Our reviewer Ged Finnigan delves into Opera for the first ever time as he visited Manchester Opera House to see This classic tale of Parisian love and loss
Let me start by holding my hands up. This was my first dip into Opera. So a new experience for me.
The Opera is in four acts and is set in late 19th century Paris.
In the first act it Christmas Eve in a studio apartment. We are introduced to the four bohemians. Rodolfo the poet (Davit Sumbadze), Marchello the painter (Iurie Gisca), Schaunard the musician (Vitallii Cebotari) and Colline the philosopher (Valleriu Cojocaru).
They are so poor that they are reduced to burning a manuscript for warmth.
Schaunard announces that he has a commission. So they decide to go out and blow it all on wine and food. Rodolfo stays back and encounters Mimi (Elena Dee). It doesn’t take long for them to fall madly in love.
The second act finds us at the Cafe Momus,m where the chaps plus Mimiare having a good time.
Musetta (Viktoriia Melnyk), a singer, flirts with Marchello. All six abscond leaving the Bill for Musetta’s date.
Act Three is set in February and Mimi has TB. She and Rodolfo decide to part. Marchello and Musetta’s relationship is on the rocks too while in the final act the chaps to square one, no money and no ladies.
In bursts Musetta to announce that Mimi is outside dying. They try to help her, but the inevitable happens.
You are helped with the Italian dialogue by subtitles above the stage which is both helpful and distracting. Undoubtedly the vocals were first rate.
The songs sung with both power and passion. The costumes were excellent also.
In my view the plot was rather limited with very little substance. The actors playing the bohemians were somewhat mature for the parts they were playing. Covered up by ill-fitting wigs.
The second act was probably the highlight. Beautiful costumes with plenty of colour. The comedy was witty and performed well.
The night was drawn to a close by the unfurling of the Ukrainian flag and the singing of their national anthem. Which I must admit brought a tear to this audience members eye.
