La Bohème

I almost felt like giving the cast a round of applause as soon as the curtained opened, for the herculean achievement of making it to the stage.

Covid-19 has paused rehearsals and performances in Sydney and performing arts productions with large casts have been particularly vulnerable. Gaps in the audience were noticeable and the odd cough made me a little nervous.

But by and large for the vaccinated in the theatre, which was three quarters full, there was great appreciation that the show had gone on.

This 2011 production, with original set design by Brian Thomson and costumes by Julie Lynch, is visually stunning. The cold flat in Paris. where the starving artists eke out their living, resembles the inside of an old warehouse with large panels covered in imposing murals.

Each side of the gazebo-like structure spins around into the balcony of a Berlin style grand cabaret venue, in the transition to Café Momum.

In the leading roles of Rodolfo (Kang Wang) and Mimi (Valeria Sepe) were very sweet voices and a natural chemistry of affection.  The aria ‘che gelida manina (your tiny hand is frozen)’ was beautifully acted.

The most spectacular singing of the night was from Julie Lea Goodwin as glamorous nightclub singer Musetta. Her glittering costume was matched by a soaring crescendo.

Revival Director Shaun Rennie made a wise decision to tone down the nudity of the original production at the cabaret and in its place the ensemble entertained us with more subtlety.

A visual highlight of the production was in the second act when the lovers Marcello (Haotian Qi) and Musetta pivot from confrontation to love making in striking blue light and falling snow.

Save for one feedback gremlin it was a night that was very easy on the ear. La Bohème is one of the most widely performed operas and has inspired the musicals Rent and Moulin Rouge! and the movie Moonstruck, so it an excellent introduction to Opera for those new to the artform.

 The lanky conductor Lorenzo Passerini stretched his arms in what felt like half the stage during the euphoric curtain call. It was a triumph to get the production up in such difficult circumstances.

David Spicer

Photographer: Prudence Upton.