La Bohème
Composed and written by renowned Italian composer Puccini, La Bohème follows the fateful love story of Rodolfo and Mimi. From their first meeting in Paris, the opera portrays their love, loss and jealousy, alongside the intertwined lives of Marcello, with whom Rodolfo shares a Parisian studio, and his recurring flame Musetta. Together these Bohemians navigate the hardships of poverty through their shared love of art and their friendship with one another.
Ellen Kent’s latest production comprises part of a series of operas along with Madama Butterfly and La Traviata and opts for a traditional version of the classic tale. La Bohème comprises of four acts, each with its own distinct vibe and whilst operas are traditionally structured this way, at times the frequent breaks mean that the flow of the story and the audience’s emotional connection to it become interrupted.
Act 1 explores the relationship between four Bohemian friends with an emphasis on their camaraderie despite their impoverished circumstances. Ending with the meeting of Rodolfo and Mimi, the musical composition captures their early romance, despite the inevitable ill-fated end, due to Mimi’s infliction with tuberculosis. A contrast in Act 2 provides audience members with an exuberant and colourful feast for the eyes, a bustling stage with a large cast of performers. Notably, the costume design reflects this tonal shift, and the production achieves a real sense of excitement here, with viewers treated to a range of onstage tricks and the bonus appearance of a performing dog to play Musetta’s pet.
Act 3 returns to a more grey and conflicted tone, evidenced by the stage design and whimsical use of snow effects. Although providing a stunning visual, the noise of the snow machine does somewhat distract from the vocal performances early in the act. Mimi and Rodolfo explore their plagued relationship and, as a result of Mimi’s illness, decide to part. This is musically contrasted by Marcello and Musetta disagreeing over Musetta’s flirtatious behaviours as the four main roles perform together. The final act concludes with a powerful and tragic ending. A theme throughout the whole opera, moments of comedy provide a relief from the emotional and sombre tale. Although stark in contrast, the comedic moments are well delivered.
Throughout the opera, set designs support the change in tone of each act. A beautiful painted backdrop portrays a stunning Parisian landscape ensuring the show is a spectacle for both the eyes and ears.
Strong vocals throughout, especially those of Davit Sumbadze and Elena Dee, easily portray the classic operatic style. However, some poor sound, especially early on in the production, lead to a lack of clarity within some scenes. Under the lead of conductor Vasyl Vasylenko, the Orchestra of the Ukrainian Opera and Ballet Theatre, Kyiv performed Puccini’s music to a high quality.
This show was reviewed on the 21st February 2025 at the Opera House, Manchester. Further Ellen Kent productions, Madama Butterfly and La Traviata play at the venue on the 22nd and 23rd February 2025 respectively. Tickets available here: Opera House Manchester Box Office | Buy Tickets Online | ATG Tickets
Review written by Rachael & Gabrielle Groves
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Photo credit :Supplied by Production
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