This weekend, we had an incredible opportunity to see a live broadcast, in high definition, of the world’s most popular opera La Bohème. It was transmitted from the Metropolitan Opera in Manhattan to selected theaters nationwide including the Regal Cinema in the Ithaca Mall. La Bohème was composed by Giacomo Puccini who is regarded as one of the most important opera composers of all times. It is one of the most interpreted operas around the world, and is based on the novel Scènes de la Vie de Bohème by Henri Murger. La Bohème pictures the life of young bohemians living in Paris in the famous “Cartier Latin” in the 1830’s.

The main characters are the artist Marcello and the poet Rodolfo, roomates with Colline and Schaunard. Rodolfo stays home on Christmas eve to write while his roommates go out to celebrate, when he meets Mimi, his neighbor and falls in love with her. Marcelo broke up with his girlfriend Musetta, but is jealous to see her with a wealthy man Alcindoro, as both, Musetta and Marcello, are still in love with each other. As time goes by, Rodolfo decides to leave Mimi because he fears she is getting sick due to the poverty of the entourage where they live. Marcello and Rodolfo are devastated and lonesome as they miss their loved ones. When Musseta and Mimi come back, it is too late as Mimi’s health has continued to deteriorate and she dies leaving Rodolfo broken hearted.

La Bohème’s brilliant combination of speech and melody make this opera a masterpiece. The characters’ monologs are full of radiance, inflections, and are dramatically vivid. It is the work of a genius for the form and clarity in the integration of voice, orchestra and chorus. No doubt, it is remarkable that the Metropolitan Opera opened up such incredible opportunity to a broader audience through a live broadcast to allow us to appreciate Franco Zeffirelli’s production of this famous opera masterpiece!!!