La bohème, The Royal Opera - Simona Mihai, Michael Fabbiano, Nicole Car, Marius Kwiecien, Florian Sempey © ROH 2017. Photograph by Catherine Ashmore. |
Reviewed by Anthony Evans on Sep 16 2017 Star rating:
A beautiful, collaborative work; Richard Jones new production of La Boheme,
La bohème, The Royal Opera © ROH 2017. Photograph by Catherine Ashmore. |
Visually this is a steady as she goes production, the sets a little less romanticized than Julia Trevelyan Oman’s. No artists’ studio for our young Bohemians, the garret is claustrophobic and shorn of all but the basics for survival. A few fewer rafters might have been preferable as it can become irksome, from upstairs, to see so many de-capitated singers and the youthful horseplay in act 1 seemed a tad choreographed given that there’s little enough room to swing a cat. Act two in contrast is expansive and lavish with shopping arcade trucks gliding into place and a very grand Café Momus.
Nicole Car, Mariusz Kwiecien © ROH 2017. Photograph by Catherine Ashmore. |
I may have heard more beautiful vocal performances in the past but that’s not the point here. There’s no need for showboating. The cast is committed and vocally articulate, their performances full of youthful energy and a lust for life that hides their characters emotional naivety and vulnerability. All the characters are good and bad, although I did wonder whether getting Rodolfo to poke a collapsed Mimi with his foot was pushing it a little, even if it does get a laugh. There’s a sense that these bright young things feel invulnerable – free to dream their dreams.
Pappano obviously relishes this music. The orchestral sound was luxuriant, moving seamlessly from the intimate to the expansive and breathing in harmony with the singers. It was at times restrained and unsentimental, but the emotional intensity was raised imperceptibly until like a wave it broke over the icy horn chord that heralds Mimi’s death. My diaphragm spasmed and I stifled an audible sob.
La bohème, The Royal Opera - © ROH 2017. Photograph by Catherine Ashmore. |
Reviewed by Anthony Evans
Puccini - La boheme
Saturday 16 September 2017, Royal Opera House
Rodolfo : Michael Fabiano
Mimi : Nicole Car
Marcello : Mariusz Kwiecien
Musetta : Simona Mihai
Colline : Luca Tittoto
Schaunard : Florian Sempey
Benoit : Jeremy White
Alcindoro : Wyn Pencarreg
Parpignol : Andrew Macnair
Customs Officer : John Morrissey
Sergeant : Thomas Barnard
Conductor : Antonio Pappano
Director : Richard Jones
Designer : Stewart Laing
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