La bohème 101 – Characters and Plot
Your favorite opera is back! La bohème tells a tragic story of love and loss, accompanied by some of the most beautiful music in opera. Learn all about the group of struggling artists and how their lives unfold, then see it live this winter.
La bohème is onstage this February and March. Tickets are on sale now, get yours today.
The Origins of La bohème
Composer – Giacomo Puccini (December 22, 1858—November 29, 1924)
Librettists – Luigi Illica (May 9, 1857—December 16, 1919) and Giuseppe Giacosa (October 21, 1847—September 1, 1906)
Premiere – February 1, 1896, Turin, Italy
The Characters of La bohème
Mimì (soprano) – a seamstress who is in love with Rodolfo. Played by Raquel González, making her Opera Colorado debut.
Musetta (soprano) – a singer who is in love with Marcello. Played by Kathryn Lewek, making her Opera Colorado debut.
Rodolfo (tenor) – a poet who is in love with Mimì. Played by Zach Borichevsky, making his Opera Colorado debut.
Marcello (baritone) – a painter who is in love with Musetta. Played by Timothy Mix, returning to Opera Colorado after performing in Lucia di Lammermoor (Enrique) in 2017.
Colline (bass) – a philosopher. Played by Matthew Burns, making his Opera Colorado debut.
Schaunard (bass) – a musician. Played by Alex Granito, a 2024-25 Artist in Residence.
The Plot of La bohème
Paris in the 1830s.
La bohème — Act One
It’s Christmas Eve and Marcello and Rodolfo are trying to work in their freezing-cold loft. Out of desperation, they decide to burn one of Rodolfo’s manuscripts to keep warm. Colline and Schaunard join their roommates in the loft. Schaunard brings food and wine, supplied by his latest job, but the group decides to save it for the days ahead and instead go to the Latin Quarter for Christmas dinner. They are interrupted when Benoit, their landlord, comes to collect the rent. The group is quick to come up with a scheme as they get Benoit drunk, get him to tell of his marital infidelity, and throw him out with mock indignation. The group leaves, except for Rodolfo, who plans to finish his work and join them later. Another knock at the door reveals Mimì, their neighbor, asking Rodolfo to relight her candle. Clearly ill, Mimì faints as she enters the room. Rodolfo helps her up and relights her candle. Their hands touch and they are instantly infatuated with each other. The pair leaves to join the rest of the group at the café.
La bohème — Act Two
The group arrives at the café and orders dinner. As they eat, Marcello’s former sweetheart, Musetta, enters on the arm of a wealthy admirer, Alcindoro. Bored of her suitor and still in love with Marcello, Musetta vies for her ex’s attention, eventually reuniting with Marcello. The group escapes through the crowd, leaving Alcindoro to pay their bill.
La bohème — Act Three
A couple of months later, Mimì seeks out Marcello for some advice. She is worried about Rodolfo’s incessant jealousy and wonders if they should part ways. As Marcello comforts Mimì, Rodolfo appears and Mimì hides to listen to their conversation. Rodolfo tells Marcello of his plan to leave Mimì because of her flirtations with other people. Pressed for the truth, Marcello reveals he feels guilty that their living conditions are making Mimì’s illness worse. Mimì is overcome with emotion, and her weeping and coughing reveals her hiding place. The couple decides to wait until springtime to separate, when the world feels less lonely. Meanwhile, Marcello and Musetta have a fierce argument and split up.
La bohème — Act Four
Spring has come and Rodolfo and Mimì have separated. Rodolfo, Marcello, Colline, and Schaunard are together in the loft, attempting to forget about Mimì and Musetta. Suddenly, Musetta appears and tells the group that Mimì is outside but is too weak to come upstairs. Rodolfo runs to her aid, and Musetta tells the rest of the men that Mimì requested to be taken to Rodolfo to die. They all make Mimì comfortable and everyone except Rodolfo leaves to sell their belongings for medicine. Now alone, Rodolfo and Mimì reminisce about their relationship, but Mimì is overcome with violent coughing. The others return and Mimì drifts off to sleep. Moments later, they realize Mimì is dead, and Rodolfo weeps by her side.
Are you ready to see the opera live?
See opera’s favorite story of love and loss onstage from February 22-March 2. Tickets are on sale now, get yours today.
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What are you most excited to see in La bohème? Let us know in the comments below!