"La Boheme" (opera): summary - love and poverty

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

The opera premiered in Turin in 1896, and since then it has not left the stage of the best theaters in the world, although its creator was overcome by hesitations and doubts. But thanks to La bohème, the whole world started talking about the composer. Its summary will be presented here.

Puccini, La bohème,first act

Paris, thirties of the 19th century, the eve of Christmas is the time when the action takes place in the opera. On the stage is a room under the roof (mansard), in which the poet Rudolf and the artist Marcel live. They are unrecognized geniuses, living in utter poverty, but extremely carefree. From the large window you can see the roofs of Paris and the chimneys on them with curling smoke. The room is sparsely furnished. It has only a table, a bed and chairs. There is no order - their books and papers are lying around at random. The room is as cold as it is outside. Marcel, working on the picture, now and then rubs his hands, as they are mercilessly cold, walks around the room, goes to the window, trying to keep warm in motion, sees smoke coming from other people's pipes and envy. He complains to Rudolf about the nightmarish cold. Rudolf donates his ingenious creation for kindling -tragedy. Without a moment's hesitation, Rudolf, also frozen, begins to kindle the fireplace, saying that the fiery passions of the heroes of the drama will blaze in it, and they will heat the room. This is how "La Boheme" begins - an opera, a summary of which we begin to present. At this time, their friend, the philosopher Collen, who is also completely numb on the street, arrives. Finally, the joyful musician Schaunard runs in and, like a magician, lays food on the table and puts bottles of wine.

He is trying to tell the story of how he made money from a rich Englishman. No one listens to Schaunard, as everyone greedily pounced on food. But here the general fun is interrupted, as the owner Benoit came and demands to pay the debt for the apartment. Friends only show him the money, drug him with wine, and then unceremoniously put him out the door. Three friends, without Rudolph, who has to finish the article, are poisoned in the Latin Quarter. In the silence of the empty room, Rudolf hears a timid knock on the door. His sweet young neighbor Mimi's candle went out, and she asks for help to light it. Rudolph falls in love almost at first sight with this lovely creature, who, moreover, has also lost the keys to his apartment in his room. While they are searching for the keys, Rudolf puts out his candle. The darkness in the room allows the young people to explain themselves. Young people instantly fell in love with each other and go to a cafe together.

Second act – Latin Quarter

And on the elegant street, fun and life are in full swing - Christmas is coming soon. Friends meet and five of them go to their favorite cafe.

They are joined by their familiar we althy Alcinor, who came with the flirtatious Musetta. A pretty but windy girl, in the past she was fond of the artist Marcel, and now she is not averse to resuming their romance. And so, La bohème continues, the opera, the summary of the second act of which is now presented. Musette is fed up with the old man she came with and comes up with a trick with a slipper that she doesn't like. Musetta sends his companion to the shoemaker and flirts with the artist with all his might. The whole company leaves the cafe, leaving an unpaid bill, for which the rich abandoned Alcinor had to pay.

Act three - on the outskirts of Paris

On the stage, the outskirts of the city and the tavern, the sign for which was painted by Marseille. Marcel lives here with Musetta, and Mimi came to tell them that they had quarreled with Rudolf again. Passions for the third act have already heated up. This is shown by La bohème, an opera, the summary of the third act of which is that Rudolf thinks that he should part with Mimi, she is very sick. He tells Marcel about this, but Mimi accidentally overheard their conversation.

She plaintively begs Rudolf not to leave her, while Musetta and Marcel argue bitterly. It is clear that this couple has no future, while Mimi and Rudolf will get better, as they both sincerely love. Puccini's La bohème is filled with tenderness and hidden tragedy.

Fourth act - in the attic

The same familiar room again as the firstaction. Marcel stands thoughtfully at the easel, he can’t draw, Rudolph also doesn’t write anything. Rudolf dreams that Mimi will return. But Collin and Schaunard come and set the table. Everyone is having fun and pretending that they are at the reception of the king. The action does not portend a tragic outcome. However, La bohème, the opera, a summary of which is presented here, will turn to the listener in a completely different direction. The young people are dancing, imitating a duel, but their fun is immediately interrupted when Musetta enters the room with Mimi completely weak from illness. The patient is laid on the bed, and she falls asleep, and at this time Musetta gives her earrings to sell them, buy medicines and call a doctor, Collen leaves to sell the raincoat, and Rudolf curtains the windows so that the light does not hit Mimi's face. Schaunard at this time leans towards her and sees that she is dead. From the faces of his friends, Rudolph understands that something irreparable has happened. He rushes across the room to Mimi and freezes on his knees by the bed.

This is the content of the opera La bohème. Its ending is logical, it is in the spirit of romanticism that permeated that era.

Opera "La Boheme": reviews

Listeners love the voices and work of the conductor and the orchestra. Puccini's music and the story touch the hearts. The melodies are vibrant. The scenery is laconic, the images of the characters are very bright.

History of Creation

Two authors wrote the libretto based on a French melodrama. Puccini was very demanding. He wanted an organic combination of music and text, since, apparently, the melodies already sounded in his head and were only asking forpaper. He got what he wanted. Giacomo Puccini wrote the music itself, as they say, "in one breath." It didn't even take him a year. The premiere was received very coldly by secular society and criticism. Only time has shown the fallacy of all judgments.