La Boheme at the Santa Fe Opera
For the second year in a row I had the unique opportunity of attending the Santa Fe opera. I enjoy musical productions and feel fulfilled by a night of artistic expression. The creativity and the emotions portrayed in a theatrical performance have a way of renewing my faith in humanity, and I find art to be increasingly important to reflect and reframe our world during trying times. What better way to celebrate creativity and art than through Puccini's La Boheme, depicting bohemian lifestyle in nineteenth century Paris. It wasn't until I read the synopsis prior to the show that I realized that RENT was a modern day re-telling of the story, which made me even more excited for the show!
La Boheme tells the story of a group of four impoverished artists in Paris, navigating a society that values industry over art, plagued by class divides, and struggling with financial hardship, love triangles, relationship woes, and, in Mimi's case, tuberculosis. Act I opens on a cold Christmas Eve. The freezing bohemians have to burn Rodolfo's manuscript to heat their tiny attic apartment, when in walks Mimi to get a light for her candle, beginning her relationship with Rodolfo. The four acts of the show paint a picture of the artists' lives and struggles as the seasons pass, Rodolfo and Mimi deeply in love but fearful of the intensity of their emotions and what the future may hold, and Marcello and Musetta's often destructive relationship fluctuating up and down on an emotional rollercoaster.
The show has moments of tragedy interspersed with humor and innuendo, which probably increases its appeal to a wider audience and younger crowds as well. As one of the shorter operas, it's also more accessible to "opera novices" like ourselves. The music is powerful and emotional and the soloists were stunning, but the soundtrack is also accented with the cacophony of the busy Paris streets. Rather than a fluid plot line, the four acts present somewhat disjointed snapshots that create a story of bohemian life in Paris, which I found to be more interesting. The ending is obvious from the first scene but it's not really a show about the plot or the outcome. I loved the changing of seasons as a way of marking time, portraying the moods of the characters and the underlying theme of hope, and mapping the emotional ups and downs that the characters experienced. And while the four bohemians were males, the two female characters were truly the heart of the show, influencing the emotions and actions of the men and ultimately driving the plot. Mimi and Musetta were well-developed and powerful in their own ways, while lovable and feminine at the same time. In Act II, Musetta and members of the bourgeoise skated along the streets of Paris on roller skates. I loved this creative twist, showing these characters gliding through life, seemingly above the struggles of the lower classes, but it also didn't necessarily reflect Musetta's internal struggles.
While depicted in another time and place, I find the themes of La Boheme to be relevant and meaningful to humanity across history and location. Certainly there are a multitude of examples of present-day bohemians, protesting the status quo and living the unconventional lifestyle, and artists today may also struggle to survive in a world that values productivity over creativity and finance over art. La Boheme is a show in which audience members probably see parts of themselves in the characters, holding love and art in high regard, and living for today as the future is uncertain.
In La Boheme (and in RENT as well), many forms and stages of love are presented, and I often question whether the characters are truly in love with each other or just the idea of each other. The characters seem to fill a void in each other's lives, which maybe is what humans are looking for all along. And if they are truly in love, what is it that scares them away? Is it the intensity of the emotions? The fear of the inevitable future and heartbreak? I think this is a show with many possible take-aways, and audience members probably walk away with very different views of the overall message depending on their perspectives and experiences. Is it a romantic opera? Or a tragedy? Is it a celebration of true love or a questioning of love? Is it better to have loved and lost than to have never loved at all? Is fate a driving force, or are life events random? While I don't have any clear answers, I appreciate art that raises questions and leaves us pondering life's mysteries long after the curtain falls.
The Santa Fe opera is as much about the overall experience and the venue as it is about the show. The opera house in the "city different" is world-renowned with award-winning architecture and design, and the theater is entirely open to the elements, allowing viewers to experience the sun and the breeze in the open air and watch the sunset over the mountains through the open backdrop of the stage. Tailgating is a necessary component of the opera experience, and we're not talking about burgers and beer, but fancy cheese platters and multiple-course buffets paired with wine and champagne.
