Puccini’s infamous love story with it’s hauntingly melodic music begins this week at the Concodia Theatre in Hinckley. With a cast featuring some of the best singers in the country – this opera promises to be the theatre event of the year!
(Sung in English)
CAST:
MIMI, a seamstress – Kirsty Michele Anderson / Rachel Louise Stonehouse
RODOLFO, a poet – Alexander Anderson-Hall
MUSETTA, a singer – Nicky Bingham
MARCELLO, a painter – Chris Marlow
And the supremely talented Stanley Opera chorus.
The opera runs from April 21st – 24th.
On the 21st and 23rd of April, Mimi will be played by Rachel Louise Stonehouse
On the 22nd and 24th of April, Mimi will be played by Kirsty Michele Anderson.
Tickets are £9 each and can be purchased by calling Chris Sturgess on 01455 848194
OR
visit: www.stanley-opera.org.uk
DATE: 21st – 24th April 2010
TIME: Doors open at 7:00pm. Curtain up at 7:30pm
LOCATION: THE CONCORDIA THEATRE, STOCKWELL HEAD, HINCKLEY, LEICESTERSHIRE, LE10 1RE
Set in Paris during the 1940’s.
ACT ONE – The Garret
Marcello is painting while Rodolfo, a poet, gazes out of the window at smoke rising from chimneys over the city. In order to keep warm, they burn the manuscript of Rodolfo’s drama. Colline, the philosopher, enters shivering, followed by Schaunard, the musician who arrives with food, firewood, wine, cigars, and money. He explains his story but the others hardly listen as they fall ravenously upon the food. Schaunard interrupts them by whisking the meal away and declaring that they will all celebrate his good fortune by dining at Cafe Momus instead.
While they drink, Benoît, the landlord, arrives demanding his money. They flatter him and offer him glass after glass of wine. In his drunkenness, he admits to adultery. In mock disgust, they throw him out — without the rent payment. The money is divided for their night out in the Latin Quarter.
The other Bohemians leave, but Rodolfo stays behind to finish an article he is writing, promising to join his friends soon. There is a timid knock at the door, and Mimì, a seamstress who lives in another room in the building, enters. Rodolfo opens the door and is immediately struck by her beauty. Her candle has gone out on the stairs. He invites her inside, and she begins to cough. She explains the stairs were too much for her and she faints in Rodolfo’s arms. He admires her fragile features, but as she wakes, she asks him to light her candle and leaves, but returns a few seconds later, saying she has lost her key. Both candles are extinguished and the pair stumble in the dark. Rodolfo, eager to spend time with Mimì, finds the key and pockets it, feigning innocence. In two arias they tell each other about their different backgrounds. Impatiently, the waiting friends call Rodolfo, but, while he suggests remaining at home with Mimì, she decides to accompany him. As they leave, they sing of their newfound love.
EXTRACTS:
Rodolfo: “Your tiny hand is frozen, let me warm it in my own…why should we worry? Tonight we’re in no hurry…”
“I have no worldly riches, every poetic measure, holds a fabulous treasure in dreams and flights of fantasy and castles in the air…I am indeed a millionaire”
Mimi: “But when the snow is thawing, Spring’s first caress belongs to me. The Spring’s first sunshine is mine”
Rodolfo: “Oh you vision of beauty. In the moonlight you seem to be an angel from above! At last I’ve found you. Fulfilling every dream I ever dreamed of love!”
ACT TWO – The Latin Quarter
A great crowd has gathered with street sellers announcing their wares. Rodolfo buys Mimì a bonnet from a vendor. Parisians gossip with friends and bargain with the vendors; the children of the streets clamor to see the wares of Parpignol, the toy seller. The friends enter the Cafe Momus.
