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Ana Nicole Rodriguez Ana Reviews La Boheme at the New York City Opera  This was the second time seeing La Boheme at the New York City Opera, and contrary to my original thoughts, I found the opera to be charismatic and mesmerizing. The story of La Boheme is beautiful in and of itself; it is about two free-spirited youthful bohemians, Marcello, a painter, and Rodolfo, a poet, who in the midst of struggling to survive the harsh winter, learn that falling in love (with Musetta and Mimi) can soften a life of severe privation. Produced into an operatic score by Giacomo Puccini, La Boheme was refocused to highlight Mimi and Rodolf'o's relationship, which I find more appealing. Perhaps my earlier disappointment in the opera arose from having overlooked the beauty in the power of love and how it can virtually help in overcoming a time of adversity. Much of the physical setting cannot be commented on due to the location of my seat, in the fourth wing (commonly referred to as the nosebleed section) as the characters and the details of their surroundings were blurred and challenging to see (bringing binoculars with you is encouraged). I can, however, remark on the voices of the characters themselves; the music flowing from their mouths was melodious and impressive to hear. Having taken classical lessons before, I know how demanding it is to achieve a high note that is reasonably pleasant sounding, let alone singing harmoniously in a foreign language for three exhausting hours. Mimi, played by Angela Marambio, in particular, had a strong, enthralling voice. Mimi also had a strong presence; her character was believable and she gave it life. She engulfed the audience in her world, even up until her final moments of existence when she peacefully passes away in her sleep into another world unknown. This rendition of the story about a couple who falls in love at first sight and in the end, experiences great loss seemed less sentimental and more appropriately passionate, heartfelt. In the first act, for instance, Rodolfo (Jorge Antonio Pita) professes his true love to Mimi declaring, "I am a poor man, but richer than any lord, I own all the rhymes of love!" and by this it is meant that the art of writing gives way to expressing the sensation of true love. In that instantaneous moment, he knows that he has found true love and he is compelled to unfold those ensuing feelings. Intimate moments like these that the couple shares are charming. The opera also exposes the harsh realities of destitution, like when Marcello (Grant Youngblood) and Rodolfo are trembling from the severe cold and are forced to burn Rodolfo's poems in an effort to keep warm, or when they sell Musetta's (Julianne Borg) earrings so that they can afford to purchase medicine needed to save Mimi's life. An important aspect of the original story is that these two bohemians live an impoverished lifestyle, and for this reason, the opera does not sugarcoat the sacrifices that are made by them and their acquaintances. Accordingly, the best element of La Boheme is that it was a delicate balance between romance and realistic hardship originating from a life of poverty. |
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