Friendship. Love. Anguish. This opera’s story begins and ends in a garret in Paris, as a group of friends and lovers find love and joy amid the hardship and struggle of a life in pursuit of art. It's Giacomo Puccini's La Bohème, with libretto by Giuseppe Giacosa and Luigi Illica, and it was performed by the Minnesota Opera last season at the Ordway Center for the Performing Arts. Listen to the broadcast with host Bonnie North at 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 29, on YourClassical MPR.
The Story
On a bitterly cold winter’s night in the heart of Paris, a young woman’s search for a candle light fatefully sparks one of the most enduring love stories of all time. But can a love so great be sustained? Join Mimì, Rodolfo, and their bohemian friends as they find levity and joy amidst the hardship and struggle of a life in pursuit of art. Featuring some of the most captivating music ever written, Puccini’s La Bohème weaves moments of warmth and ecstasy together with anguish and heartbreak in this enduring story of love, loss, and life.
Pre-Concert Interview
Soprano Melinda Whittington, who sings the role of Mimì in her Minnesota Opera and role debut, and baritone Joo Wan Kang, who sings Marcello, joined host Bonnie North in MPR’s Maud Moon Weyerhaeuser studio to talk about why La Bohème is so popular more than 100 years after its premiere. Listen to their conversation about this exciting production now!
Find out more on the MN Opera’s official site and watch the trailer for the production below.
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