LA BOHÈME

David Scoville - Prune Man
Josh Mulkey - Customs Officer
J. Patrick McGill - Sergeant

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• Run time: 2 hours and 27 minutes including two intermissions
• Understand Every Word: La Bohème is sung in Italian, but has English supertitles projected above the stage at all performances
• Download the program book (PDF)
• Be sure to download the La Bohème (PDF) study guide
• Parking Downtown: get real-time parking availability
• Audio Description
• Braille Programs available
• Large-Print Programs available

ACT I. In their Latin Quarter garret on Christmas Eve, the painter Marcello and poet Rodolfo try to keep warm by burning pages from Rodolfo's latest drama. They are joined by their comrades—Colline, a young philosopher, and Schaunard, a musician who has landed a job and brings food, fuel, and funds (Legna! . . . Sigari!). While they celebrate their unexpected fortune, the landlord, Benoit, arrives to collect the rent. Plying the older man with wine, they urge him to tell of his flirtations, then throw him out in mock indignation. As the friends depart for a celebration at the nearby Café Momus, Rodolfo promises to join them soon, staying behind to finish writing an article. There’s another knock; a neighbor, Mimì, says her candle has gone out on the drafty stairs. Offering her wine when she feels faint, Rodolfo relights her candle and helps her to the door. Mimì realizes she has dropped her key, and as the two search for it, both candles are blown out. In the moonlight the poet takes the girl's shivering hand (Che gelida manina "What a cold little hand") telling her his dreams. She then recounts her solitary life (Sì, mi chiamano Mimì "Yes, they call me Mimì"), embroidering flowers and waiting for spring. Drawn to each other, Mimì and Rodolfo leave for the café (O soave fanciulla "Oh lovely girl").

ACT II. Amid shouts of street hawkers, Rodolfo buys Mimì a bonnet near the Café Momus and introduces her to his friends. They all sit and order supper. A toy vendor, Parpignol, passes by, besieged by children. Marcello's former lover, Musetta, enters on the arm of the elderly, wealthy Alcindoro. Trying to regain the painter's attention, she sings a waltz about her popularity (Quando me’n vo “When I walk out”). Complaining that her shoe pinches, Musetta sends Alcindoro to fetch a new pair, then falls into Marcello's arms. The Bohemians leave Alcindoro to face the bill when he returns.

ACT III. At dawn on the snowy outskirts of Paris, a Customs Officer admits farm women to the city. Musetta and revelers are heard inside a tavern. Soon Mimì walks by, searching for the place where the reunited Marcello and Musetta now live. When the painter emerges, she pours out her distress over Rodolfo's incessant jealousy (Mimì! . . . Speravo di trovarvi qui). It is best they part, she says. Rodolfo, who has been asleep in the tavern, is heard, and Mimì hides; Marcello thinks she has left. The poet tells Marcello he wants to separate from his fickle sweetheart. Pressed further, he breaks down, saying Mimì is dying; her ill health can only worsen in the poverty they share. Overcome, Mimì stumbles forward to bid her lover farewell (Addio . . . D'onde lieta uscì al tuo grido) as Marcello runs back into the tavern to investigate Musetta's raucous laughter. While Mimì and Rodolfo recall their happiness, Musetta quarrels with Marcello (Dunque è proprio finite). The painter and his mistress part in fury, but Mimì and Rodolfo decide to stay together until spring.

ACT IV. Some months later, Rodolfo and Marcello lament their loneliness in the garret (O Mimì, tu più non torni). Colline and Schaunard bring a meager meal. The four stage a dance, which turns into a mock fight. The merrymaking is ended when Musetta bursts in, saying Mimì is downstairs, too weak to climb up. As Rodolfo runs to her, Musetta tells how Mimì has begged to be taken to her lover to die. While Mimì is made comfortable, Marcello goes with Musetta to sell her earrings for medicine, and Colline leaves to pawn his cherished overcoat (Vecchia zimarra "Old coat"). Alone, Mimì and Rodolfo recall their first days together (Sono andati? "Have they gone?"), but she is seized with coughing. When the others return, Musetta gives Mimì a muff to warm her hands and prays for her life. Mimì dies quietly (Dorme? . . . Riposa), and when Schaunard discovers she is dead, Rodolfo runs to her side, calling her name.

