LA BOHÈME (1896)

Music

Sung in Italian with English projected text.

Thirteen performances: July 7, 9m, 14, 18m, 24m, 29; August 1m, 3, 5m, 8m, 11, 14m, 19, 2023

Running time: 2 hours and 18 minutes, including one 25-minute intermission

Rodolfo Joshua Blue

Mimì Teresa Perrotta

Marcello Darren Lekeith Drone

Musetta Emilie Kealani*

Colline Nan Wang*

Schaunard Justin Burgess*

Benoit/Alcindoro Stefano de Peppo

Parpignol Zachary Rioux*

A Customs Official Grant Jackson*

Sergeant Alex Smith*

Child Soloist Arianne Ajakh, Cordelia Dziuban

Prune Man Henry Benson*

The Glimmerglass Festival Orchestra, Chorus, and Youth Chorus

Conductor Nader Abbassi

Director E. Loren Meeker

Associate Director Rebecca Herman

Choreographer Eric Sean Fogel

Set Designer Kevin Depinet

Costume Designer Erik Teague

Lighting Designer Robert Wierzel

Hair & Makeup Tom Watson

Projected Titles Kelley Rourke

Chorus Director Katherine Kozak

Youth Chorus Directors Anna Betka and Rob Ainsley

Assistant Director Amanda Testini*

Assistant Conductor Robert Kahn*

Principal Coach J. Bradley Baker

Dance Captain Truman Tinius*

Assistant Coach Yueqi Zhang*

Stage Manager Dustin Z West

*Member of the Young Artists Program

Detailed ensemble casting is available on glimmerglass.org.

Rodolfo, a writer, welcomes two friends—Colline, a philosopher, and Schaunard, a musician—to the garret he shares with Marcello, a painter. When the comrades head to the Latin Quarter Christmas Eve festivities, Rodolfo stays behind, saying he will join them later. A young woman, Mimì, appears at his door; after a series of accidents and minor deceptions, they find themselves hand in hand.

At the Latin Quarter, Rodolfo introduces Mimì to his friends. Musetta, Marcello’s former lover, enters on the arm of the wealthy Alcindoro as Marcello seethes. Although Musetta plays the coquette, she is as drawn to Marcello as he is to her, and the two are eventually reunited.

Marcello and Musetta take up residence in a tavern on the outskirts of town. Mimì appears to tell Marcello that Rodolfo has left her; Marcello replies that Rodolfo is inside and urges her to leave. Rodolfo comes out and confides to Marcello that he fears his meager living conditions are ruining Mimì’s health. Mimì, who has been eavesdropping on their conversation, has a coughing fit; Rodolfo realizes she has heard everything. Marcello goes back to the tavern to join Musetta. Left alone, Mimì and Rodolfo agree to stay together until the spring.

Back in the garret, some time later, Rodolfo tells Marcello that Musetta has taken a wealthy lover; Marcello fires back that Mimì, too, has improved her position. The men attempt to continue their work, but each is lost in thoughts of love. Schaunard and Colline enter. They pretend to enjoy a lavish feast, then clear the room for dancing. Musetta interrupts, having brought Mimì, who is deathly ill, to the garret. The friends go out to sell some of their paltry possessions to buy medicine, leaving Mimì and Rodolfo alone to remember the happiness they once shared. Mimì falls asleep shortly after everyone returns, assuring Rodolfo that she feels better. He is the last to realize that she has died.