(01.17.2025)
I sat in a velvet seat, watching soft white snow fall to the stage floor. As I waited for La Bohème to begin, I was unsure of what feelings it would bring. Even after reading a background on the story and some facts about opera, it was one of those things that I needed to experience to fully grasp. I could tell that whatever it was, it was going to be good, based on the beautiful, high-end venue and large, eager crowd. I’d seen one opera prior to this experience, but it was just a dress rehearsal and I didn’t remember it very well. I was looking forward to seeing what a full-length, professional show was like. Plus, we were catching the very last night of this version!
La Bohème (meaning “The Bohemian” in French) follows the lives of several young artists struggling to make ends meet in 19th century Paris. It explores themes of poverty, community, love and loss. The main characters are a poet named Rodolfo (played by Mikhail Timoshenko) and a seamstress named Mimi (played by Olga Kulchynska), whose love story ends very tragically. The music was written between 1893 and 1895 by Giacomo Puccini, an Italian composer. It is sung in Italian, so English subtitles were provided above the stage during the performance.
Inside of the Royal Opera House.
My overall impressions of the show were great! The actors/singers were incredibly talented. They did a wonderful job expressing their characters’ personalities and portraying emotion in each scene. As a quieter, more “folky” singer, I was incredibly impressed with their vocal abilities. Many of the singers had very wide ranges and were able project their voices loudly throughout the entire theatre. Each voice sounded very full, even when singing softly. I could also hear the emotion in every note. Whether it was joy, pride, frustration, or sorrow, each feeling was clear simply through song. I was also impressed with the orchestra. Their playing was flawless, and accompanied the characters on stage perfectly. The story takes place in winter, so as a part of each set, there was faux snow falling delicately onto the stage. By the end, it was almost entirely covered in white. It was really beautiful! During some of the songs, especially towards the end, I even cried a little bit! Overall, It was very touching and moving.
Taking photos or recording during the performance was prohibited, so here are a couple of (professional) photos that I found online!
From the ending scene in Act I.
A scene in Act II (from a version at the ROH in 2020).
One song that I found particularly moving was performed by the main character, Mimi, at the end of the second act. The bittersweet lyrics, along with the pain in her voice, brought me to tears. Unfortunately, I was unable to find a good version of it anywhere online.
I did find it difficult at times to follow along with what was happening visually, since my eyes kept having to dart back and forth between the stage and the subtitles. At one point, I gave up on reading the English lyrics and just paid attention to the singers’ movements and expressions. Although I was a little more lost on what they were trying to say, I could see and feel the emotions that were pouring out.
- Gillian
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