Program

Giacomo Puccini, La Bohème

I: "Questo Mar Rosso"

I: "Pensier profondo"

I: "Legna!"

I: "Si può?"

I: "Io resto"

I: "Chi è là?"

I: "Si sente meglio?"

I: "Che gelida manina" (Rodolfo)

I: "Sì, mi chiamano Mimi" (Mimi)

I: "Ehi! Rodolfo!"

I: "O soave fanciulla"

II: "Arranci, datteri!"

II: "Chi guardi?"

II: "Viva Parpignol"

II: "Ch'io beva del tossico!"

II: "Quando m'en vo' soletta"

II: "Chi l'ha richiesto?"

III: "Sa dirmi, scusi"

III: "Mimi! - Speravo di trovarti qui"

III: "Marcello. Finalmente!"

III: "Mimi è una civetta"

III: "Mimi è tanto malata!"

III: "Donde lieta uscì"

III: "Dunque è proprio finita!"

IV: "In un coupé?"

IV: "O Mimi, tu più non torni"

IV: "Che ora sia?"

IV: "Gavotta!"

IV: "C'è Mimi..."

IV: "Vecchia Zimarra, senti"

IV: "Sono andati"

IV: "Che avvien?"

IV: "Che ha detto il medico?"

Puccini's La Bohème

A movie adaptation by Luigi Comencini

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Cast

Francesca Comencini — Scenography

Barbara Hendricks — Mimi

Luca Canonici — Rodolfo, actor

José Carreras — Rodolfo, voice

Angela Maria Blasi — Musetta

Program notes

In 1988, Luigi Comencini adapted the beloved Puccini opera La Bohème for the silver screen, a masterful work which was to be one of his last films.

Composed in four tableaux, this opera is often described as one of Puccini’s greatest scores. The forward-looking work unites elements of musical romanticism with the verismo genre, demonstrating perfect orchestral mastery, harmonic innovation and a theatrical language all his own.

With over a century of unwavering success, La Bohème has become a classic. In his film adaptation, Luigi Comencini sets the story in a fully-reconstructed early twentieth century studio, and succeeds in blurring the lines between filmed opera and opera film.

The story:

Paris, 1910. Three friends: Rodolphe the poet, Marcel the painter and Colline the philosopher live on a pittance in an attic room. Mimi, a young neighbour, joins them. Rudolphe falls for her. Soon, the girl, who is sick, begins to complain about Rodolphe’s jealousy.

A closer look: featured composers

Giacomo Puccini

Further listening: featured works

La Bohème

Giacomo Puccini (Composer)