The courtyard of Musette's house
Musette's lover has left her, refusing any longer to pay her debts. In consequence, her furniture has been confiscated and is carried down to the courtyard. When this has been done, she returns home. She expects guests but cannot entertain them in any other way than by receiving them in the courtyard. Here the Bohemians, who arrive in large numbers, celebrate joyously. The neighbours, awakened from sleep, protest in vain and the scene ends in a general fight between the two factions.
Act 3 Marcello's garret room
Musette, who can no longer bear the sufferings of hunger and want, determines to leave Marcello. During the festivities in the courtyard, Mimì has allowed herself to be carried off by Count Paul, but she returns, motivated by love for Rodolfo. Musette begs her to go with her, but she refuses. Angrily, Marcello and Rodolfo force both women to leave the apartment.
Act 4 Rodolfo's garret room
Mimì returns to Rodolfo, at the brink of death. Musette, who accidentally meets her there, sacrifices her jewels to procure fuel to warm the room for Mimì. As the Christmas chimes are heard, Mimì dies.
Noted arias "Musette!...Testa adorata" (Marcello) "Io non ho che una povera stanzetta" (Marcello) "Musette svaria sulla bocca viva" (Mimì) "Da quel suon soavemente" (Musette) "Scuoti, o vento fra i sibili" (Rodolfo) "Mimi Pinson la biondinetta" (Musette)
Recordings
YearCast:Schaunard, Marcello, Rodolfo, Mimì, MusetteConductor, chorus and orchestraLabel1958Walter Monachesi, Doro Antonioli, Ettore Bastianini, Mafalda Masini, Rosetta NoliFrancesco Molinari-Pradelli, Teatro di San Carlo Chorus and Orchestra (Naples)CD: Myto Cat: 1691964Orazio Gualtiero, Antonio Annaloro, Guido Mazzini, Mazza Medici, Nedda CaseiAlberto Zedda, Orchestra Filarmonica de Sanremo, Coro del Teatro Comunale di BolognaLP: Cetra Cat: 12691975Jacques Trigeau, Alain Vanzo, Robert Currier-Christesen, Edith Tremblay, Anita TerzianNino Bonavolantà, Orchestre Lyrique de l'O.R.T.F., Chorale Lyrique de l'O.R.T.F.CD: DPV Cat: 30.90101981Alan Titus, Franco Bonisolli, Bernd Weikl, Lucia Popp, Alexandrina MilchevaHeinz Wallberg, Bavarian Radio Symphony Chorus, Munich Symphony OrchestraCD: Orfeo Cat: 238221990Bruno Praticò, Mario Malagnini, Jonathan Summers, Lucia Mazzaria, Martha Senn Jan Latham-Koenig, Teatro La Fenice Chorus and Orchestra (Venice)CD: Nuova Era Cat: 2233042002Urban Malmberg, Mikail Davidoff, Vittorio Vitelli, Juanita Lascarro, Katia LyttingMarco Guidarini, Klangbogen Wien DVD Premiere Opera Cat: 6601
References Notes
Sources Holden, Amanda, ed., The New Penguin Opera Guide, New York: Penguin Putnam, Inc, 2001 , The Opera Goer's Complete Guide, 1921 version as source for the synopsis "La bohème by Ruggiero Leoncavallo recordings, operadis-opera-discography.org.uk
External links