La Bohème

"The libretto to which Puccini wrote his appealing and colorful score was the work of Illica and Giocosa, who later provided him also with the text for 'Madama Butterfly.' The original was a novel by Henri Murger called, 'Scenes de la vie de Boheme.;

It is the story of life in the students' and artists' section of Paris in the 1830's, a life precarious and hard, yet not without its hard-won, if often unconventional, joys. If in funds, its denizens lived merrily, well knwing that there would follow long periods of deprivation and lean living.

The opera opens with a view of the attic occupied by Rudolph, a poet, and Marcel, a painter, a poorly furnished apartment with a fireless fireplac and a window showing an endless expanse of snow-covered roofs. For a little warmth, Rudolph sacrifices the first of his five-act tragedy. Prsently enter Colline, a philosipher, and Schaunard, a musician, who has managed the purchase of some food and firewood.

It is Christmas Eve, and all but Rudolph leave for brighter scenes outside. Then a knock at the door, and there stands Mimi, who asks for a light for her candle. There follows a tender exchange, Rudolph having discovered that 'her tiny hand is frozen.' They tell each other their stores, with growing warmth of feeling. and the act ends with their departure for the festivities in the Cafe Momus.

All is bustle, noise, and festivity in the cafe, and our friends prepare for a feas in great good spirits, with the exception of Marcel, who observs his heart-inerest, Musetta, entering on the arm of an elderly dandy, Alcindoro. Musetta, outrageously coquettish, finally orders Alcindoro to go to a neighboring boot shop to find her a pair of shoes less painful than those she wears. While he is gone the party disperses, and the aging lover is astounded upon his return to be confronted with the bill for their entire party. Misetta, shoeless, is carried out by Marcel.

Before the third act things have not been going too well with the two pair of lovrs. Rudolph and Mimi are always quarreling, and Musetta is extravagant and wayward. It is early morning at one of the gates of the city, a cheerless, cold morning, all too symbolical of the sad state of the affairs of the lovers. Mimi, rackd with coughing, and eidently in percarious health, finds Marcel, and tells him that she and Rudolph must separate. Rudolph enters, and while Marcel and Musetta engage in a noisy quarrel inside the tavern, he realizes that despite all he still loves Mimi.

By the beginning of the fourth act Marcel has not seen musetta for months, and Mimi has left Rudolph once more. The poet and the painter are seen together in their garret, endeavoring to turn out some work, bu vainly. They are little comforted by the fact that the two girls have been seen finely attired and riding splendidly in carraiges.

Colline and Schaunard enter, and much ceremony and banter is made over a bountiful repast of four rolls and a herring. Suddenly the door opens, Musetta enters, and with her, tragedy. She has with her, Mimi, uterly exhausted. The men hurriedly place her on the bed, and she protests that she wants to die near Rudolph. Musetta removes her earrings, and Collin sings his pathetic farewell to his old coat; these they determine to sell to procure medicines and a doctor for the dying Mimi.

Rudolph and Mimi recall the rapture of their first love. The others return from their errands, but it is not long before Mimi has expired, and the curtain falls slowly upon the broken-hearted sobs of the Bohemians."

Description by E. Clyde Whitlock, Music Editor of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram (1949).