La bohème

Music by: Giacomo Puccini

Libretto by: Guiseppe Giacosa and Luigi Illica

Keturah Stickann, Stage Director 

Steven Osgood, Conductor

Synopsis 

PROLOGUE

In his Paris study, Rodolfo struggles with writer’s block as he reflects on bittersweet memories of his not-so-distant past.

ACT I

He is reminded of Christmas Eve in a Latin Quarter garret fifteen years earlier when he and the painter Marcello, both near-destitute, try to keep warm using the pages of his latest drama as kindling for the stove. They are soon joined by their friend, Colline, a philosopher, and Schaunard, a musician, who brings food, fuel, and funds he has collected from an eccentric patron. Soon after, he is reminded of his landlord, Benoit, and the quick thinking of Marcello as he gets him to leave without paying the rent. As his friends leave to celebrate their new fortune at Café Momus, Rodolfo remains behind to finish an article.

Unsure of what is memory and what is reality, Rodolfo recalls his neighbor, Mimì, whose candle has gone out on the stairway, visiting his apartment. Mimì realizes she has lost her key, and as the two search for the key in the moonlight, their hands touch. Rodolfo tells Mimì his dreams. She then recounts her life alone in a lofty garret, embroidering flowers and waiting for the spring. Mimì offers to join Rodolfo on his adventure, and the pair express joy in finding each other.

ACT II

As he takes his dinner, Rodolfo remembers introducing Mimì to his friends that same night at Café Momus. Marcello’s former sweetheart, Musetta, makes a noisy entrance, in the company of the wealthy Alcindoro. The ensuing mayhem reaches its peak when, trying to regain Marcello’s attention, she sings a waltz about her popularity. Sending Alcindoro off on an errand, she comes back to Marcello in dramatic fashion.

ACT III

Much later in the evening, Rodolfo’s memory wanders to a snowy morning on the outskirts of Paris, a few months after that Christmas. He has spent the night at a tavern where Marcello and Musetta are living. He watches Mimì arrive and tell Marcello of her distress over Rodolfo’s incessant jealousy, saying she believes it is best that they part. Rodolfo calls to Marcello, and Mimì hides nearby, though Marcello thinks she has gone. The poet tells Marcello that he wants to separate from his sweetheart, citing her fickleness; pressed for the real reason, he breaks down, saying that her coughing can only grow worse in the poverty they share; he’s desperately afraid she will die because he can’t keep her well. Overcome with sadness, Mimì stumbles forward to bid her lover farewell. While Mimì and Rodolfo recall past happiness, Musetta quarrels with Marcello, who has caught her flirting. The painter and his mistress part, hurling insults at each other, but Mimì and Rodolfo decide to remain together until spring.

ACT IV

That painful memory leads him to think of a time in his garret that following spring, where he and Marcello are pining for Mimì and Musetta. As Colline and Schaunard show up, the friends eat and carouse until the joy and mayhem are quickly interrupted by Musetta, who bursts in to tell them that Mimì is outside, too weak to come upstairs. Rodolfo sees to Mimì, while Musetta asks Marcello to sell her earrings for medicine and Colline goes off to pawn his overcoat. Rodolfo and Mimì recall their first meeting and their happy day.

Cast

Mimì: Cara Bender

Musetta: Victoria Lawal

Rodolfo: Eric Botto

Marcello: Joel Balzun

Schaunard: Erik Tofte

Colline: Seoyong Lee

Benoît and Alcindoro: Robert Ellsworth Feng

Parpignol and Waiter: Chuanyuan Liu

Chorus

Carlos Ahrens

Joel Clemens

Kathiana Dargenson

Antonio D. Domino Jr.

Rosamund Dyer

Emily Finke

Lwazi Hlati

Lindsey Weissman

Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra

Violin 1

Vahn Armstrong, concertmaster

Ming Gao

Amanda Gates

Anton Shelepov

Adrienne Finet

Shawna Trost

Violin 2

Simon Lapointe

Karen Lord-Powell

Zhe Deng

Zhen Liu

Timothy Peters

Gabrielle Monachino

Viola

Karl Pedersen

Jennifer Stahl

Eva Stern

Carrie Fischer

Javier Otalora

Cello

Lars Kirvan

Igor Gefter

Daniel Kaler

Samuel Pierce-Ruhland

Double Bass

Owen Lee

Caitlyn Kamminga

Kieran Hanlon

Flute

Richard Sherman

Luke Fitzpatrick

Kathryn Levy

Oboe

Jaren Atherholt

Noah Kay

English Horn

Adam Dinitz

Clarinet

Olivia Hamilton

Colby Bond

Daniel Spitzer, bass

Bassoon

Jeffrey Robinson

Kathleen McLean

Horn

Bill Bernatis 

Donna Dolson

Daniel Kerdelewicz

Mark Robbins

Trumpet

Micah Wilkinson

Peter Lindblom

Leslie Linn

Trombone

Christopher Wolf

Aidan Chamberlain

Eric Lindblom

Tuba

Christina Cutts Dougherty

Timpani

Matthew Strauss

Percussion

Tom Blanchard

Pedro Fernandez

Harp

Jody Guinn

Stage Director: Keturah Stickann

Conductor: Steven Osgood

Lighting & Scenic Design: Michael Baumgarten

Technical Director/Prop Master/Scenic Artist: JP Woodey

Production Stage Manager: Valerie Wheeler 

Costume Design: Cristine Patrick

Wig & Makeup Supervisor: Martha Ruskai

Assistant Stage Managers: Hanna Atkinson and Alex Griner

Craft Artisans: Larissa McConnell and Gabriela Hertel

Chorus Master: Carol Rausch

Pianists/Coaches: Rick Hoffenberg, Nathaniel LaNasa, and Carol Rausch

Diction/Supertitles: Allison Voth 

Cover Conductor:  Hannah Schendel

General & Artistic Director: Steven Osgood 
Music Administrator/Chorus Master: Carol Rausch  
Music Staff: Miriam Charney, Rick Hoffenberg, Nathaniel LaNasa, and Allison Voth 
Director of Production: Michael Baumgarten  
Production Stage Manager: Valerie Wheeler

Assistant Stage Managers: Hanna Atkinson and Alexandria Griner 
Technical Director: JP Woodey  
Costume Shop Supervisor: Cristine Patrick

Costume Shop Crew: Larissa McConnell and Gabriela Hertel 

Wig Supervisor: Martha Ruskai 

Manager: Helen Hassinger 
Arts Marketing Specialist: Holly Weston 
Company Scheduler: Rick Hoffenberg  
Management Associate: Summer Bugbee 
Marketing and Management Assistant: Aviva Harris 
Opera Guild Intern: Michael Burns