La bohème Puccini
Archived: 2016/2017Overview
Meet Mimì, Rodolfo and their artist friends, in Annabel Arden's vivid portrait of bohemian life in Paris.
Four friends (all impecunious artists) live in a Paris garret: Rodolfo, Marcello, Schaunard and Colline.
On Christmas Eve, when the others have gone to the Café Momus, Rodolfo receives an unexpected visit from a neighbour, Mimì, and they fall in love. Meanwhile, Marcello reunites with Musetta, his on-again-off-again lover. Rodolfo becomes jealous and possessive of Mimì, who is ill and unhappy. They reluctantly agree to separate.
Months later, Mimì returns to the garret, in a desperate state. The friends look after her as best they can, but it is too late.
When Annabel Arden’s sensitive and insightful production was first performed in 2012, it was welcomed with open arms by both audiences and critics. It’s a vivid portrait of bohemian life in Paris, enhanced with atmospheric projections.
This production makes us think we are meeting Mimì, Rodolfo and friends for the first time, even if we’ve seen this utterly romantic opera before.
Good to know
Sung in Italian with surtitles in English (and Welsh in Cardiff and Llandudno)