Study Guide
Study Guide Contents
GENERAL INFORMATION
- Beginner's Guide to Opera
- Who's Who At the Opera
- The Lyric Opera House
- BOC Education Programs
- A Bibliography of Selected Readings
- Education Resources
2007-2008 SEASON
2006-2007 SEASON
2005-2006 SEASON
2004-2005 SEASON
2003-2004 SEASON
2002-2003 SEASON
PREVIOUS OPERAS
La Bohème
The Bohemians
Opera in four acts
Music – Giacomo Puccini (JAH-coh-moh Poo-CHEE-nee)
b. 22 December 1858, Lucca , Italy
d. 29 November 1924, Brussels , Belgium
Libretto – Giuseppe Giacosa and Luigi Illica, based on Scènes de la vie de bohème by Henry Murger (1845) and the play La vie de bohème by Murger and Théodore Barrière (1849)
Composed 1893-5, rev. 1896
Premiere: 1 February 1896, Teatro Regio, Turin
US Premiere: 14 October 1897, Los Angeles Theater, Los Angeles
Principal Characters:
Mimi (Mee-MEE), Soprano – a young seamstress
Musetta (Moo-SEHT-tah), Soprano – Marcello's lover
Rodolfo (Ro-DOHL-foh), Tenor – a poet
Marcello (Marh-CEHL-loh), Baritone – a painter
Schaunard (Shoh-NAR), Baritone – a musician
Colline (Cohl-LEE-neh), Bass – a philosopher
Alcindoro (Ah-ceen-DOH-roh), Bass – a wealthy sugar daddy
Benoit (buh-NWAH), Bass – the Bohemian's landlord
Parpignol (Pahr-pee-NYOHL), Tenor – toy seller
La Bohème (lah boh-EM) takes place in Paris during the 1830s.
- The Opera at a Glance
- About the Composer – Giacomo Puccini
- About the Librettists – Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa
- The Story
- Origins of the Characters in Puccini’s La Bohème
- Perspectives on an Aria: "Donde lieta"
- Perspectives on the Role of Rodolfo
- What is Tuberculosis?
- The Operas of Puccini
- Discography/Videography