Undoubtedly reading that will raise alarm bells for some who have yet to see the production, but actually the setting change didn't come across as an obstacle. The spirit of Puccini's timeless opera still remains, very little of the emotion is lost and there's nothing of distaste really, while also being very authentic to the 1930s and Germany at that time. There are a few shortcomings here and there but this La Boheme was impressive if a long way from the best version. The production does look fine(also you can tell with no problem where and when the production is set), apart from a too dark Act 3 set and Schaunard does look like he belonged in another time period. Particularly good was the Café Momus set, a perfectly done contrast of glitz and decadence that suited the setting and the story very well.
The staging mostly works too, Act 3 with Mimi is pure operatic magic, the rapport between the Bohemians is very lively, the end of Act 1 is very touching and Marcello and Musetta's love/hate relationship is very entertaining to watch. The end of Act 2 does get over-populated and jumbled, which is not an uncommon problem with productions of La Boheme, the revolving stage was unnecessary and while it is far from emotionally stillborn the ending would have been more moving if the leads' chemistry matched how it was in Act 1. The video directing is neither obtrusive or static, neither does it try to do too much, while the sound is decent enough if suffering from the venue's not-so-resonant acoustic, at least the orchestra and singing is balanced.
Musically, the production is very good, the best parts outstanding. The chorus are just great, they sound well-rehearsed and they play Act 2 with gusto, and the orchestra give poetry and depth to one of the most beautiful operatic scores ever composed. The conducting ensures that the poetry and nuances of the music is still present without rushing or over-sentimentalising. The cast serve things well, Jose Carbo is a very natural actor, doing jovial and sympathetic equally easily, and has a beautiful rounded voice, and Takesha Meshé Kizart's Mimi is incredibly poignant and expressive and she has a voice that is both powerful and beautifully gleaming. Taryn Fiebig is a seductive and hilarious Musetta with some very clear high notes without ever being shrill.
John Bolton Wood as Benoit shows that he is gifted at comedy and Adrian Tambourini does well as Alcindoro. Shane Lowrencev's Schaunard is rather too camp for my liking but Lowrencev is at least acceptable vocally. David Parkin is a little stiff as Colline and his voice a tad woolly, but it was Ji-Min Park that fared least as Rodolfo. He is very musical and does show signs of a beautiful voice, but he does at times sound strained and anaemic with some of his voice lacking expression; he is rather uninspiring as an actor as well, some nice chemistry with his colleagues but could have been more involved at crucial points like the end of Act 3 or the final scene where he does look towards the audience and conductor too much in concert mode. Even with its shortcomings, on the whole this is a solid and impressive La Boheme. 7/10 Bethany Cox
The staging mostly works too, Act 3 with Mimi is pure operatic magic, the rapport between the Bohemians is very lively, the end of Act 1 is very touching and Marcello and Musetta's love/hate relationship is very entertaining to watch. The end of Act 2 does get over-populated and jumbled, which is not an uncommon problem with productions of La Boheme, the revolving stage was unnecessary and while it is far from emotionally stillborn the ending would have been more moving if the leads' chemistry matched how it was in Act 1. The video directing is neither obtrusive or static, neither does it try to do too much, while the sound is decent enough if suffering from the venue's not-so-resonant acoustic, at least the orchestra and singing is balanced.
Musically, the production is very good, the best parts outstanding. The chorus are just great, they sound well-rehearsed and they play Act 2 with gusto, and the orchestra give poetry and depth to one of the most beautiful operatic scores ever composed. The conducting ensures that the poetry and nuances of the music is still present without rushing or over-sentimentalising. The cast serve things well, Jose Carbo is a very natural actor, doing jovial and sympathetic equally easily, and has a beautiful rounded voice, and Takesha Meshé Kizart's Mimi is incredibly poignant and expressive and she has a voice that is both powerful and beautifully gleaming. Taryn Fiebig is a seductive and hilarious Musetta with some very clear high notes without ever being shrill.
John Bolton Wood as Benoit shows that he is gifted at comedy and Adrian Tambourini does well as Alcindoro. Shane Lowrencev's Schaunard is rather too camp for my liking but Lowrencev is at least acceptable vocally. David Parkin is a little stiff as Colline and his voice a tad woolly, but it was Ji-Min Park that fared least as Rodolfo. He is very musical and does show signs of a beautiful voice, but he does at times sound strained and anaemic with some of his voice lacking expression; he is rather uninspiring as an actor as well, some nice chemistry with his colleagues but could have been more involved at crucial points like the end of Act 3 or the final scene where he does look towards the audience and conductor too much in concert mode. Even with its shortcomings, on the whole this is a solid and impressive La Boheme. 7/10 Bethany Cox
