La bohème continues to be one of Giacomo Puccini’s hits with memorable music and characters. This opera is about a beautiful love affair between poet, Rodolfo and seamstress, Mimi during Christmas in Paris.
1. Talk only with audio-visual presentation
2. Talk with 1 aria performed by the speaker
3. Virtual Talk
SUMMARY
La bohème is an opera in four acts by Giacomo Puccini (Italian libretto by Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa) that premiered at the Teatro Regio in Turin, Italy, on Feb. 1, 1896. The story, a sweetly tragic romance between seamstress Mimí and poet Rodolfo in 1830s Paris, was based on the episodic novel Scenes of Bohemian Life (1847–49) by French author Henri Murger. READ MORE IN BRITTANICA
SETTING
As Sophia from the Golden Girls says “picture it” La bohème is set in Paris between 1837–38.
ACT 1: A garret on the Left Bank of the Seine on Christmas Eve, 1837
ACT 2: The Latin Quarter and Café Momus
ACT 3: A snowy morning at dawn, a month later, at the customs gate just outside Paris.
ACT 4: Several months later in the garret.
LEGENDARY CAST- WHO YOU WILL HEAR
Due to time constraint, this opera talk features a partial cast. If you loved the program, purchase from our affiliates or borrow the above DVD’s from your local library to see the full cast.
TANISHA’S PICK
This opera talk features Tanisha’s favorite casts from these recordings. Click the link to purchase them for your own collection.
OPERA-ALIKES
If you liked La Bohème then try these opera talks featuring this opera or dealing with ill-fated love.
