Elizabeth Karani as Musetta in La Bohème Opera Holland Park. Credit Craig Fuller
Giacomo Puccini's Bohème was Opera Holland Park's popular offering this week.
Natasha Metherell, Director of this production, forewent the traditional Parisian setting and opted for an Italian film set of the 1950s. This was a nod to Puccini's homeland and a gamble which didn't quite pay off. The stage filled with megaphones, spotlights, film cameras and make-up studios. Singers and chorus milled around unconvincingly.
Mimi's quiet and disarmingly sweet aria, My name is Mimi, got drowned out by all the comings and goings on set. The audience, who had been used to Mimi singing her most famous aria in an intimate setting, a garret room, must have been as taken aback, as I was. Rodolfo's beautiful moon aria, in which he marvels at Mimi in moonlight, was also lost, as prop men rolled a heavy circular table behind the lovers. It took me a while to work out that this was indeed the moon.
Thankfully the film set idea receded in importance and the the audience were allowed to focus on Rodolfo and Mimi's, Marcello and Musetta's, very different love stories.
In this Boheme the singers were particularly impressive and well cast. Elizabeth Karani's Musetta was effortlessly alluring, Katie Bird's light soprano was as sweet as it ought to be for the role of Mimi. Adam Gilbert as Rodolfo and Ross Ramgobin, Marcello, delivered a particularly affecting duet Act IV, when they mourned the ending of their relationships with Mimi and Musetta. Special mention must be made of Barnaby Rea, who was superb as Colline, with his tremendous bass and stage presence.
When the garret house finally was brought on stage in the final act, it created a real impact, (a good decision maybe not to have it in Act 1 after all Natasha!) The intimate setting framed the tragedy and also the love the friends bore for each other - doubly so - because we at last saw all of them under one roof. I didn't expect to cry but I did - and so did the people in my row - young and the not so very young.
Well worth seeing this production of La Bohème for the quality of the singing and Puccini's beautiful score played by the consistently talented City of London Sinfonia.
KH
La Bohème at Opera Holland Park. Remaining performances: July 27 and 29. August 1,3, and 5 at 7.30pm.
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