Discover Puccini's Opera La bohème
A doomed love affair set in the garrets of Paris where impoverished artists and poets struggle to survive.
Introduction | Synopsis | Characters
Introduction
La bohème, Puccini’s most intimate and romantic opera, combines a gloriously lush score with a simple and flawlessly structured love story. Based on a novel by Henry Murger, it is set in an attic flat where four friends struggle to make ends meet as artists and poets.
Penniless poet Rodolfo loves a poor seamstress Mimì, but she is dying of consumption. It is winter and he cannot afford to look after her. To protect her, he pretends he does not love her and they go their separate ways. On the brink of death, Mimì comes to see Rodolfo one last time, for one of the most moving death scenes in opera.
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Synopsis
Set in Paris in 1830
ACT I
An attic apartment in Paris, Christmas Eve.
Rodolfo and Marcello have no fuel for the fire, and jokingly resort to burning one of Rodolfo’s manuscripts to give a brief flash of warmth.
Schaunard enters bringing fuel, cigars and wine; he has had a stroke of luck playing the violin for a wealthy Englishman and invites everyone out for dinner.
The landlord comes to collect the rent but is outwitted by the impoverished flatmates. They ply him with wine and push him out of the door, pretending to take offence at something he has said. They all set off for a night out, but Rodolfo stays behind to work.
There is a knock at the door. It is Mimì, seeking a light for her candle. Rodolfo lights it for her, but just as she is about to go back downstairs, her flame is extinguished again, soon followed by Rodolfo’s own candle.
In the dark, Rodolfo takes Mimì’s hand. She tells him about her solitary life as a seamstress and he talks about life as a poet and declares his love for her.
Rodolfo’s friends call him to join them. He and Mimì wander out of the apartment, singing of love.
ACT II
A bar/restaurant, later that evening.
Rodolfo introduces Mimì to his friends, and buys her a new bonnet. This saddens Marcello, who is reminded of his unhappy love affair with the fickle Musetta, who has left him for a wealthy admirer, Alcindoro.
Musetta enters with Alcindoro, and Marcello ignores her. She launches into a song to get his attention.
The friends depart. Alcindoro returns to find the friends have left their bill on his plate. He sinks dumbfounded into a chair.
ACT III
Outside a bar on a cold snowy night. Some weeks later.
Mimì enters, pale and coughing. She tells Marcello that Rodolfo is insanely jealous of her and keeps trying to break off their affair.
Rodolfo comes out and Mimì hides. Rodolfo confesses to Marcello that he loves Mimì but is pretending that he does not because she is so ill and he is so poor. His room is too cold for her and he fears it will kill her.
Mimì overhears and breaks down weeping. Rodolfo hurries to her. They decide they will not break up until the spring.
Musetta comes on and argues with Marcello. Their angry duet contrasts with Rodolfo and Mimì’s sweet love song.
ACT IV
The attic apartment, some months later
Marcello and Rodolfo discuss their failed love affairs and nostalgically recall times past.
The other two flatmates arrive with a meagre lunch and the four friends clown about, dancing and singing.
The fun is broken by the arrival of a desperately ill Mimì brought by Musetta who has found her in the street. Sensing that she is dying, she wants to see Rodolfo one last time.
The friends urgently try to help, setting out to buy medicine and find a doctor.
Rodolfo and Mimi are left alone. Reconciled, they joyfully remember their first meeting in the cold apartment.
The others return and as they busy about, Mimì drifts into unconsciousness and dies. Schaunard discovers that Mimì is dead, and does not know how to break the news to Rodolfo.
When Rodolfo finally realizes that Mimì is dead he throws himself on her body in despair, calling her name again and again.
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Characters
Rodolfo: An impoverished poet living in the Latin Quarter of Paris with his friends.
Tenor
Mimì: A poor seamstress, who lives in the same apartment building as Rodolfo. They fall in love. She is dying of consumption (tuberculosis).
Soprano
Marcello: A painter who shares the Paris apartment with Rodolfo. He is in love with Musetta.
Baritone
Colline: A philosopher who shares the Paris apartment with Rodolfo. He pawns his coat to buy medicine for Mimì when she is dying.
Bass
Schaunard: A musician who shares the Paris apartment with Rodolfo. He earns money for the friends to buy a meal out, by playing his violin.
Baritone
Musetta: A flirtatious coquette who loves Marcello but annoys him by flirting with rich old men.
Soprano
Alcindoro: Musetta’s rich older admirer.
Bass
Benoit: The landlord of Rodolfo’s building.
Bass
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