Review Roundup: LA BOHEME at The Metropolitan Opera

Giacomo Puccini's LA BOHEME will play at The Metropolitan Opera through March of 2018. LA BOHEME is the passionate, timeless, and indelible story of love among young artists in Paris. At first glance, LA BOHEME is the definitive depiction of the joys and sorrows of love and loss; on closer inspection, it reveals the deep emotional significance hidden in the trivial things-a bonnet, an old overcoat, a chance meeting with a neighbor-that make up our everyday lives.

The current cast stars Angel Blue as Mimi, Brigitta Kele as Musetta, Dmytro Popov as Rodolfo, Lucas Meachem as Marcello, Duncan Rock as Schaunard, David Soar as Colline, and Paul Plishka as Benoit/Alcindoro.

Anita Hartig will take over the role of Mimi on November 1 and 4, followed by Sonya Yoncheva for the rest of the performances. Susanna Phillips will take over as Musetta on February 16. Jean-Francois Borras will perform as Rodolfo on October 14, followed by Russell Thomas and Michael Fabiano. Michael Todd Simpson performs as Marcello on October 19 and 23, and Javier Array will perform as Schaunard on November 1, followed by Alexey Lavrov and David Pershall. Matthew Rose will take over as Colline on October 23.

LA BOHEME is currently conducted by Alexander Soddy, with Marco Armiliato taking over February 16 for the rest of the performances. It is directed by Gregory Keller, with set design by Franco Zeffirelli, costume design by Peter J. Hall, and lighting design by Gil Wechsler.

Let's see what the critics had to say!

James R. Oestreich, The New York Times: The American soprano Angel Blue, in her company debut, sings Mimì until Oct. 27, and she was the clear star on Monday, combining power, as needed, with sensitivity and warmth. For the rest, the ensemble was vocally strong and well matched... They were also appealing in their byplay, presumably guided by the revival stage director, Gregory Keller. The veteran bass Paul Plishka smoothly dispatched the roles of the stooges Benoit and Alcindoro.

Eric C. Simpson, New York Classical Review: As so often in these Met Bohèmes, the Zeffirelli staging provides a strong glue for the performance, giving the audience a compelling story even without much star power. Under the direction of Gregory Keller, the action onstage was free of affectation, allowing room for the romances of the two couples and the playful antics of the four roommates to show the humanity of the opera. It may not be trendy, but as long as this classic production can so directly access the heart of the piece, it's a worthy fixture of the Met's rotation.

Photo: Metopera.org