‘La Boheme’ – By Giacomo Puccini with music and libretto by Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa. Directed by Yuval Sharon; Music Direction by BLO Music Director David Angus, conducting the BLO Orchestra and Chorus. Stage design by BLO Artistic Advisor John Conklin. Costume design by Jessica Jahn. Lighting design by John Torres. Presented by Boston Lyric Opera in a co-production with Detroit Opera and Spoleto Festival USA at the Emerson Colonial Theatre, 106 Boylston St. through Oct. 2.
by Mike Hoban
If you’re curious about opera, but have avoided going in the past for any number of reasons, Boston Lyric Opera’s production of La Boheme may be the perfect entrée into the genre. As someone who doesn’t know an aria from an obbligato, I’m not qualified to comment on the quality of the production in relation to previous iterations, but damn was this a great evening of entertainment. This was not my first excursion into opera, and with the exception of the standards Pagliacci and The Threepenny Opera and the compelling historical opera Schoenberg in Hollywood, I’ve found a lot of the form – particularly the modern ones – to be repetitive and dirge-like. And while I’ve enjoyed aspects of the aforementioned pieces, La Boheme stands alone as a thrilling entertainment.
Sung in Italian with English surtitles (displayed on either side of the stage), the opera is remarkably accessible, with an easy to follow story line, as long as you’re willing to give the synopsis provided in the program at least a cursive review, (we literally spent three minutes). For those who are familiar with the story, know that this production offers a radical twist, with the script being totally flipped, opening with the opera’s tragic ending and moving backward in time to when the Parisian artists first fall in love.
In the original story, it’s Christmas Eve and four friends decide to celebrate by going out for dinner. Rodolfo (Jesus Garcia) elects to stay behind to finish an article he is writing. A knock comes on the door and in walks the beautiful Mimi (Lauren Michelle). Immediately smitten, he manipulates her into staying, and the couple later joins the friends at a local restaurant. Once there, Rodolfo’s friend Marcello (Edward Parks) is in turmoil, as his ex Musetta (Grammy-nominated soprano Chelsea Basler), is in the company of an older, wealthy man, whom she quickly and unceremoniously dumps when her feelings for Marcello are rekindled. The two couples go through trials and tribulations, culminating in the death of Mimi from tuberculosis at the play’s end.
The cast, which also includes Benjamin Taylor and William Guanbo Su as friends Schaunard and Colline, is outstanding, both vocally and as actors. As Mimi, Lauren Michelle is a radiant performer, and Chelsea Basler has a nice comic turn as the Kardashian-esque Musetta. In fact, the production is surprisingly funny. The orchestra, under the direction of BLO Music Director David Angus is superb, and off-kilter stage by BLO Artistic Advisor John Conklin, is weirdly imaginative. Whether you’re a veteran opera goer or just opera-curious, this is the show to see. You won’t be disappointed. For tickets and information, go to: www.blo.org
