There are so many reasons Puccini’s La Boheme has remained a favorite with audiences for over a century—it’s a classic “boy meets girl” love story; the characters are relatable in their joy for life; and heart-wrenching melodies are woven throughout the score.  While the opera launched Puccini’s international career as the next great Italian composer, some critics have called La Bohème unsophisticated—but I disagree.

Puccini crafted a score for the opera to take the audience on a journey, similarly to how a film score today heightens the drama on screen.  Snippets of arias or the love duet continue to reappear throughout the story to help give us a deeper understanding of what the characters are feeling.  This culminates in the last act, with the Bohemian’s playful music reminding us of happier times, and Rodolfo’s aria underscoring Mimi’s last lines to make her death even more heartbreaking for remembering their first love.

That emotional power is what draws me to an opera—pulls at my heartstrings every time!  And, after the last couple of years, La Boheme is the perfect way to return to the stage.  Our cast will combine their powerful voices with a gripping interpretation of these young Bohemians, using Puccini’s cinematic score to transport us.

Keith A. Wolfe-Hughes
General Director

presents
La Bohème

Music by Giacomo Puccini
Libretto by Giuseppe Giacosa and Luigi Illica

Friday, April 29, 2022 at 7:30pm
Sunday, May 1, 2022 at 2:30pm
Dorothy Jemison Day Theater

Sponsored by

La Boheme will be performed in two acts with one intermission.
Approximate run time is two hours.

PLEASE SILENCE ALL CELL PHONES, ALARM WATCHES, AND OTHER ELECTRONIC DEVICES.

NO TEXTING OR TWEETING DURING THE PERFORMANCE. THE TAKING OF PHOTOGRAPHS OR USE OF ANY TYPE OF AUDIO OR VIDEO RECORDING DEVICE IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED. THANK YOU!

Cris Frisco, conductor
Candace Evans, stage director
Opera Birmingham Chorus
Alabama Symphony Orchestra

In Order of Vocal Appearance

Marcello
Alex DeSocio

Rodolfo
Dane Suarez *

Colline
Allen Higgs *

Schaunard
Nicholas Ward *

Mimi
NaGuanda Nobles *

Street Vendor
Wylie Willis

Parpignol
Joseph Robinson^

Alcindoro
Won Cho

Musetta
Victoria Lawal *

Sergeant
Clay McCollum

*denotes Opera Birmingham debut
^ Member of the Opera Birmingham Studio at Samford University, sponsored by Michael J. and MaryAnne Freeman in honor of their 30^th wedding anniversary.

Production Stage Manager
Laura K. Barnett

Set Design
Julia Noulin-Mérat

Costume Designer
Sandra Vest

Costume Coordinator
Mary Gurney

Lighting Designer
David Page

Lead Hair & Makeup Designer
Holly McClendon

Assistant Stage Manager
Tyler Stidham

Rehearsal Pianist
Nyle Matsuoka

English Supertitle Translation
Keith A. Wolfe-Hughes

Supertitle Operator
Chris Farley

Supertitle Projector
AG Lighting & Events

Production Photographer
Stewart Edmonds

Scenery for La Boheme was constructed at Tri-Cities Opera and is jointly produced and owned by Opera Birmingham, Annapolis Opera, and Tri-Cities Opera.

Daniel Seigel, Chorus Master
Christy Vest, Chorus Rehearsal Accompanist

DeLee Benton ^
Marissa Blount
Matt Cantor
Clay McCollum
Joseph Robinson ^
Caitlyn Rodrigue ^
Macey Rowland 
Heather Thaxton
Michael Thaxton
Lauren Tinsley*
Wylie Willis

* denotes Opera Birmingham debut
^ Members of the Opera Birmingham Studio at Samford University, sponsored by Michael J. and MaryAnne Freeman in honor of their 30^th wedding anniversary.

FIRST VIOLIN
Mayumi Masri
Yifan Zhou
Esther Roestan

SECOND VIOLIN
Tara Mueller
Serghei Tanas

VIOLA
Zakaria Enikeev
Meredtih Treaster

CELLO
Lauren Peacock
Hellen Weberpal

BASS
Alexander Horton

FLUTE/PICOLLO
Lisa Wienhold

CLARINET
Brad Whitfield

BASSOON
Cameron Bonner

Birmingham Children's Theatre
Michael J. & MaryAnne Freeman, sponsors of artists' luncheon
Ed Gurney
Lynne Hutton Designs
Susan Pretnar, sponsor of the role of Mimi
Caroline and Steve Reich, sponsors of the role of Musetta
Red Mountain Theatre, Phil Richardson, Director of Production, and David Cook, Technical Director
Ben Wieseman, Rev Birmingham & Social Venture
Liz Saunders, housing host
UAB Department of Theatre & J. Marc Quattlebaum, Properties Master
Virginia Samford Theatre
Keith & Kevin Wolfe-Hughes, housing hosts

We appreciate the generous patrons who support the artists in this production. Thank you to Susan Pretnar, sponsor of the role of Mimi, and Caroline and Steve Reich, sponsors of the role of Musetta.

Our season has been made possible, in part, by grants from the Alabama State Council on the Arts, The Caring Foundation of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama, The Daniel Foundation of Alabama, The Hugh Kaul Foundation, and National Endowment for the Arts.

Student tickets are supported by The Caring Foundation of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama.

Alabama Media Group is the Official Media Sponsor of Opera Birmingham

Please patronize the advertisers listed in our digital program!

Opera Birmingham acknowledges that we are on the traditional land of the Kosati speaking Mvskoke (Muscogee/Creek) People. Alabama has been home to the Alabama, Biloxi, Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, and Mobile Tribes—including the Abihka, Alabama-Coushatta, Coosa, Tallapoosa, and the Yuchi Peoples—and is home to the Poarch Band of Creek Indians, the Cherokee Tribe of Northeast Alabama, the Echota Cherokee Tribe of Alabama, the Machis Lower Creek Tribe, the Mowa Band of Choctaw, and the Star Clan of Muskogee Creeks. We honor and thank the Indigenous peoples connected to this territory and give gratitude to this land.