Re: La Boheme -- 2003-2004 Cultural Literacy Class Forum

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Date Posted: 07:11:31 01/09/04 Fri
Author: 2003 alumna
Subject: Re: La Boheme
In reply to: Caterina 's message, "La Boheme" on 16:01:02 12/31/03 Wed

I'm sorry to read that you didn't enjoy "La Boheme," but did you know that many people do not like the opera for similar reasons. Actually, "La Boheme" was not a successful opera, compared with other Puccini operas, when it first appeared in Turin in 1896. Like you, most people find the plot too Romantic to the point of being unreal.

However, you might gain a better understanding of the opera if you put it in its proper time context. Puccini had the task of combining the ideas of Romanticism and Realism (hence the aria to a coat) into one opera. In addition, there were higher expectations of opera at this time. People no longer went to the opera to be entertained, as was the case in Mozart's time, but also to be presented with some brain food. Puccini tried to accomplish this through symbolism, including his various musical character and event themes that spoke of future events when properly mixed (i.e. mixing Mimi's theme with the death theme to foretell her death) as well as stage symbols (like the large, centered window).

While I am a Puccini fan, I realize that this sort of opera isn't everyone's cup of tea. You might prefer Leoncavallo's version of the same opera, which was composed at the same time. It's less wishy-washy and has a more Mozartian grand-opera style to it. Both are based on the exact same work, "Scenes of a Bohemian Life" by Murgner.

Good luck, and I hope that you enjoy the other operas that you watch.

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