La Boheme Opera Guide and Libretto

by Giacomo Puccini

This volume contains everything the opera-goer needs to derive full satisfaction from "La Boheme" except the musical score itself. Most important, it provides the complete text of the Italian libretto, just as it is actually sung; that is, where the singer repeats a phrase several times, each of the repetitions is given here. And facing the Italian text is a completely new, close translation of the libretto into modern, idiomatic English. In addition to the libretto and English translation, this edition offers a 10-page biography of the composer; shorter biographies of the two librettists, Illica and Giacosa, and Puccini's friend and the publisher of his music, Guilio Ricordi; notes on other musical and non-musical adaptations of Murger's novel besides Puccini's; an account of early performances and critical reactions; a careful, concise summary of the plot; a discussion of Puccini's use of leit-motifs, followed by several musical excerpts giving the themes that recur most frequently throughout the opera; and a pictorial section of 63 illustrations depicting Puccini and people closely associated with him, famous performers in roles from "La Boheme," stage settings in various productions of the opera, interiors and exteriors of opera houses that have figures prominently in the history of "La Boheme," and sketches by Enrico Caruso caricaturing himself and his contemporaries in roles from "La Boheme." --- excerpt from book's back cover

Genres: Music, Plays, Classics, Italy, 19th Century, Poetry, Art

96 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 1896

About the author

An Italian composer, son of Michele Puccini and fifth in a line of composers from Lucca. After studying music with his uncle, Fortunato Magi, and with the director of the Insituto Musicale Pacini, Carlo Angeloni, he started his career at the age of fourteen as an organist of St. Martino and St. Michele, Lucca, and at other local churches. However, a performance of Verdi's Aida at Pisa in 1876 made such an impression on him he decided to become an opera composer. With a scholarship and financial support from an uncle, he was able to enter the Milan Conservatory in 1880. During his three years there, his chief teachers were Bazzini and Ponchielli.

Punccini's best known operas are: Le villi (1884), Edgar (1889), Manon Lescaut (1893), La Boheme (1896), Tosca (1900), Madama Butterfly (1904), La fanciulla del West (1910), La rondine (1917), Il trittico" and Turnadot (1926).

During the composition of Turnadot, he was diagnosed with throat cancer, and died after receiving treatment in Brussles. Turnadot, was left unfinished, but was completed by Franco Alfano.

Reviews

[Huda Aweys · Rating 3 out of 5]

أربع اصدقاء فنانين ، فيهم الموسيقي و الشاعر و الرسام .. يعيشون سويا في حجرة واحدة .. يحيون حياة بوهيمية بكل ماتحمله الكلمة من معنى ..
يحتالون للعيش ، و يعيشون فقط لـ(الآن) ..، غير عابئين بما يخبئه لهم الغد ، يبحثون عن الحب و الجمال كحال أي فنان
،،
ينجح اثنان منهما في العثور على مبتغاهما من الحب و الجمال .. على مايبدو
!
..
ثم سريعا مايتحول لون الحكاية الى اللون القاتم بتعرّف (رودولفو) على قرب أجل حبيبته (ميمي) ، ليسارع بالهرب منها خوفا من الألم و الفراق في البداية ، تاركها وحيدة لتعاستها و مرضها (و هو ما لم اتفهمه او اتعاطف معه كثيرا) ، الى أن غلبه الحنين .. فعادوا بفضله الى سيرتهما الأولى ، متعاهدين على حب أبدي .. حتى موت ميمي
..
و على النقيض كان هناك حب (مارشيلو) لـ (موزيتا) ، الذي يشع بالحياة و المرح
...
فتتباين خطوطه الملونة بالحياة مع خطوط حب رودولفو و ميمي القاتمة
ليصنعا معا سيمفونية الحياة .. الحياة التي تعهدنا بالأفراح حينا .. كما تعهدنا بالأتراح حينا ...

[Dee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adored la boheme! Absolutely adored.
I have also seen this performed on stage and i was gripped from the start. I would highly recommend!
This is spectacularly written and the characters and story flawless. Each persons part brings just as much tension and interest as the next. The main characters you can feel the love and heartache. I was hanging on till the last line with awe.
A must read and see! I cryed at the end and i hold this story in my heart. It has everything from comedy, suspence and true raw emotion.

[Settare (on hiatus) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Everyone loves Puccini's La Bohème so much, that's one of the most frequently performed operas today, but I think it's slightly overrated. I know the music is beautiful, the story is a lot more realistic and simpler than usually-over-the-top opera plots, it's very charming, and I like it a lot, too. However, if I had a chance to go see ten (and only ten) operas, this wouldn't be on my list.
Aside from the music (which is the main point), the libretto really doesn't add any extra charm to the music in any way. It's just a simple love-at-first-sight (*eye roll*) story.

[Deb (Readerbuzz) Nance · Rating 4 out of 5]

I simultaneously read, in Italian and English, and listened to the Puccini opera, La Boheme. It's the story in four acts of young bohemians living in the Latin Quarter of Paris in the 1840's. It centers on the romances of two couples, Mimi and Rodolfo, and Marcello and Musetta, who come together and go apart and come together.


This was a beautiful way to read an opera.

[Two Readers in Love · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been watching the generous online MetHD opera screenings during the COVID-19 Metropolitan opera house shutdown, and it's been wonderful. So far I’ve seen Mimi cough pitifully and then pin you to your chair with a high note in “La Boehme.” Next we can watch Violetta cough pitifully and then pin you to your chair with a high note in “La Traviata.”

