Review - La Boheme, Birmingham Hippodrome
What makes Puccini's La Boheme such a great opera? Not only is there a tragic love-story at its heart, but also some wonderful tunes and great combinations of instruments to create different atmosphere and moods.
La Boheme
Welsh National Opera, Birmingham Hippodrome
Review by Jerald Smith
What makes Puccini's La Boheme such a great opera? Not only is there a tragic love-story at its heart, but also some wonderful tunes and great combinations of instruments to create different atmosphere and moods.
Added to which Annabel Arden's new production, set in 1910, has some magic little touches such as the transvestites and other characters who frequent the Cafe Momus in Act 2 and the visual references to Baz Luhrmann's Moulin Rouge.
And on top of all that there is a magnificent cast headed by soprano Anita Hartig as Mimi.
Her voice is effortlessly controlled, delivering her words crisply and clearly and able to make her character entirely credible. She is well-supported by Alex Vicens and David Kempster.
Don't miss this opportunity to catch one of the best productions of this opera I've seen in many years. It runs until Friday.
