La Bohème

Introduction

Giacomo Puccini's La Bohème is one of the most famous operas ever written. Set in mid-nineteenth century Paris, the story revolves around the doomed love affair between Rodolfo, a young poet, and Mimì, a young seamstress. Rodolfo lives in a garret with three other young artists: Schaunard the musician, Colline the philosopher and Marcello the painter, who has a turbulent relationship with Musetta, a singer.

Puccini's opera is one of the most popular in the repertoire and contains many famous musical numbers, including Che Gelida Manina (Your tiny hand is frozen) and Si, Mi Chiamano Mimi and Soave fanciulla (Lovely maid in the moonlight).

A cast of seven professional singers performed the opera in period costumes with a piano accompaniment. The opera was sung in the original Italian with English surtitles. There were be some familiar favourite singers from previous productions, along with new faces who have sung principal roles for the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden and the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company. Singing the part of Rodolfo for the first time was Richard Williams, a young tenor who is already gaining an international reputation.

Heritage Opera revisited Lancaster Castle, Skipton Castle and Towneley Hall and also made a sell-out first appearance at Haigh Hall, a Grade II listed building surrounded by 250 acres of park and woodland, with magnificent views across the Douglas Valley to the Welsh Hills. The 150-seater Grand Ballroom is the perfect setting for opera performances.

Supported by Nuffield Hospitals and Industrial Realisation plc

Cast

Photos