I said it once before, I’m never going to see 101 operas if I only see La Boheme. I love my sister though and I can’t pass up an opportunity to share this one with her. This will be her second opera with me.
It is a cloudy, breezy, and cold beginning of May. Winter is having a hard time letting go, but the Academy of music is always warm in temp and mood.
My friend Rob is also in the orchestra today playing clarinet and he looks happy and relaxed after spring break and doing what he loves.
People are audibly crying at the end, and Becky says “I really thought she was going to pull through.” Poor thing, it is only her second opera. After 40 operas I’m surprised if anyone is left alive at the end.
So what is La Boheme all about? It follows a group of artists, speaking to my heart, trying to survive a winter in Paris. It opens with Marcello burning his own play for warmth and they all sustain themselves on the small pleasures of life. Rudolfo falls in love with Mimi and we follow the two’s relationship with their friends and each other through affection and jealousy.
Notes on the production
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Composer…………………………. Giacomo Puccini
Rudolfo………………………………. Evan LeRoy Johnson
Mimi………………………………..….. Vanessa Vasquez
Marcello……………………………… Troy Cook
Musetta………………………………. Ashley Marie Robillard
Schaunard……………………..…… Will Liverman
Benoit/Alcindoro…………….….. Kevin Burdette
Colline………………………………..… Peixin Chen
Conductor……………………………. Corrado Rovaris
Philadelphia Opera
4/28/19