BOHEME, LA

(Bohemia) Composer: G1aAcomo Puccini Book by Giuseppe Giacosa and Luicr Irica, from Henri Murger’s novel, Scénes de la vie de Bohéme First performance: Teatro Regio, Turin, February 1, 1896 4 acts. Ropotro, poet, Marcello, painter, Schaunard, musician, and Colline, philosopher, are starving in a Paris attic when one of them gets sufficient money for a real meal to which all save Rodolfo repair immediately. He stays to write an article and thereby meets Mimi, an upstairs neighbour who has stumbled into his room in a faint. He revives her and takes her to the restaurant where the others are eating. An old love of Marcello’s, Musetta, arrives with an elderly admirer and immediately dispatches him in favour of Marcello. Months later these two are running a wine shop while the romance of Mimi and Rodolfo has been killed by his terrific jealousy. Mimi, who is ill, returns for one last sight of her lover. Later she is taken in by the quartet who are having another extemporaneous feast because of a sudden small windfall. Sick, she is put to bed while medicine is procured through Musetta’s gift of her earrings. Mimi dies as Rodolfo realises her love for him. Musetta and Marcello, who have quarrelied, are reunited by the scene.