All I can say is that for ladies with advanced tuberculosis, they sure have some pipes! We could learn from them during this current respitory pandemic. (Refreshing Perspective Lesson 1: No matter how bad COVID-19 gets, at least we aren’t French whores. Oh, ahem – pardon me, I mean "grisettes" and "courtesans." ToMAYto ToMAHto.)

-----------
The following is not a review, but a record of the productions I watched while re-reading the libretto.

17Mar2020 - Watched my first Boehme - April 5, 2008 Met HD Broadcast; Luisotti; Gheorghiu, Arteta, Vargas, Tezier

28Dec2020 - "We kick off a week celebrating the legendary Luciano Pavarotti with a March, 15 1977 performance of Puccini’s La Bohème. The historic telecast—which launched the Live from the Met series on PBS —stars the great tenor as Rodolfo, alongside soprano Renata Scotto as Mimì. Fabrizio Melano’s classic production also features soprano Maralin Niska, baritones Ingvar Wixell and Allan Monk, and bass Paul Plishka—available tonight, December 28, starting at 7:30PM ET until tomorrow, December 29, at 6:30PM ET."

[عماد العتيلي · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't like it that much. dunno why!

[Leoni]

ich hab zwar nichts verstanden, wegen dem italienisch, aber ja

[Javier Fernandez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Way back when across the pond in Paris, there was this other group of bohemians that wondered how they were going to pay the rent. The rent was lower then, but the struggles to get it was just as difficult for the Franco-boheme.

UPDATE: I saw this last night at the Met Opera. The current production has the most spectacular sets I've ever seen on stage. I highly recommend it!

[Cherie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have loved the music since before I ever got to see the opera on stage. I never had a copy of the words before though. The story behind the opera and Puchinni was interesting. Wonderful!

[Danielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

The libretto isn't just a vehicle for the music, but actual poetry by itself and a pleasure to read.

[Mike Schuh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not really a fair review, since this is a translation from a libretto. Read it for a class that I am teaching. Disconnected from the music and the Italian language, this adaptation was pretty rudimentary

[Martha Curtis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book in preparation to go see a production of La Bohème. It really made the opera really enjoyable.

[Elliot · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun update of the classic opera.

[DOLLY · Rating 4 out of 5]

The characters are nothing less that astonishing.

[Roberta · Rating 3 out of 5]

Le dije:
¿y el corazón?
«No late o no lo siento, gracias al terciopelo que lo cubre»

[Bismah · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book would be unappealing to many.

[Juurakkotukka · Rating 5 out of 5]

The coat aria! 😭😭😭💔😭😭😭

Le mie grazie ricevi.
Mai non curvasti il logoro
dorso ai ricchi ed ai potenti.
Passâr nelle tue tasche
come in antri tranquilli
filosofi e poeti.

FUCK YEAH! GONNA MAKE A BACK PATCH OUT OF THIS QUOTE AND ATTACH IT TO MY WORN-OUT COAT!

[Recensioni in tre parole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Intimo. Melanconico. Vibrante.

[Susan Devine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book before seeing the opera and appreciated the backstory and review of plot and history of previous productions.

[Rochelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautiful way to delve deeper into the story, poetry and music of this classic Puccini Opera. Sitting down and reading the libretto as if you are reading a play really helps you to understand the language and characterisation. When you go to the opera sometimes the words are lost in amongst the music which is normal with a live performance yet taking the time with the libretto will help you appreciate the librettist's art. La Boheme is a truly whitty, funny and quick paced opera not only tragic melodrama but also a romantic tribute to friendship and the niave romantic nature of Bohemianism.

[Bernardo Henríquez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. Qué ópera tan hermosa, de pana. A pesar de que está escrita a gran escala, parece tener una forma tripartita, dado que varios de los temas del primer acto se repiten al final (ojo, que solo estoy analizando la música).

Por otro lado, me encanta como la historia del libreto captura los momentos tan sencillamente. Cosas como "¿te sientes mal?" o "¿qué te provoca comer?" cantadas sobre una obra orquestal maestra.

Mis arias favoritas están casi todas en el primer acto, caso 'Chi è là?' y 'Che gelida manina'

[Paul Doody · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent guide to the perennial Puccini favourite, with a detailed background to the opera's composition, an account of performance history, a detailed account of the story, and a guide to the performers on the discs. Also includes a performance of the complete opera across two CDs, with Nicolai Gedda, Mirella Freni, conducted by Thomas Schippers.

[Megan Stallings · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was really interesting to see what was changed for Rent and what aspects stayed the same. I actually enjoyed reading this a lot. The ending was not great though so for once the spin-off wins. Rent have a more hopeful ending even though it was equally sad. That being said, I know Giuseppe’s operas have bleak endings for a reason. La Bohéme follows a very similar formula as Madame Butterfly.

[Tbfrank · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not much to say about this slim volume. The English translation paired with the Italian illustrates the power of voice over the content of the words when listening to the opera. The photographs are of interest as they show different staging and costumes and the variety of performers over time. A revised edition brought into the 21st century would be of value.

[Jill · Rating 2 out of 5]

Clearly this is meant to be seen and not read. I was curious about the opera that RENT was based on... and it was interesting to read it through and see the inspiration for many of the scenes from Larson's musical.

[Carrie · Rating 3 out of 5]

just brushing up before I go see the opera....

[Dennis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Etwas zu wild und konfus, um Empathie zu entwickeln. Sicherlich ist die Umsetzung als Oper aber berührender.

[Suzanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

absolute joy! loved following the libretto with the music

[Cameron (camzcollection) Skip · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Stars. Much more enjoyable than RENT.