La bohème 101 – Q&A with Raquel González

For this production of La bohème, we’re thrilled to welcome our Mimì, Raquel González, for her Opera Colorado debut. Raquel has been hailed as a “true artist” by Opera News and she is a winner of the prestigious Sphinx Organization’s Medal of Excellence Award. Keep reading below to learn all about Raquel, including how she got started in opera, what she loves about her character in La bohème, and more.

Get tickets to La bohème, on stage for five performances only from February 22-March 2.>>

How did you first find your way into the world of opera?

I ventured into classical music first by playing flute, starting around the fifth grade. I studied flute seriously all throughout high school and was very passionate about it. I joined choir in junior high because all my friends were doing it and started studying voice a couple years later. At that point, I had never yet seen an opera or even a live musical! I was painfully shy, and I quickly discovered that singing was a much-needed outlet. I started watching and listening to opera recordings, first those given to me by my first voice teacher and eventually those I pillaged from the public library’s opera section. The demanding vocalism is what first lured me in, and what keeps me coming back is balancing the technical demands of singing with the emotional core of the characters.

You are no stranger to the role of Mimì in La bohème. What is it about this iconic character that keeps you coming back?

Puccini clearly wrote his love of Mimì into the role. She is such a generously, beautifully written character (both musically and dramatically) and is truly the heart of La bohème. While she undergoes a heartbreaking journey through the opera, she remains a bright light to the end. That is the perpetual challenge and the crux of performing Mimì—retaining hope and joy in spite of what the music and the drama happening around me compel me to feel. Every production of La bohème is different, as so much of what makes the show is the specific dynamic between the ensemble of characters. Developing this dynamic is fun every single time, and I always look forward to it!

What is your favorite part of the rehearsal process?

The best part about opera is the people that make it happen. It is an absolute privilege to get to know a new group of people every few weeks and to create a completely unique show from the ground up. Additionally, every first sitzprobe (orchestra rehearsal) is magical! There truly is no feeling that compares to singing Puccini’s incredible lines over a full orchestra. It’s a full-body rush that never gets old!

You’re a pretty big dog lover (specifically Dachshunds). What do you love about dogs? And can we please see a picture of your new puppy?

My puppy Ori is the light of my life! I spent my entire childhood with a dog at home, and have been wanting a pup of my own for as long as I can remember. My parents’ long-haired dachshund, Fred, is the reason I fell in love with dachshunds, and have known for years that my own family wouldn’t be complete without one. Nothing is purer or more joyful than a dog, and having Ori in my life provides happiness and perspective that sometimes lack in a career that demands so much and keeps us away from our homes and families for so long.

Congrats on your Opera Colorado debut! What are you looking forward to doing in Denver on your days off?

Truthfully, most of my downtime while I’m working is spent resting and recuperating, but I love exploring a new city by taking long walks on my free days (which I’m looking forward to doing with Ori now!). I also love finding good food in whatever city I’m working, so I’m always open to good restaurant recommendations!

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See Raquel in La bohème, on stage from February 22-March 2.>>