Synopsis of La Bohème

      (To put this concert performance in the context of the story, keep in mind that a conversation described in this summary by a brief phrase or two probably corresponds to several minutes of musical dialogue, or recitative, between the performers. The arias, identified simply by their opening words, appear in bold face, in Italian, followed by their English translation.)

 

Act I

         As snow covers the rooftops of the Latin Quarter in Paris on a moonlit Christmas Eve in the 1830’s, two penniless bohemian artists shiver in a garret. The poet Rodolfo (sung by a tenor), bewails their lack of firewood while Marcello, (baritone), at an easel, complains that his fingers are so stiff he can’t paint. He compares the cold to the frigid heart of his girlfriend Musetta. He starts to smash a chair into kindling but Rodolfo stops him, and begins burning, instead, the pages of a play he has written. They banter good-naturedly as another roommate, the philosopher Colline (bass), comes in from the cold, back from a fruitless attempt to pawn some books. He joins the colloquy as Rodolfo commits the rest of his manuscript to the flames.

      As the embers die, the fourth roommate, Schaunard (baritone), bursts in with firewood and provisions. Schaunard, a musician, has made some money, and invites everyone out to help him celebrate. They leave, except for Rodolfo, who has to finish writing an article.

      There’s a knock on the door. A girl from from another room, her voice faint, asks for a light for her candle.  Rodolfo lights it, but then she loses her key; then both their candles go out. They grope in the dark for her key. He touches her hand. “Che gelida manina,”  he exclaims (“What a cold little hand” ) and describes himself and his dreams. She responds with the aria, “Si, mi chiamano Mimi”  (“They always call me Mimi,” ) telling of her life as a seamstress.  They trade flirtations, and then, struck by her beauty as she stands in the moonlight, he bursts into the aria, “O soave fanciulla” — (“Oh lovely girl,”) which becomes a duet as Mimi joins in. Minutes later, they are declaring their love for each other. They leave to join the others as the act ends.

 

Act II

      Later the same evening, a festive crowd fills a street in the Latin Quarter. Waiters are serving patrons at tables outside the Cafe Momus. Vendors are hawking their wares in the street. “Aranci! datteri! caldi imarroni!”  (“Oranges! Dates! Hot Chestnuts!”) Rodolfo and Mimi are there, as are the other three roommates. Colline is getting a favorite old overcoat patched. They all sit together at a table in front of the cafe, and begin ordering dishes, and talking of food, wine, and love …

      But Marcello suddenly catches sight of Musetta entering the square. “Her bloodthirsty diet is the heart!” he exclaims. That’s why I no longer have one!” (“Il suo cibo ordinario e il cuore … Per quest io non ne ho piu.”). She is gorgeously gowned, and has a pompous old man in tow: Alcindoro. Foolish, wealthy Alcindoro. Musetta sees Marcello and the others, but they don’t acknowledge her.  Furious, she smashes a plate to get attention, but remains ignored. Then, determined to be noticed, she sings, to the delight of the Parisians and the embarrassment of Alcindoro, a provocative song (Musetta's waltz: "Quando me’n vo' “  (“When I go along”) that finally claims Marcello's attention. Mimì, watching them, tells Rodolfo that she’s convinced that Musetta truly loves Marcello. Musetta, pretending that her shoe hurts, sends Alcindoro off to get it mended, just to get rid of him. Once he’s gone, she and Marcello passionately embrace.

 

Act III

      Six weeks later, on a foggy February morning, just inside the city gates, Mimi, who is coughing, seeks out Marcello, who lives in a tavern there. Hearing her cough, he urges her to come in. But when she learns that Rodolfo is there, asleep in the tavern, she cannot. “O buon Marcello, aiuto!” (“Oh, good Marcello, help me!” ) she bursts out, and tells him of Rodolfo’s insane jealousy, and how it is destroying their love. Last night he had abandoned her. She is exhausted and chilled to the bone.

      They must indeed separate, Marcello counsels her: “When two people are like that, they shouldn’t live together!”. Rodolfo had arrived during the night, and had fallen asleep before Marcello was up, but just then Marcello sees through the tavern window that Rodolfo is awake and coming out. Marcello gently pushes Mimi away and turns to greet Rodolfo. Mimi conceals herself nearby, in order to hear what the two men say to each other.

