LA BOHEME (OPERA)

Directed by Dean Bryant

Libretto by Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa

Music by Giacomo Puccini

Opera Australia

Conducted by Simon Bruckard

Canberra Theatre, Canberra Theatre Centre to 19 July

 

Reviewed by Len Power 17 July 2025

 

‘La Boheme’, has achieved a much-deserved iconic status these days. This tale of the soaring spirit of young love, told with the stirring music of Giacomo Puccini, never fails to affect the emotions of audiences.

First produced in 1896 in Turin, Italy, it has become part of the standard repertoire of opera companies world-wide. Set in Paris, but with an Italian libretto by Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa, it tells of a group of bohemians living in Paris. Rodolfo and Mimí meet and fall in love, but their time together will be brief, due to Mimí’s increasing illness.

Directed by Dean Bryant, this Opera Australia touring production had an economical, but effective touring set and colourful contemporary costumes designed by Isabel Hudson. The onstage action and scene changes were deftly handled by the director, Dean Bryant, who also achieved a nice depth in the characterisations of the main characters.

The camaraderie of the four young men sharing the garret in Paris was particularly well-performed. At the opening night performance, they were played by Michael Lampard as Schaunard, Kiran Rajasingam as Colline, Andrew Williams as Marcello and John Longmuir as Rodolfo.

Act 2 from 'La Boheme' 

Mimí was given an appealing performance by Danita Weatherstone. The growing love between Mimí and Rodolfo was realistic as well as touching. Both performers sang Puccini’s music with precision and a fine level of emotion. Their arias and duet in the first act were particularly well sung.

Cathy-Di Zhang (Musetta)

As Musetta, Marcello’s former love, Cathy-Di Zhang gave the role an initial sexy playfulness and showed the real depth of her character in later scenes with Marcello and the final scene in the garret. She sang this colourful role very well.

Michael Lampard as Schaunard and Andrew Williams as Marcello sang and played their roles very well and Kiran Rajasingham as Colline gave a nice performance of the ‘Old Coat’ aria.

The orchestra, conducted by Simon Bruckard, gave the beautiful score a sensitive performance.

This much-loved opera was beautifully sung and performed very well by the entire cast. There would not have been a dry eye in the theatre by the end.

 

Photos by Jeff Busby

Len Power's reviews are also broadcast on Artsound FM 92.7 in the ‘Arts Cafe’ and ‘Arts About’ programs.