-Courtesy of Opera News

• Opera Wire: Nicole Cabell & Sean Panikkar Headline Pittsburgh Opera’ ‘La Bohème’
• Entertainment Central Pittsburgh: March Theater Guide 
• Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: The 5 best classical concerts coming up in March
• Pittsburgh Magazine: March 2019 Best of Culture in Pittsburgh
• Empty Nest: March Preview
• Trib Live: Entertainment planner: March 21-April 3
• The Almanac: What's Happening - week of March 24
• Broadway World: Photo Flash: Pittsburgh Opera Returns To Benedum Center with Puccini's LA BOHEME
• Pittsburgh in the Round: Jean-Luc Tingaud on Pittsburgh Opera’s Upcoming “La bohème”
• PGH Events: La bohème
• NEXT Pittsburgh: Top Events in Pittsburgh This Weekend
• Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: The best things happening in Pittsburgh this weekend: March 28-31
• Mt. Lebanon Magazine: Here and Now
• Trib Live: ‘La Bohème’ is the opera for everyone
• Pittsburgh Magazine: Next Time You Go to the Opera, Don’t Forget Your Phone
• Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: There's an app for that - even at the Pittsburgh Opera
• Broadway World: Pittsburgh Opera Unveils New Mobile App Functionality at La bohème
• OperaWire: Pittsburgh Opera To Unveil New Mobile App Functionality During Performances Of ‘La Bohème’
• WQED: Voice of the Arts podcast for La bohème
  • ​Sean Pannikar - Rodolfo
  • Nicole Cabell - Mimi
  • Jean-Luc Tingaud - Conductor
  • Stephanie Havey - Stage Director
• Entertainment Central Pittsburgh: Cool Picks
• Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: Pittsburgh Opera production of Puccini's 'La Boheme' captures the spirit of the novel
• The Almanac: What's Happening: Week of March 31
• Entertainment Central Pittsburgh: Pittsburgh Opera’s ‘La bohème’ is Richly Entertaining
• Broadway World: Photo Flash: Pittsburgh Opera Presents Puccini's LA BOHEME
• Pittsburgh In The Round: Pittsburgh Opera Presents Puccini’s “La bohème”
• WPXI.com: 11 things to do in Pittsburgh this weekend (4/5-4/7)
• Entertainment Central Pittsburgh: April Theater Guide

Rodolfo (Sean Panikkar) and Mimì's (Nicole Cabell) romance begins to blossom in his garret.

Musetta (Sari Gruber) sings of how people stop and stare at her beauty as she walks down the streets. This does not go over well with her current Sugar Daddy Alcindoro (Kevin Glavin) or ex-boyfriend Marcello (Craig Verm)

Rodolfo (Sean Panikkar) tells Mimì (Nicole Cabell) a little bit about himself.

The bohemian friends enjoy a festive Christmas Eve on the streets of the Latin Quarter.

Breaking up is hard to do. Mimì (Nicole Cabell) tells Rodolfo (Sean Panikkar) that she's leaving.

Listen to Pittsburgh Opera General Director Christopher Hahn give a brief synopsis of La Bohème featuring excerpts from this 1972 Decca recording with Herbert von Karajan conducting the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra:

Click play below or download these excerpts for an offline treat!

Act I

• “Questo mar rosso”- performed by the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
• “Legna!”- sung by Luciano Pavarotti as Rodolfo and Rolando Panerai as Marcello
• “Che gelida manina”- sung by Luciano Pavarotti as Rodolfo 
• “Mi chiamano Mimi”- sung by Mirella Freni as Mimi
• “O soave fanciulla”- sung by Luciano Pavarotti as Rodolfo and Mirella Freni as Mimi

Act II

• “Quando me’n vo”- sung by Elizabeth Harwood as Musetta

Act III

• “Mimi!”- sung by Mirella Freni as Mimi 
• “D'onde lieta uscì al tuo grido”- sung by Mirella Freni as Mimi 
• “Dunque è propio finita!”- sung by Luciano Pavarotti as Rodolfo, Mirella Freni as Mimi, Elizabeth Harwood as Musetta, and Rolando Panerai as Marcello

Act IV

• “O Mimì, tu più non torni”- sung by Luciano Pavarotti as Rodolfo and Rolando Panerai as Marcello
• “Sono Andati?”- sung by Mirella Freni as Mimi

The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust has implemented new security and bag policies, effective starting October 1, 2016, at the Benedum Center and their other venues.

You can read their Safety & Security statement, which includes an updated list of prohibited items, and read their Bag Policy, on their website.