Show Synopsis:
A group of poor friends in Bohemian Paris go out to celebrate Schaunard's recent success at a paying job for a wealthy man. Rodolfo stays behind for a few minutes and meets Mimi, and they begin to fall in love. Marcello's former love Musetta arrives with her new admirer Alcindro, but they conspire to get rid of him so that Marcello and Musetta can be together again. A few months later, Rodolfo leaves Mimi out of fear that she is dying from tuberculosis, but Marcello convinces Rodolfo to stay with her till the spring. A few months later, their girlfriends have both found new and richer men who treat them well. As they sit down to eat with their friends, Musetta shows up with Mimi, who left her new admirer and is very ill. She and Rodolfo reaffirm their love before she dies.
Character:
Rodolfo, a poet. Marcello, a painter.
Song Context:
Rodolfo and Marcello have both seen their former girlfriends in beautiful clothes and with other men, and they lament their bad luck with women, particularly Rodolfo's with Mimi. They are still as destitute as they were when they had their loves.
Fun Facts:
1) The opera was originally based upon Scènes de la vie de bohème, a novel by Henri Murger. Two characters of this novel, Mimi and Francine, were combined into the single character of Mimi in the opera.
2) The original production of La boheme was conducted by the famous conductor Arturo Toscanini.
3) The opera is probably best known today as the basis for the hit pop operetta RENT.
"MARCELLO
Was that to-day?
RODOLFO
In a handsome coupe.
Smiling, she waved a greeting.
?Well! Musetta,? I asked her,
?How?s your heart??
?It?s not beating, or I can?t feel it,
Buried so deeply in velvet.?
MARCELLO
I?m happy to hear that,
I?m happy indeed!
RODOLFO
A brazen lie! He?s trying to fool me!
MARCELLLO
Not beating? Splendid!
Guess whom I saw!
RODOLFO
Musetta?
MARCELLO
Mimi.
RODOLFO
You saw her? Oh, really!
MARCELLO
Dressed like a princess
And riding in a smart-looking carriage.
RODOLFO
That?s splendid! I?m glad to hear it!
MARCELLO
Not one word he?s saying is true.
RODOLFO
Let us work!
MARCELLO
Let us work!
RODOLFO
This pen is dreadful!
MARCELLO
Impossible paint-brush!
RODOLFO
Ah, Mimi, I can?t forget you,
Oh golden mem?ry, joys shared together!
Glorious days departed?
MARCELLO
Somehow lately my paint-brush
Has become so capricious
And does as it wishes
All against my will.
RODOLFO
Gone forever! Ah, Mimi!
My fleeting dream of love!
MARCELLO
Whenever I begin to paint a sunset,
The sky, or changing season,
I find it tracing
For some unknown reason,
Two dark eyes and two mocking lips,
The likeness of Musetta, time again!
RODOLFO
Ah,--dear little bonnet
She once gave me,
As parting remembrance,
You know all, our moments of blinding joy!
Come to my heart, console my sorrow,
Ah, come, console my lonely heart,
Console my lonely heart!
MARCELLO
Ah, vision of Musetta
With all her charming grace,
So lovely and faithless.
While she enjoys her pleasure,
My forsaken heart keeps calling her name,
My lonely heart,
My sad and lonely heart!"