La Bohème, French for "The Bohemian Life"^[1], is an opera in four acts by Giacomo Puccini to an Italian libretto by Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa, based on La Vie de Bohème by Henri Murger. The world première of La Bohème was performed in Turin on February 1, 1896 at the Teatro Regio (now the Teatro Regio Torino) and conducted by the young Arturo Toscanini. Though a Bohemian is a native of the Czech province of Bohemia, a secondary meaning for bohemian emerged in 19th century France. ... The foyer of Charles Garniers Opéra, Paris, opened 1875 Opera refers to a dramatic art form, originating in Europe, in which the emotional content is conveyed to the audience as much through music, both vocal and instrumental as it is through the lyrics. ... Giacomo Puccini Giacomo Antonio Domenico Michele Secondo Maria Puccini (December 22, 1858 – November 29, 1924) is regarded as one of the great operatic composers of the late 19th and early 20th century. ... A libretto is the complete body of words used in an extended musical work such as an opera, operetta, masque, sacred or secular oratorio and cantata, musical, and ballet. ... Born: CastellArquato, near Piacenza, Italy, 9 May 1857 Died: Colombarone, Italy, 16 Dec. ... Giuseppe Giacosa Giuseppe Giacosa (21 October 1847 – 1 September 1906) was an Italian poet, playwright and librettist. ... La Vie de Bohème is an often-adapted story first appearing in Henry Murgers magazine articles in the early 1800s. ... Henri Murger (March 27, 1822- Paris, January 28, 1861) was a French novelist and poet, born at Paris. ... Turin (Italian Torino) is a major industrial city in north-western Italy, capital of the Piedmont region, located mainly on the west bank of the Po River. ... February 1 is the 32nd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1896 was a leap year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... Teatro Regio Torino is a prominent opera house and opera company in Turin, Italy. ... Arturo Toscanini Arturo Toscanini (March 25, 1867 – January 16, 1957) was considered by many of his contemporaries — critics, fellow musicians, and the public alike — as the greatest conductor of his era. ...

La Bohème is Puccini's most famous and popular opera as well as one of the most performed operas in the repertoire.

• It is the basis for the Broadway musical Rent.
• Leoncavallo composed an opera of the same name and based on the same story, but with his own libretto. His La bohème, which was premiered in 1897, focuses more on the Musetta and Marcello relationship, rather than that of Mimì and Rodolfo as in Puccini's.

This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... Ruggiero Leoncavallo (March 8, 1857 - August 9, 1919) was an Italian opera composer. ... A lyric opera in four acts was written by Ruggiero Leoncavallo. ... 1897 was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ...

Characters

• Principal Roles
  • Mimì - soprano
  • Rodolfo, a poet - tenor
  • Marcello, a painter - baritone
  • Musetta, a well-known singer - soprano

• Minor Roles
  • Schaunard, a musician - baritone
  • Colline, a philosopher - bass
  • Benoit, a landlord - tenor
  • Alcindoro, a councillor of state - bass
  • Parpignol - tenor

• Other
  • Boy - treble
  • Customs Sergent - bass
  • Customs Officer - bass
  • Townspeople, soldiers, servants, students - chorus

Look up Soprano in Wiktionary, the free dictionary In music, a soprano is a singer with a voice ranging approximately from the A below middle C to high C two octaves above middle C (i. ... In music, a tenor is a male singer with a high voice (although not as high as a countertenor). ... This is an article on the voice type. ... A basso (or bass) is a male singer who sings in the lowest vocal range of the human voice. ... Boy soprano (or treble in British English; see below) is a term applied in music to a young male singer with an unchanged voice in the soprano range. ...

Noted Arias

• "Che gelida manina" (Rodolfo)
• "Mi chiamano Mimì" (Mimì)
• "O soave fanciulla" (Rodolfo & Mimì)
• "Vecchia zimarra"/Coat aria (Colline)
• "Quando m'en vo"/Musetta's Waltz (Musetta)

Synopsis

Place: Paris.

Time: 1830-1831.

