La bohème

La bohème
Opera by Giacomo Puccini. Libretto by Giuseppe Giacosa and Luigi Illica. Director: Gale Edwards. Opera Australia. Joan Sutherland Theatre, Sydney Opera House. December 31, 2012 to Mar 21, 2013

The bittersweet bohemian lifestyle of 1830s Paris, background for Puccini’s great opera, is relocated to 1920s Berlin in Gale Edwards’ production now returning with new principals to the Sydney Opera House. The move between centuries and European capitals brings significant benefit. Puccini’s six ‘arty brats’ seem under even more pressure to join an even nastier mainstream society. Edwards’ intelligent production on Brian Thomson’s flexible setting gives clear access to the social conditions that rule the gang’s chances while giving full value to the headlong rush of Puccini’s lush, fabulous melodies.

Of course, this being opera, and with top-drawer Pavarotti/Sutherland material required to be delivered, the principal singers don’t really convince as young, starving outsiders. But this is definitely not a problem for the packed and revved-up audience who thunder their approval for the hero’s “Tiny hand is frozen” (grandly delivered by Gianluca Terranova), for the tragic heroine’s “My name is Mimi” (Nicole Car sweetly introducing herself), and for the brilliant waltz “When I go along”, here delivered as a late-night cabaret spot for Lorina Gore as the free-loving Musetta in a dazzling sequinned outfit.

This downtown nightclub sequence is particularly good. Gale Edwards brings all her top-flight-musicals directing talent to a scene that floods the stage with high and low life, including a dozen high-energy street kids, an all-girl marching band (really playing!), a pack of bored socialites and a moody chorus-line of showgirls in various degrees of undress.

The second half has to swiftly wind back to tragedy and to the original six in their garret (here a warehouse room, a more modern artists’ squat). Tears duly flowed on stage and throughout the audience. Most satisfying.

By Frank Hatherley.

Images: (top) Gianluca Terranova as Rodolfo and Nicole Car as Mimì.

(lower) Samuel Dundas as Marcello, David Parkin as Colline, Shane Lowrencev as Schaunard, Lorina Gore as Musetta, Gianluca Terranova as Rodolfo and Nicole Car as Mimì.Photos by Branco Gaica.

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