Another Christmas, another La Boheme at the English National Opera. One of Puccini’s most famous operas, you could say it needs no introduction, especially Jonathan Miller’s acclaimed production.
It’s not the most tricky of plots, so let’s whistle through it…
This is the story of Rodolfo, Mimi, Marcello and Musetta and a few other young students, and their precarious existence in Paris in the early nineteenth century.
It is Christmas Eve and Rodolfo (the writer), and Marcello (the painter), are awaiting the return of their flatmates: Colline (the philosopher), and Schaunard (the musician). They are complaining bitterly (but also playfully) about the trials of the bohemian life. They have no money, and not enough talent it would seem, as they decide that Rodolfo’s latest novel is best served burnt in lieu of firewood.
The other flatmates return and Schaunard has some hard cash. He tells the story of how he earned it – playing to a parrot.
At this moment the landlord, Benoit, arrives demanding the rent. Instead of paying up while they are in the black, they get him drunk and blackmail him, throwing him out of the house.
They all go off to the local café to drink away some of Schaunard’s money. Rodolfo stays behind as he needs to finish up a piece of writing he is actually getting paid for. There is a knock on the door. It’s Rodolfo’s attractive next door neighbour whom he has never seen before. Her candle has gone out and she is asking for a light. He obliges; off she goes while he stares puppy eyed after her.
She is soon back, having accidentally dropped her key in his flat. Both their candles go out. They scrabble in the dark to find the key. Rodolfo finds it but pretends he hasn’t so that he can by time to chat up Mimi, who reveals she is a seamstress who loves making silk flowers.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UgaN3vIqJUY
The (now inebriated) friends turn up under the window and call for Rodolfo to get a move on. He tries to convince Mimi to spend the evening in the flat with him instead, but she meekly asks why she cannot just come out with them. He agrees and away they go.
Act II opens amid the chaos of Paris at Christmas: screaming children, jabbering mothers, street sellers etc. Rodolfo buys Mimi a pink bonnet.
Inside the café everyone is enjoying themselves when in struts Musetta with an old rich man in tow. She is Marcello’s ex-girlfriend and is on a mission to make him jealous. She does so by singing to the whole bar about the power she has over men.
It works. She sends the old rich man off to get her shoes fixed and lumps him with Marcello’s bill, and the students, Mimi and Musetta all go and watch the Christmas procession.
Swiftly on to Act III. Mimi and Rodolfo’s relationship is undeniably on the rocks. Mimi has come to try and find him at the bar where Marcello and Musetta are now living while the painter finishes painting all its signs, and Musetta sings to the clientele.
Mimi begs Marcello for help. Rodolfo is jealous and moody and the whole thing is falling apart. He tells her they should split up because they are clearly not suited; he boasts about how amazing he and Musetta’s relationship is. She agrees they must call it quits, but explains that whenever they try to part, they end up back together again.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MN1rYTNk6i0
Rodolfo begins to wake up and Marcello shoos Mimi away, he doesn’t want a scene at his new place of work. Rodolfo pours his heart out to Marcello, saying he is trying to get Mimi to leave him for a rich man because she is terribly sick, and he can’t afford to heat their room or to buy her the decent food she needs to get better. In fact, he explains to Marcello, he is convinced she is dying. Unbeknownst to either of them, Mimi has overheard it all. She is unmasked by a coughing fit.
Rodolfo and Mimi agree to stay together until the Spring. While they move towards reconciliation, Marcello overhears Musetta giggling with the clients in the bar and goes into a jealous rage. By the end of Act III the tables are turned. Mimi and Rodolfo are as strong as ever and Marcello and Musetta are in a mess.
And finally…Act IV. All couples are parted. We are back in the student’s flat. Marcello can’t stop painting Musetta and every time Rodolfo tries to write he is plagued by Mimi.
In come the rest of the lads and there is cause for merriment, they have a mock banquet with the pitiful food they have. They begin play-fighting and the dual is in full swing when Musetta barges in. Mimi’s rich boyfriend has abandoned her and she really is dying. She is trying to get up the staircase to the flat.
They bring Mimi up. Musetta runs to buy her some gloves. Colline rushes out to pawn his old overcoat to buy her medicine.
But it is all in vain. After some beautiful music…
…she dies, as Rodolfo cries her name.
If you watch this from about 8:50 you get the final Mimis!
Opera Miscellany 