La bohème

La bohème follows the story of a group of friends and young lovers. On a fateful evening, romantic writer Rodolfo meets the seamstress Mimì. Painter Marcello falls in love and chases after Musetta, a singer. The ensemble is completed by Schaunard, a musician, and Colline, a philosopher. In this retelling of La bohème, directed by Yuval Sharon, the original acts are presented in reverse order.

Death: Paris, May 1850. Unable to concentrate, Rodolfo and Marcello struggle at their respective crafts in their small shared apartment. Each man’s mind is distracted, and they gossip of news of their love interests. Schaunard and Colline arrive with a paltry dinner to share. The four friends imagine themselves in a royal court, savoring a fine meal. Eventually, the revelry leads to a duel between Schaunard and Colline. The men are interrupted by Musetta with a very ill Mimì in tow. Musetta explains that she happened upon Mimì outside the garret, who wanted to be with her love, Rodolfo. Sending Marcello off for a doctor, Musetta leaves to retrieve Mimì’s muff. Alone, the lovers, Mimì and Rodolfo recount the story of how they met and their shared fond memories. When everyone returns, the friends give Mimì her muff to warm her hands, and Musetta sings a prayer. However, their efforts are in vain: Mimì dies, and Rodolfo is overcome by his grief.

Barrière: Three months earlier. At the toll gate, peddlers and peasants pass into the city. Mimì, audibly ill with a terrible cough, asks the sergeant where she can find Marcello. She finds him outside the tavern and bemoans her relationship woes: Rodolfo’s jealousy has eroded their love. Rodolfo emerges from the tavern, and Mimì hides. She overhears Rodolfo tell Marcello that his jealousy is merely a front. At first, he claims that Mimì is a terrible flirt, but he soon reveals that he is concerned about Mimì’s health, since his poor living conditions will do little to help her recuperate. To give Mimì the best chance at recovery, he has decided to end their relationship. The combination of Mimì weeping and coughing reveals her presence. Marcello leaves them to speak and to pursue Musetta’s laughter ringing out from the tavern. As Rodolfo and Mimì discuss their relationship, Musetta and Marcello begin arguing. At long last, Rodolfo and Mimì persuade each other to remain together until spring, while Marcello and Musetta break off their liaison.

Momus: Two months earlier. It is Christmas Eve in the Latin Quarter. Rodolfo and Mimì shop for gifts while Colline, Schaunard, and Marcello order a feast. The lovers eventually join the others at Café Momus, and Rodolfo introduces Mimì to the rest of the group. Musetta arrives with her new suitor, Alcindoro, but ostentatiously flirts with Marcello, her former lover. She pretends to suffer from a painful shoe. While Alcindoro runs off to have the shoe mended, Musetta embraces Marcello shamelessly. The bill comes, and the party is pained to realize how much they owe. Musetta asks the waiter to add it to her bill. The party rushes off to admire a parading military band, leaving Alcindoro to pay for their meal.

Love: Earlier on Christmas Eve. Marcello and Rodolfo struggle to keep warm in their sparse apartment they share with Colline and Schaunard. Rodolfo decides to burn his latest manuscript as fuel for the stove. Colline returns home, angry that he is unable to pawn his books. Just then, Schaunard arrives with food, wine, and wood for the stove. He shares that he was recently hired by an Englishman to perform for his parrot. The friends decide to celebrate at Café Momus, but Rodolfo stays behind to finish writing his article. A little while later, there’s a knock at the door: it’s Mimì, who also lives in the building and has come to ask for a light for her candle. Once inside, she faints, dropping her key. Rodolfo revives Mimì with a splash of water, offers her some wine, and lights her candle. As the two search for her key, both Mimì and Rodolfo’s candles are extinguished. Rodolfo finds her key and pockets it, buying him some time to flirt with her. He grabs her hand, noticing how cold it is, and the two fall in love. Their exchange is interrupted by Rodolfo’s friends, who shout from the courtyard below. Mimì asks to come along, and they leave together, basking in their new blossoming love.

Allison Chu is a Ph.D. candidate in Music History at Yale University. Her research focuses on the intersection of identity and opera in the twenty-first century.