World premiere at the Teatro Regio, Turin February 1, 1896 March 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10, 2002 Ordway Center for the Performing Arts Sung in Italian with English captions The Cast Rodolfo, a poet . . . . . . . . . . . . .Stephen Mark Brown* Jorge Antonio Pita** Mimì, a seamstress . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Nicolle Foland* Kelly Kaduce** Marcello, a painter . . . . . .Christopher Schaldenbrand* Michael Chioldi** Musetta, a belle of the Latin Quarter . . . . .Celena Shafer* Ana Rodriguez** Colline, a philosopher . . . . . . . . . . .Valerian Ruminski* Matt Boehler** Schaunard, a musician . . . . . . . . . . . .Carlos Archuleta* Ryan Kinsella** Benoit, a landlord . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Paul Griggsby Parpignol, a toy vendor . . . . . . . . . . . . . .James Valenti Alcindoro, Musetta’s wealthy admirer . . . .Paul Griggsby Customs sergeant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .James Valenti Customs o∑cer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Michael Cain Street vender . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .James Plante Street urchin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Christopher Penning Buona donna . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Janet Paone
The Creative Team Conductor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Antony Walker Stage Director . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .David Roth Set Designer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Robert Brill Costume Designer . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Kärin Kopischke Lighting Designer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Tom Mays Wig Master and Makeup . . . . . . . . . . . .Tom Watson Assistant Director . . . . . . . . . . .Doug Scholz-Carlson Assistant Conductor . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Je∂rey Domoto Chorusmaster . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Joseph Lawson Children’s Chorusmaster . . . . . . . . . . . .Janice Kimes Production Stage Manager . . . . . . . .Alexander Farino English Captions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Floyd Anderson
La bohème is sponsored by
Habitués of the Latin Quarter, merchants, shoppers, vendors, students, children, waiters, peasants, streetsweepers, milkmaids.
Setting: Paris during the early 1840s * **
performs March 2, 5, 7, 9 performs March 3, 6, 8, 10
This production originally was created by Eric Simonson. Scenery and costumes for this production are jointly owned by The Minnesota Opera and Utah Opera.
The Minnesota Opera season is proudly sponsored by U.S. Bancorp Piper Ja∂ray. OperaInsights is sponsored by SpencerStuart.
The appearances of Michael Chioldi, Kelly Kaduce and Christopher Schaldenbrand, winners; Matt Boehler, Ryan Kinsella, Ana Rodriguez, Valerian Ruminski, Celena Shafer and James Valenti, regional finalists; and Carlos Archuleta, district finalist of the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, are made possible through a Minnesota Opera Endowment Fund established for Artist Enhancement by Barbara White Bemis. Performances of La bohème are being taped for delayed broadcast on Minnesota Public Radio, KSJN 99.5 in the Twin Cities, in June 2002.
The 2001-2002 Camerata Circle Dinners are sponsored by Rider, Bennett, Egan & Arundel. Promotional support provided by Minnesota Monthly. Special thanks to Miller Meester advertising for making the 2001-2002 season preview recording possible.
9 • la bohème
Music by Giacomo Puccini Libretto by Giuseppe Giacosa and Luigi Illica after Henry Murger’s novel Scènes de la vie de bohème (1851)