As the men and Mimì dine at the cafe, Musetta, formerly Marcello’s lover, arrives with her rich toy boy, Alcindoro. To the delight of the Parisians and the embarrassment of her patron, she sings a risqué song hoping to reclaim Marcello’s attention. Soon Marcello is burning with jealousy. To be rid of Alcindoro for a bit, Musetta complains her shoe is too tight sends him to the shoemaker. When he leaves, Musetta and Marcello fall into each other’s arms and reconcile.
The friends are presented with the hefty bill only to find that Schaunard’s purse is missing. Musetta has the entire bill charged to Alcindoro. The sound of approaching soldiers is heard, and, picking up Musetta, Marcello carrys her out on his shoulders. When the friends have gone, Alcindoro arrives with the repaired shoe seeking Musetta. The waiter hands him the bill, and, horror-stricken at the charge, Alcindoro sinks into a chair.
EXTRACTS:
Musetta: “Day after day, as I am strolling by on promenade the people turn admiringly…praising my dazzling beauty, they don’t know what to say but every eye is turning my way!”
Marcello: “Her first name is Musetta, her last one is temptation”
Rodolfo: “If you behaved in that way I don’t think I could ever forgive you…”
Mimi: “Darling I love you for now and ever after, so why talk about forgiving?”
ACT THREE – The Gate House
Peddlers pass through the barriers and enter the city. Amongst them is Mimì, coughing violently. She tries to find Marcello, who lives in a little tavern nearby where he paints murals. She tells him of her hard life with Rodolfo, who accuses her of flirting and has now abandoned her. Marcello tells her that Rodolfo is asleep inside, but he wakes up and comes out looking for Marcello. Mimì hides and overhears Rodolfo first telling Marcello that he left Mimì because of her coquettishness, but he soon confesses that he fears she is slowly dying. Rodolfo, in his poverty, can do little to help Mimì and hopes that his pretended unkindness will inspire her to seek another, wealthier lover. Mimi hears everything and becomes deeply distressed. Her sobs and coughing reveal her presence, and Rodolfo and Mimì sing of their lost love. They make plans to separate, but their love for one another is too strong. As a compromise, they agree to stay together until the spring, when the world is coming to life again and no one feels lonely.
EXTRACTS:
Rodolfo: “I love Mimi, my love for her is stronger than ever! But I will lose her, ah I will lose her…Mimi is dreadfully ailing…day by day she is failing…I feel the spark of life has lost its power”
Mimi: “Listen, under the pillow, I left my little bonnet. It’s yours – a souvenir of love you’ll always recall…goodbye then. Goodbye for good and all.”
Rodolfo / Mimi: “The tender evening breezes calmly decending, soothe our grief and sorrow…We’ll part when spring is here again!”
ACT FOUR – The Garret
Marcello and Rodolfo are trying to work, but all they can think about is the loss of their loves. Schaunard and Colline arrive with some bread and the friends pretend to be eating a banquet then begin to dance. Musetta bursts in with news: Mimì, who was living with a wealthy viscount after leaving Rodolfo in the spring, has left her patron. Musetta found her wandering the streets, severely weakened by her illness, and has brought her back to the garret. Mimì is carried to a chaise. Musetta and Marcello leave to sell Musetta’s earrings in order to buy medicine, and Colline leaves to pawn his overcoat. Schaunard, urged by Colline, quietly leaves to give Mimì and Rodolfo time together. Left alone, they recall their past happiness and relive their first meeting —the candles, the lost key— and, to Mimì’s delight, Rodolfo presents her with the pink bonnet he bought her, which he has kept as a souvenir of their love. The others return, with a gift of a muff to warm Mimì’s hands and some medicine, and tell Rodolfo that a doctor has been summoned…but is it too late?
EXTRACTS:
Rodolfo: “Oh Mimi I can’t forget you, oh golden memories of joys shared together, glorious days departed…gone forever! Ah Mimi, my fleeting dream of love!”
Mimi: “Have they gone now? I was not really sleeping to make them leave us I only was pretending. So many things are in my heart to tell you… or just one which is true and never ending…”
