Wednesday, September 14, 2011

La Boheme story breakdown

La Boheme is a 4-act opera based in Paris, France in the early 1800's. Here's the breakdown for the first two acts:

Act I: Christmas Eve, 1830, Paris.  The poet Rodolfo and the painter Marcello are at work in their garret.  Two fellow Bohemians, the philosopher Colline and the musician Schaunard join them and they decide to go to the Café Momus.  They all leave apart from Rodolfo, avoiding the landlord as they do so.  Rodolfo is alone and intends to finish an article before joining the others at the café.  The young seamstress Mimi knocks at the door and asks Rodolfo for a light for a candle.  Their encounter develops into a love scene and the pair leave to join the others at the Café Momus.


Act II: The Latin Quarter, outside the Café Momus.  Rodolfo and Mimi meet the other Bohemians.  Enter Musetta, Marcello’s former mistress. She is with her wealthy admirer Alcindoro.  Musetta manages to get rid of Alcindoro so that she can concentrate on reviving her relationship with Marcello.  She persuades Marcello to accept her advances and, as the café bill is presented, the Bohemians make a quick exit.  Alcindoro is left to pay the bill and with the realisation that Musetta has left without him.

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