puccini – devizine.com

by Andy Fawthrop

A Sparkling Production

Last night I was privileged to sit in on the Dress Rehearsal for this wonderful production. It was like having a private viewing of a great work of art, with a chance to see how it all came together, and to figure out what made the whole thing tick. It was also a chance for cast and crew, together with Musical Director Roland Melia, and Stage Director Matt Dauncey to iron out any last-minute wrinkles. There were a few but, as the song goes, too few to mention. This show is absolutely ready to go live for the rest of the week!

Giacomo Puccini’s La Bohème is one of the most famous operas ever written, following the unforgettable story of two young bohemian lovers in Paris at the end of the 19^th century. When young poet Rodolfo meets seamstress Mimì, it’s love at first sight. But, faced by the cruel realities of poverty and ill health, will the flame that burns between them flicker and die? Or will the timeless strength of their youthful passion withstand every trial and tribulation that life can throw at them? With a great love story comes a beautiful score, including arias like Musetta’s Waltz and ‘Yes, they call me Mimì’ (Si, mi chiamano Mimì).

A classic tale of tragic romance, La Bohème is a great opera for beginners and regulars alike. Director Matt had updated the setting to the 1960s, with fashion to match but, to me at least, it made little real difference to the superb quality of musical operatic delivery. Using WHO’s trade-mark stripped back lines in terms of scenery backdrops, props, costumes and musical accompaniment, this was nevertheless a production that felt rich and full.

The four principals absolutely shone. Guest tenor Robert Felstead (Rodolfo), and WHO stalwarts soprano Lisa House (Mimi), baritone Jon Paget (Marcello) and soprano Jess Phillips (Musetta) all put in superb performances. And that’s not to diminish the quality of the rest of the cast in any way. Contributions all round were spot on, and the staging was confident and upbeat. The rapid interplay of dialogue singing during certain scenes meant that everyone had to be completely on their game and if there were any slip-ups I certainly didn’t spot them.

The whole production is sung in English in four acts, with a half-time interval. The programme provides excellent notes and a synopsis of the plot for each act, and the whole thing wraps up in about two hours. These factors make the production accessible to all and easy to digest. If you’ve not tried opera before, this is the sort of production that should change your mind, and I’d encourage anyone to give it a shot. Equally those who are perhaps more familiar with the opera will not be disappointed, as what’s on offer here is a truly sparkling version of a classic.

Tickets are still available (both online and at Devizes Books) for performances tonight (Wednesday), and for Friday and Saturday.