La Bohème

Cafe Momus scene from Canadian Opera Company production of La Bohème, 2013. Photo by Michael Cooper.

The Canadian Opera Company’s current production, La Bohème, offers audiences the true luxury of a complete escape into the bohemian streets of Paris’ Quartier Latin in the 1830s. Thrilling from start to finish, it quickly becomes clear why this piece is often called one of the world’s favourite operas. The forth of Puccini’s short, yet stunning, repertoire of works, it is compositionally intricate and so musically decadent, that the experience of it is almost mesmerizing.

The principal characters of the piece are a quartet of young Parisian bohemians: Rodolfo (Dimitri Pittas*) a poet, Marcelo (Joshua Hopkins) a painter, Colline (Tom Corbeil) a philosopher, and Schaunard (Phillip Addis) a musician. They are a carefree group who define their achievement through the success of their creative endeavors however their dedication to the arts has cost them dearly. They are incredibly poor and often there is an undertone of pathos surrounding their existence.

Act one opens on Rodolfo and Marcelo who are busy creating their latest masterpieces. As they work, a harsh reminder of their living conditions surfaces as they realize the space is unbearably cold and they cannot continue without a fire. Marcelo sacrifices his manuscript, a lengthy tragedy, and once again creativity has been the sacrificial lamb, offered in exchange for survival and yet another day to create something beautiful. It is this continual balance of hope and tragedy that makes La Bohème so engaging.

While the principal characters are the artists themselves, this piece does not truly come alive until the introduction of Mimi (Grazia Doronzio) and Musetta (Joyce El-Khoury). Essential characters in that they are not only the love interests of Rodolfo and Marcelo, they also represent artistic inspiration, fulfilling the essential role of the artist’s muse.

When Rodolfo first encounters Mimi she has called on him desperate to re-light a candle that had gone out. Within that brief first encounter, Rodolfo falls deeply in love with the flowermaker who exudes an unassuming naivety. Her life is simple and while she is not necessarily thriving, she is happy.

Musetta on the other hand is much more ambitious and appears torn between the bohemian lifestyle and the modern comforts that she relishes. Madly in love with Marcelo, she is almost obsessed with gaining his attention however his life style of art and poverty does not appeal to her so she takes on a series of rich lovers in order to maintain a higher standard of living, periodically returning to Marcelo until the fiery nature of their relationship separates them once again.

Director John Caird’s interpretation of this piece is well thought out, and artistically relevant. Visually, David Farley’s set and costume designs translate beautifully. Of particular note is the Parisian street scene in act two. Within this scene, depth and movement are created via a series of canvases depicting the building facades which are hung in a static arrangement offering the audience the unique opportunity to see the world through the eyes of a painter. Also of interest, the artistic style of these canvases reflects the influence that bohemian Paris had on the art world, bringing to mind a variety of influential styles including works of Toulouse-Lautrec, Modigliani, Matisse and Picasso.

La Bohème runs until October 30 at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Art. A reminder to those under 30: The Canadian Opera Company offers a great Opera Under 30 program, full details are available here.

* The role of Rodolfo is shared by three charming tenors: Michael Fabiano, Eric Margiore and Dimitri Pittas. Click here for bios and performance dates.