LA BOHÈME
Image: Photo by Jeff Busby
A symphony of coughing, mobile phones ringing, chit chatter and even missing surtitles could not distract from Puccini’s masterpiece La Bohème.
The Opera Australia production is as audibly splendid as it is visual, clearly owing to the vision of director Gale Edwards. Reset to 1920s Berlin, the opera follows a band of carefree bohemians including two young couples as they first fall in love and then fall apart amidst the struggle of pre-war. Though the Opera is tragic, there is plenty of well-executed humour along the way to lighten the tone.
The cast can boast a chemistry rarely seen in an opera production. The Spiegeltent set in act two is lavish, though it frustratingly draws attention from this chemistry, particularly between the couples Musetta (Lorina Gore) and Marcello (Samuel Dundas), Rodolfo (Gianluca Terranova) and Mimi (Nicole Car). The cast is complemented by stupendous costumes and an orchestra that is simply breathtaking. While lighting choices at times seem confusing they do not detract from the experience.
Terranova is the clear standout, providing a captivating performance as Rodolfo displaying both acting talent and vocal superiority. At just 24 years of age Nicole Car proved she has a bright future as a soprano, especially in the later acts.
This is an accessible production not to be missed.
Until Mar 23, Sydney Opera House, $54-306, 9318 8200, opera-australia.org.au
