Check out our top three reasons to make this the year you see La Bohème.
“It is the ONE opera you must see.”
How many times have you heard this sentiment? Likely, often. It’s true, La Bohème routinely makes critics’ must-see, and top lists, and remains one of the most-included operas season after season.
Whether this opera season is your first, or you’ve simply not yet seen La Bohème, we’ve compiled our own top list — three reasons to join us this year for Giacomo Puccini’s ultimate blockbuster.
1. La Bohème inspired some of your favorites.
La Bohème’s timeless story has managed to inspire audiences, writers, and artists for more than a century. Both 1987’s Hollywood flick Moonstruck, starring Nicholas Cage and Cher, along with Broadway mega musical Rent, were inspired by Puccini’s 1896 opera. In fact, Rent debuted in 1996 — exactly 100 years after La Bohème. Even Australia’s Baz Luhrmann leaned heavily on themes from La Bohème (among other works), for his 2001 blockbuster, Moulin Rouge.
2. You already know the music!
La Bohème has popped up in pop culture more than you realize. “Quando m’en vo” (Musetta’s Waltz, Act II) has slyly made appearances in commercials, quietly championed romantic scenes in Hollywood, and has been adapted by contemporary musicians over the last century. Della Reese sung an adaptation of the aria written by Bobby Worth in 1959 titled “Don’t You Know”, which went on to be covered three more times by contemporary artists and made an appearance in the 1993 movie, A Bronx Tale. Lately, the original aria has been making appearances on television in Lilyhammer, and Mozart in the Jungle.
Compare Puccini’s aria with Bobby Worth’s contemporary adaptation.
3. Our Cast!
This is your ONE chance to see Italian tenor Giordano Lucà make his American opera debut right here in Portland, Oregon! Giordano plays the lead character, the poet, Rodolfo. Discovered at age 16 by legendary opera soprano Katia Ricciarelli, Giordano also had the good fortune to study under larger-than-life tenor, Luciano Pavarotti.
Joining Giordano Lucà are Vanessa Isiguen, Will Liverman, and Jennifer Forni. Vanessa, a seasoned soprano, and Will, a dynamic baritone, will make their Portland Opera debuts. Vanessa will play Mimì, the ill-fated seamstress and lover of Rodolfo. Will commands attention as Marcello, the painter and on-again, off-again lover of Musetta. Jennifer Forni, a soprano, will play the captivating Musetta. Forni recently performed in our productions of Carmen (2015) and Eugene Onegin (2016). If you want to keep an eye on the full cast over the next several weeks, stop by our Facebook page to catch some behind-the-scenes action, and cast spotlights.
