The standard operas, their plots and their music; . Itis only a few chapters in their Bohemian life that have beenused, but rarely has music been more closely adapted tocharacters than that which Puccini has furnished. In the first act the four Bohemians are seen in their garretplunged in despair over their empty pockets. Rodolphe con-tributes his manuscripts to keep the fire alive, and Marcelholds off the landlord until Schaunard, who has had an un-expected streak of good fortune, arrives. Three of them atonce go off to a cafe to enjoy Christmas Eve while Rodolpheremains behind to write. All
The standard operas, their plots and their music; . Itis only a few chapters in their Bohemian life that have beenused, but rarely has music been more closely adapted tocharacters than that which Puccini has furnished. In the first act the four Bohemians are seen in their garretplunged in despair over their empty pockets. Rodolphe con-tributes his manuscripts to keep the fire alive, and Marcelholds off the landlord until Schaunard, who has had an un-expected streak of good fortune, arrives. Three of them atonce go off to a cafe to enjoy Christmas Eve while Rodolpheremains behind to write. All this is but a prelude to theentrance of Mimi, the embroiderer, upon the pretext of gettinga light. A love scene follows between her and Rodolphe andthe two go to join their friends in the Latin Quarter, the littlegrisette happy as a bird, and Rodolphe in high spirits as theystroll arm in arm through the crowds, though Mimi is awarethat a fatal malady has already touched her. The next scenereally develops the character of Musette, and passes in the. Saleza as Rodolfo Copyright, Aim^Ditpont f^n??- ^^I^L*, V* yg,-y\_jj;.jg^ VH|^^^HHW| WW L. *lfc» Group from La Boheme PUCCINI 231 street before the Cafe Momus where Musette appears, es-corted by a wealthy banker. She has little difficulty in get-ting rid of the banker and flying to the arms of Marcel, herold lover. The third act is full of quarrels and reconciliationsbetween the two pairs of lovers, mingled with a vein of comedy,and the fourth act is dominated by the pathetic death of littleMimi. There are few set pieces in La Boheme to be music is adapted to the characters and illustrates all thevarying shades of gayety, tenderness, and pathos with a richflow of melody, unique concerted effects, and most effectiveorchestration. It is Italian music throughout, but Italian musicwas never more deftly employed than in this remarkable pic-ture of human emotions. The striking numbers in the firstact are the colloquies betwe
Size: 1351px × 1848px
Photo credit: © The Reading Room / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookauthorupt, bookcentury1900, bookdecade1910, booksubjectoperas
