Hong Kong City Hall, Central | Opera: Puccini's La bohème

Description

Set in 19th-century Paris

Act I: In the Garret in Paris

In their Parisian garret on Christmas Eve, Marcello paints while the poet Rodolfo contemplates the view. Both complain of the cold — and Rodolfo offers the manuscript of his play as fuel for the stove. The philosopher Colline enters, surprised to see a fire. Schaunard, the musician, comes with food, fuel and wine, having earned some money by playing for an eccentric Englishman’s parrot. Save the food for later, he says; they will be eating out in Paris’s Latin Quarter.

Benoît, the landlord, interrupts with a demand for the rent. Marcello shows him their new money and they pay him with wine — and get Benoît to boast of an extramarital affair. Feigning indignation, the four kick him — and the rental bill — out the door.

Rodolfo stays behind to finish an article. A knock at the door proves to be a beautiful, but evidently ill, young woman, whose light has gone out. Rodolfo, immediately smitten, tries to persuade her to stay, but she insists on leaving once he has relit her candle. She has, however, dropped her key, and a draft blows her candle back out. In the dark, they look for the key — which Rodolfo finds and pockets. He takes her “cold little hand” and offers to warm it up, while telling her he is a poet and her eyes have stolen his dreams. “I am called Mimì,” she replies in return. She lives alone and embroiders flowers for a living.

They declare their love in moonlight and step out to join the others.

Act II: Café Momus in the Latin Quarter

Out on the crowd-filled streets of the Latin Quarter, Rodolfo buys Mimì a pink bonnet before joining the others at the Café Momus. Marcello is sour at the talk of love especially when in walks Musetta, his old flame, with the rich, but elderly, Alcindoro in tow. She teases Marcello — and annoys her elderly suitor — by describing how she is the object of everyone’s desire. It is clear to all that the two are still in love.

Musetta gets rid of the old man by pretending her shoes pinch and sending him off to buy new ones. She and Marcello are re-united, and Musetta leaves both bills for Alcindoro to pay as they depart.

Act III: A Toll Gate to Paris

One snowy dawn sometime later, outside an inn, Mimì, distraught and coughing, comes looking for Marcello. Rodolfo, is always jealous, she says, and has run off. Marcello says love must be happy, he says, like his and Musetta’s. If not, they should split up.

Rodolfo is, as turns out, there. Before he comes out, Marcello sends Mimì home; she hides instead. Rodolfo tells Marcello that Mimì flirts with everyone and he wants to leave her. Marcello expresses skepticism. Rodolfo admits that in fact Mimì is fatally ill; although she laughs and sings, he is racked with guilt because it is living with him in poverty that is killing her.

Mimì stumbles out while Marcello rushes away upon hearing Musetta flirting in the inn. Mimì says she is leaving, with no hard feelings; Rodolfo can have the pink bonnet as a keepsake. But winter is no time to be alone, they decide; they will part in spring. Meanwhile Marcello emerges with Musetta spitting that she doesn’t like lovers who behave like husbands. They split up in a bout of name calling while Mimì and Rodolfo resolve to stay together until the flowers bloom.

Act IV: In the Garret

Back in the garret, Marcello and Rodolfo reminisce dejectedly over their lost loves. Schaunard and Colline come with food, this time just bread and salt fish. They amuse themselves by clowning about, but Musetta breaks in saying Mimì is below, deathly ill. Musetta whispers to Marcello that Mimì wanted to die with Rodolfo. Rodolfo brings Mimì in to lie down.

Musetta and Marcello leave to sell her earrings for a muff for Mimì’s hands, medicine and a doctor. Colline bids goodbye to his overcoat which he will turn pawn. Schaunard’s act of charity is to leave the two lovers alone. Mimì has much to tell Rodolfo, but also just one thing “as infinite as the sea”: that she loves him with her entire being. They recall how they met; Rodolfo pulls out the pink bonnet which he has kept and Mimì says she knows he found the key. “I was helping destiny”, Rodolfo replies.

She coughs, which brings Schaunard and Colline back. Musetta and Marcello return as well. Musetta prays for Mimì’s recovery, but it is too late. “Be brave”, says Marcello to Rodolfo as he calls out her name for the last time.

Runtime: 2 hours and 30 minutes, including a 15-min interval.

Language: Italian | Surtitle: Chinese & English