La Bohème – Bord Gais Energy Theatre – Review
by Gearoid O’Byrne

20 – 26 November 2023

 Puccini’s “La bohème” Monday 20th to Sunday 26th November 2023 – Irish National Opera, Bord Gais Theatre, Dublin.

“La bohème”, Giacomo Puccini’s fourth opera, is one of the most beloved operas composed by him. Its premiere in Turin on the 1st of February 1896 at the Teatro Regio was conducted by Arturo Toscanini. This four-act opera has endured the test of time and continues to captivate audiences with its poignant narrative and exquisite music. Indeed, when Puccini died in Brussels on 29 November 1924, news of his death reached Rome during a performance of La bohème. The opera was immediately stopped, and the orchestra played Chopin’s Funeral March for the stunned audience.

The opera portrays the lives of a group of young artists and their struggles with love, poverty, and illness. At the heart of the story is the passionate romance between the poet Rodolfo and the seamstress Mimi. Their love story is tender, yet tragically marked by the harsh realities of life. The characters in “La bohème” are well-drawn and relatable. The camaraderie among the bohemian friends adds a layer of warmth and humour to the opera, providing moments of lightness amid the overall melancholy. The character of Mimi is particularly sympathetic, and her tragic fate resonates with audiences.

La bohème is based on the episodic novel “Scènes de la Vie de Bohème” by French writer Henri Murger. Although La bohème draws inspiration from Murger’s work, La bohème’s libretto is original in composition and execution. Unlike Murger’s stories, Puccini’s opera follows a single, unified plot line about the relationship and happenings of two star-crossed bohemian lovers, Rodolfo and Mimi. Though originally set in Paris’s Latin Quarter during the 1830s, this version transposes the action to the impoverished but vibrant interwar years of 1930s Paris and brings out the grittiness of the bohemian lifestyle.

The wonderful Irish soprano Celine Byrne starred as Mimi and carried the role effortlessly. Her “Si, mi chiamano Mimi” beautifully showcased Puccini’s ability to express the depth of human emotion through music. She was ably matched by Lithuanian tenor Merūnas Vitulskis as Rodolfo whose “Che gelida manina” was rich in emotion. Irish soprano Sarah Brady excelled as Musetta bringing great presence and humour, especially in her Marlene Dietrich tails in the second act street scene. Ukranian baritone Iurii Samoilov was superb as Marcello as was Hungarian baritone Gyula Nagy as Schaunard and Polish bass Lukas Jakobski as Colline. The humorous interactions between the four male friends brought great notes of comic relief to the darker moments of the story. Mention should also be made of Eddie Wade as Benoît/Alcindoro, Fearghal Curtis as Parpignol, David Scott as Doganiere and Kevin Neville as Sergente.

The Irish National Opera Chorus and the Independent Theatre Workshop Children’s Chorus brought wonderful ensemble joie de vivre to the café scene in the second act. The Irish National Opera Orchestra under the baton of Spanish conductor Sergio Alapont was lush and evocative, enhancing the emotional impact of the story. The superb set design and costumes played a crucial role in transporting the audience to 1930s Paris.

“La bohème” is a timeless classic, and this version by the INO speaks to its enduring popularity and its ability to speak to universal themes—love, friendship, loss, and the transient nature of life.

LA BOHÈME – Produced by Irish National Opera

Cast
Celine Byrne Mimì
Sarah Brady Musetta
Merūnas Vitulskis Rodolfo
Iurii Samoilov Marcello
Gyula Nagy Schaunard
Lukas Jakobski Colline
Eddie Wade Benoît, Alcindoro
Fearghal Curtis Parpignol
David Scott Doganiere
Kevin Neville Sergente
Irish National Opera Orchestra
Irish National Opera Chorus
Independent Theatre Workshop Children’s Chorus

Creative Team
Sergio Alapont Conductor
Orpha Phelan Director
Nicky Shaw Set & Costume Designer
Matthew Haskins Lighting Designer
Muirne Bloomer Choreographer
Elaine Kelly Chorus Director
Chris Kelly Assistant Director
Richard McGrath Répétiteur
Annalisa Monticelli Language Coach