LIVE FROM THE METROPOLITAN OPERA {LIVE FROM THE MET}: LA BOHEME (TV)
Summary
This production marks the first live broadcast by Metropolitan Opera at Lincoln Center and stars Luciano Pavarotti and Renata Scotto as the ill-fated lovers of Puccini's four-act opera set in nineteenth-century Paris. Host Tony Randall provides a brief synopsis of Act One, which takes place in a Paris garret in the Latin Quarter on Christmas Eve. Rodolfo, a poet, and Marcello, an artist, are trying to keep warm, and engage in lighthearted mockery about their poverty. They are joined by Colline, a philosopher, and Schaunard, a musician, who have secured enough money to buy food and wine. Their revels are interrupted by the untimely arrival of the landlord, who has come to collect the rent. The four ply him with wine and eventually throw him out. Rodolfo's friends depart for the CafŽ Momus, leaving him behind to work. Answering a gentle tap at the door, Rodolfo discovers the frail Mimi, who needs a light for her candle. Rodolfo is touched by the sad-eyed young woman and sings the aria "Che gelida manina." Mimi tells Rodolfo about her life in the aria "Mi chiamano Mimi." In short order the two fall in love and sing the love-duet "O soave fanciulla," which closes the first act. During the first intermission, Randall and Francis Robinson, chief executive of the Metropolitan Opera, appear backstage to discuss the complexities of mounting a season of operas. Randall then conducts a brief interview with Pavarotti, who discusses his vocal technique, superstitions in the theater, and his current diet.
In Act Two, Mimi, Rodolfo, and his friends are dining at the CafŽ Momus when Marcello's former sweetheart, Musetta, enters with Alcindoro, the rich, older man whom she has charmed. Musetta sings "Quando me'n vo soletta," in which she boasts of her great allure, and then contrives to send Alcindoro away in search of a new pair of shoes. She joins Marcello and his friends and when the bill arrives, Musetta tells the waiter to charge everything to Alcindoro. The group leaves the cafe as Alcindoro returns and discovers the enormous bill. The second intermission begins with a prerecorded segment in which Robinson provides a colorful profile of Puccini. Randall follows with a backstage interview with conductor James Levine, music director of the Metropolitan Opera, and a synopsis of Act Three, which takes place at a customhouse on the outskirts of Paris.
As Act Three begins, Mimi enters, searching for the place where Marcello and Musetta are now living. She finds Marcello and tells him that Rodolfo has left her. Rodolfo arrives and Mimi hides. She hears Rodolfo tell Marcello that he wants to separate from Mimi because their poverty is making her illness worse. Mimi, in tears, comes out of hiding to say goodbye to him in the aria "Donde lieta usci," and the two exchange memories of their happy times together. Marcello and Musetta begin to quarrel and they part amidst insults as Mimi and Rodolfo agree to remain together until the spring. The four voices merge in the quartet "Addio dolce svegliare" as Act Three concludes. During the final intermission, announcer Peter Allen provides an informative look at the architecture and design of the Metropolitan Opera house. Following this, Randall conducts a brief backstage interview with soprano Renata Scotto, and provides a synopsis of the final act. In Act Four, both couples have separated and Rodolfo and Marcello are once again alone in their garret lamenting their loneliness. Mimi has left Rodolfo for a wealthy lover and Rodolfo, joined by Marcello, sings of her betrayal in the duet "O Mimì, tu più non torni." Colline and Schaunard enter, and the four amuse themselves by displaying their dancing talents and staging a mock duel. Musetta arrives suddenly and announces that Mimi is dying and wants to be near Rodolfo but is too weak to climb the stairs. Rodolfo assists her and makes her comfortable. After the others leave to get her medicine, Mimi reminisces with Rodolfo about the happy times they spent together in the duet "Sono andati?" The others return, and Mimi falls into a gentle slumber and then quietly dies. Griefstricken, Rodolfo grasps Mimi's hand, calling out her name, as the final act concludes.
Details
- NETWORK: PBS WNET New York, NY
- DATE: March 15, 1977 8:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 1:48:53
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T86:1871
- GENRE: Music
- SUBJECT HEADING: Composers; Operas; Orchestral music
- SERIES RUN: PBS - TV series, 1977-
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Michael Bronson … Executive Producer
- John Goberman … Producer
- Clemente DÕAlessio … Associate Producer
- Kirk Browning … Director
- Robert Schwartz … Director
- Henri Murger … Writer, Based on the novel "Scenes de la vie de Boheme" by
- Giacomo Puccini … Composer
- Giuseppe Giacosa … Librettist
- Luigi Illica … Librettist
- James Levine … Conductor
- Metropolitan Opera Orchestra … Symphony Orchestra
- Metropolitan Opera Chorus … Chorus
- Tony Randall … Host
- Francis Robinson … Guest
- Peter Allen … Announcer
- Renata Scotto … Cast, Mimi
- Luciano Pavarotti … Cast, Rodolfo
- Ingvar Wixell … Cast, Marcello
- Maralin Niska … Cast, Musetta
- Paul Plishka … Cast, Colline
- Allan Monk … Cast, Schaunard
- Italo Tajo … Cast, Benoit
- Andrea Velis … Cast, Alcindoro
- Dale Caldwell … Cast, Parpignol