      Rodolfo, who has been waiting for a chance to talk to his friend, exclaims, “Marcello, finalmente!”  (“Marcello, finally!”) and explains why he has rejected Mimi.  It’s not jealousy.  That was just a pretense. He’s convinced that she is deathly ill, and that remaining with him, in his poverty, will only hasten her death. He must shake her free, he maintains, for her own sake.

      Mimi overhears this, learning in one stroke that she is dying, and that Rodolfo loves her. She has a coughing fit. Rodolfo hears her and realizes that he has been overheard. He tries to reassure her, but she maintains that she must leave him — amicably. “Donde lieta uscì“ (“From here she happily left").

      Meanwhile, Marcello overhears Musetta flirting with someone inside the tavern, and rushes in to confront her. They come outside to continue their quarrel, just as Rodolfo and Mimi are realizing that they cannot bear to separate. “To be alone in the winter is a deathly thing!” exclaims Mimi. Rodolfo echoes this, and, while repeatedly expressing their mutual love, they eventually arrive at an agreement: they will put off their separation until Spring, when “we’ll have the sun as our companion!”

      Marcello and Musetta have been quarreling vociferously the whole time. Musetta is jealous of her freedom; Marcello is jealous of Musetta. Tempers rise, invectives fly.  “Viper!“ “Toad!” “Witch!” They part, angrily, just as Mimi and Rodolfo go off together, agreeing only to part “when it’s the seasons for flowers again.” (quartet: Mimì, Rodolfo, Musetta, Marcello) “Addio dolce svegliare alla mattina!“  (“Goodbye, sweet awakening in the morning!").

 

Act IV

      Months later, back in the garret, Marcello and Rodolfo are trying to work, but can’t stop talking about their girlfriends, both of whom have left them in favor of wealthy lovers. Rodolfo has seen Musetta in a fine carriage and Marcello has seen Mimì dressed like a queen. They commiserate in a duet: “O Mimì, tu più non torni “ (“O Mimì, will you not return?").

      Schaunard and Colline arrive, bringing a frugal dinner to share. The foursome treats it like a banquet. They dance and sing. Playfully, Schaunard and Colline engage in a mock duel.

      Suddenly, Musetta bursts in. There is no trace of the coquette in her, now, as she tells of finding Mimi, dreadfully weak and ill. She has brought her. Rodolfo rushes to help Mimi into the room, and onto the bed. They embrace.

      Mimi and Rodolfo have been separated since springtime, when she had taken up with a wealthy Viscount, whom she has since left. When Musetta found her, she had begged to be brought to Rodolfo, saying, “I’m dying!  I feel it. … I want to die near him!”.

      Now, on the bed, in Rodolfo’s arms, she feels better for a moment — but is suddenly cold.  “If I only had a muff!” she exclaims.

      All are extremely concerned. Even though they are penniless, and the larder is bare, they still want to care for her in her extremity. Musetta gives Marcello her earrings to sell so that he can buy some cordial and fetch a doctor, then decides to go with him, so that she can buy a muff. Colline decides to pawn his overcoat. “Vecchia zimarra”  (“Old coat"). He takes Schaunard with him, so that Mimi and Rodolfo will have some time alone.

      “Have they gone?” asks Mimi, who has been pretending to sleep. (aria/duet, Mimì and Rodolfo) “Sono andati?”  (“Have they gone?"). They sing of their undying mutual love. He takes out the pink bonnet that he bought for her on Christmas eve, and they reminisce about their first meeting. She falls back from a fit of coughing just as Schaunard, Musetta and Marcello enter.

      Marcello has bought medicine. The doctor will be here soon, he tells them. Musetta has a muff for Mimi, who, delighted, asks Rodolfo if it is from him. “Yes!” says Musetta, quickly.

      “I’m here … my love … always with you…” Mimi declares, and drifts off to sleep. Rodolfo quietly steps from her side, hoping to let her get some rest. Musetta prays.  A moment later, Schaunard and Marcello realize that Mimi has died. Rodolfo senses something is wrong, rushes to Mimi, and, calling her name, collapses in grief.