I'm already looking ahead to the 2020 opera season! What should we see? The Barber of Seville? Or maybe the Magic Flute? It's sure to be another memorable experience.
La Boheme tells the story of a group of four impoverished artists in Paris, navigating a society that values industry over art, plagued by class divides, and struggling with financial hardship, love triangles, relationship woes, and, in Mimi's case, tuberculosis. Act I opens on a cold Christmas Eve. The freezing bohemians have to burn Rodolfo's manuscript to heat their tiny attic apartment, when in walks Mimi to get a light for her candle, beginning her relationship with Rodolfo. The four acts of the show paint a picture of the artists' lives and struggles as the seasons pass, Rodolfo and Mimi deeply in love but fearful of the intensity of their emotions and what the future may hold, and Marcello and Musetta's often destructive relationship fluctuating up and down on an emotional rollercoaster.
The show has moments of tragedy interspersed with humor and innuendo, which probably increases its appeal to a wider audience and younger crowds as well. As one of the shorter operas, it's also more accessible to "opera novices" like ourselves. The music is powerful and emotional and the soloists were stunning, but the soundtrack is also accented with the cacophony of the busy Paris streets. Rather than a fluid plot line, the four acts present somewhat disjointed snapshots that create a story of bohemian life in Paris, which I found to be more interesting. The ending is obvious from the first scene but it's not really a show about the plot or the outcome. I loved the changing of seasons as a way of marking time, portraying the moods of the characters and the underlying theme of hope, and mapping the emotional ups and downs that the characters experienced. And while the four bohemians were males, the two female characters were truly the heart of the show, influencing the emotions and actions of the men and ultimately driving the plot. Mimi and Musetta were well-developed and powerful in their own ways, while lovable and feminine at the same time. In Act II, Musetta and members of the bourgeoise skated along the streets of Paris on roller skates. I loved this creative twist, showing these characters gliding through life, seemingly above the struggles of the lower classes, but it also didn't necessarily reflect Musetta's internal struggles.
While depicted in another time and place, I find the themes of La Boheme to be relevant and meaningful to humanity across history and location. Certainly there are a multitude of examples of present-day bohemians, protesting the status quo and living the unconventional lifestyle, and artists today may also struggle to survive in a world that values productivity over creativity and finance over art. La Boheme is a show in which audience members probably see parts of themselves in the characters, holding love and art in high regard, and living for today as the future is uncertain.
In La Boheme (and in RENT as well), many forms and stages of love are presented, and I often question whether the characters are truly in love with each other or just the idea of each other. The characters seem to fill a void in each other's lives, which maybe is what humans are looking for all along. And if they are truly in love, what is it that scares them away? Is it the intensity of the emotions? The fear of the inevitable future and heartbreak? I think this is a show with many possible take-aways, and audience members probably walk away with very different views of the overall message depending on their perspectives and experiences. Is it a romantic opera? Or a tragedy? Is it a celebration of true love or a questioning of love? Is it better to have loved and lost than to have never loved at all? Is fate a driving force, or are life events random? While I don't have any clear answers, I appreciate art that raises questions and leaves us pondering life's mysteries long after the curtain falls.
The Santa Fe opera is as much about the overall experience and the venue as it is about the show. The opera house in the "city different" is world-renowned with award-winning architecture and design, and the theater is entirely open to the elements, allowing viewers to experience the sun and the breeze in the open air and watch the sunset over the mountains through the open backdrop of the stage. Tailgating is a necessary component of the opera experience, and we're not talking about burgers and beer, but fancy cheese platters and multiple-course buffets paired with wine and champagne.
I'm already looking ahead to the 2020 opera season! What should we see? The Barber of Seville? Or maybe the Magic Flute? It's sure to be another memorable experience.
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