 |
 |
 |
|||||
|
|
READ REVIEWS GET IN ON THE TEEN SCENES TEEN REVIEWERS AND CRITICS LINKS TO OTHER COOL STUFF |
Allegra De Vita Allegra Reviews La Boheme by New york City Opera  I must confess, I began watching this opera with a bias. As I flipped through the program I realized that *gasp* -- there are no mezzo-soprano roles in this opera (did I mention that I'm a mezzo)? That feeling of disappointment evaporated, however, the minute the medium-sized metal box on stage turned to reveal a dilapidated -- yet cozy -- apartment. Initially I felt that the apartment was too small as it sat in the middle of an enormous empty stage. I soon realized that the set designers were portraying the character's poverty in their diminutive corner of the world. Then, the show opened with extremely high energy and the audience soon forgot about the empty stage, focusing instead on the love and happiness in the artists' lives. The opera begins on Christmas Eve in Paris in 1830, when we're introduced to four starving artists. Rodolfo (the tenor) hits beautiful high notes that are rich and clear. Marcello (the baritone) has a very powerful voice that commands the stage. I was amazed at the inflection and emotion all the men conveyed in their songs. The famous aria Rodolfo sings to Mimi, "Che Gelida Manina" during Act I was incredibly touching; it was a delight to hear this magnificent piece early in the opera. And I wasn't the only one enthusiastically clapping for the performers' voices against the backdrop of falling snow, which emphasizes the innocence and poignancy of their love. Both Mimi and Musetta sing beautifully and act convincingly, especially Mimi, who was so expressive that I could feel her pain. The six performers absolutely light up the stage throughout the performance and even more so in the last ten minutes of the opera. Their spirit and passion left me tissue-less by the time the curtain fell. My only criticism of the opera is of the number of distractions during the café scene. To quote the witch from Into the Woods "Bang! Crash! And the lightning flash! And -- well, that's another story." First off, the huge café sign was extremely bright and I had trouble discerning which of the performers were singing and where exactly they were on stage. The chorus and the frantic activity outside the café distracts from what the central characters are doing and saying. I found myself fluctuating between looking at the lead singers and up at the translator, then at the chorus and thenÑ- oh, wait did he just say something funny? -Ñ aw, rats! I think she said something important -- oh, look at the funny guy in the big hat! When the scene finally ended, I was both exhausted and grateful! So many people were singing simultaneously that the translator couldn't keep up with them, so I had to settle for being totally confused. The chorus did a beautiful job, but watching such a large and intricate chorus during an important plot point did not leave me with a sense of amazement, as much of an ache in my neck. This insignificant criticism aside, this opera is truly amazing for its beautiful melodies and its ability to reach and touch the audience so deeply. It's perfect for people of all ages and gives new meaning to the word "love." I especially recommend La Boheme to all those Rent fans who should be curious to see (and hear) the magnificent source of their beloved musical. |