Act I. In the four bohemians' garret. Marcello is painting while Rodolfo gazes out of the window. As they have no fire, they use the manuscript of Rodolfo's drama for fuel. Colline, the philosopher, enters shivering and disgruntled at not having been able to pawn some books. Schaunard, the musician of the group, arrives with food, wood, wine, and money, and he explains the source of his riches -- a job with an English gentleman. Nobody listens, but they fall ravenously upon the food, which is removed by Schaunard, leaving only the wine. While they drink, Benoit, the landlord, arrives to collect the rent. They flatter him and give him wine. In his drunkenness, he recites his amorous adventures, but when he also declares he is married, they thrust him from the room in comic moral indignation. The rent money is divided for a carousal in the Quartier Latin. The other Bohemians go out, but Rodolfo remains alone in order to work. Some one knocks, and Mimi, whose candle has been snuffed out, asks Rodolfo to light it. She departs, but returns in a few minutes, saying she has forgotten her key. Both candles are extinguished; they stumble in the dark, and Rodolfo finds the key, which he pockets. They relate the story of their varied experiences in the two arias. ("Che gelida manina -- Your tiny hand is frozen"; and "Si, mi chiamano Mimi -- Yes, they call me Mimi.") The waiting friends call Rodolfo impatiently. He wishes to remain at home with Mimi, but she decides to accompany him. Departing they sing of their love. (Duet, Rodolfo and Mimi: "Oh soave fanciulla -- Oh gentle maiden") The Eiffel Tower has become a symbol of Paris throughout the world. ... 1830 was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... 1831 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... The Quartier Latin (Latin Quarter) is an area in the 5th arrondissement of Paris, France, around the Sorbonne University. ...

Act II. Quartier Latin. A great crowd on the street, sellers praise their wares. (Chorus: "Arrangi, datteri, caldi i marroni -- Oranges, dates, hot chestnuts."). The friends repair to Café Momus. While they eat, Musetta, formerly beloved of Marcello, arrives with her rich admirer Alcindoro. She tries to attract Marcello's attention (Song, Musetta: "Quando m'en vo -- When I go along"), and succeeds after many efforts. She feigns to be suffering from a tight shoe, and to get rid of him, sends Alcindoro to the shoemaker. During the ensemble, Musetta and Marcello fall into each other's arms. The friends wish to pay the bill, but to their consternation find Schaunard's riches gone. Musetta has the entire bill charged to Alcindoro. The police appear, and they rush in all directions. Marcello and Colline carry Musetta out on their arms amid the applause of the spectators. When all have gone, Alcindoro arrives with the shoe seeking Musetta. The waiter hands him the bill, and horror-stricken at the amount he sinks upon a chair.

Act III. At the toll gate. Clothing peddlers come to the city. Mimi, coughing violently, wishes to speak to Marcello, who resides in a little tavern near the barrier where he paints signs for the innkeeper. She tells him of her hard life with Rodolfo, who has abandoned her that night. (Mimi: "O, buon Marcello aiuto! -- Oh, good Marcello, help!") Marcello tells her that Rodolfo is sleeping at the inn. He has just awakened and is seeking Marcello. Mimi conceals herself. Rodolfo first claims he left Mimi because of her coquettishness, but finally lets on that he fears she is consumed with a deadly illness and should be comforted by a wealthier suitor. Marcello, out of charity for Mimi, endeavours to silence him, but she has already heard all. She is discovered by her coughing. Marcello joins Musetta, Rodolfo and Mimi are about to separate (Mimi: "Donde lieta usci -- From here she happily left"), but are finally reconciled. Musetta approaches with Marcello, who is jealous. They depart after a fierce quarrel. (Quartet: Mimi, Rodolfo, Musetta, Marcello: "Che facevi -- What were you doing?")

Act IV. Back in the garret. Marcello and Rodolfo are seemingly at work, though they are primarily bemoaning the loss of their respective beloveds.(Duet: "O Mimì, tu più non torni" -- O Mimi, will you return?) Schaunard and Colline arrive with the dinner. They parody a plentiful banquet, dance and sing. (Quartet: "Eccoci-- Here we are!") Musetta and the suffering Mimi appear; all assist the dying girl. Musetta and Marcello depart to sell Musetta's earrings to get money for medicine. Colline and Schaunard leave to pawn Colline's coat (Colline: "Vecchia zimarra, senti -- Old coat, listen.") Mimi and Rodolfo, left alone, recall their past happiness. (Duet, Mimi and Rodolfo: "Sono andati? -- Are we alone?") The others return, and while Musetta prays aloud, Mimi dies. Rodolfo is horrified and starts sobbing. (Prayer, Musetta: "Madonna benedetta -- Blessed Mother")

Notes

1. ^  This is one of the few operas of Puccini that is not named after a person. "La Bohème" does not refer to Mimi or any other female character in the opera, but rather to the improvised living conditions (ie. bohemian lifestyle) in which the characters live. If one of the female characters had been intended by the title, it would have been "La Bohèmienne" (which translates as "The Bohemian Girl", but can also mean "the girl from Bohemia", which would have caused confusion since the opera has nothing to do with Bohemia).

Bohemia This article is about the historical region in central Europe; for other uses, see Bohemia (disambiguation). ...

References and external links

• Opera plots taken from The Opera Goer's Complete Guide by Leo Melitz, 1921 version.
• Recordings of Puccini's La Boheme