La Bohème by Giacomo Puccini at the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco
On November 8, 10, 13, and 19, La Bohème by Giacomo Puccini will be performed at the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco, a production of the Monte-Carlo Opera. The performance will be conducted by maestro Marco Armiliato, with stage design by Jean-Louis Grinda.
When Puccini chose to collaborate once again with librettists Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa, who had already contributed to the success of Manon Lescaut, he faced a significant challenge: adapting the novel Scènes de la vie de bohème by the French poet Henry Murger (1822-1861) into a convincing operatic drama. Despite their efforts, the opera’s premiere in Turin in 1896 received a lukewarm response from critics, even under the exceptional direction of Arturo Toscanini.
Today, the four short acts of La Bohème appear perfectly balanced. The opera blends lightness, vitality, lyricism, and moving sadness in an extraordinary way. The orchestral writing, rich in color, is always appropriate, and the vocal lines flow naturally, alternating between realistic dialogues and some of the most unforgettable melodies in the history of opera. For this new production, the role of Mimì will be performed by the renowned soprano Anna Netrebko, ensuring a performance of the highest quality for the audience.
