Experience Munich Through Music Max Raabe & Palast Orchester & the opera La Bohème

INCLUDED

• Travel by Car Rouge coach, 2+1 seating
• Music tour guide from/to Switzerland
• Accommodation in a carefully selected 4* hotel
• 3 x B&B (room/breakfast buffet)
• 1 x dinner incl. drinks
• 1 x opera aperitif with wine and canapés
• 1 x opera ticket, 1st category
• 1 x concert ticket, 1st category
• Guided city walk
• Guided tour of the Residenz
• Car Rouge audio system

Hotels

4* Superior Hotel Platzl

4* Superior Hotel Platzl

Platzl Hotel Superior

About the opera

Giacomo Puccini: “La Bohème”

“Che gelida manina” – What an ice-cold little hand!

For the libretto, Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa drew on the novel “Scènes de la vie de bohème” by Henry Murger. Puccini composed the music during 1895 at his villa in Torre del Lago. Arturo Toscanini conducted the world premiere at the Teatro Regio di Torino on 1 February 1896.

The settings are “Sous les toits de Paris” and the Café Momus on the Rue Saint-Germain-l’Auxerrois on Christmas Eve 1830.

In the freezing attic, Marcello is painting his picture “Le passage de la Mer Rouge”. The poet Rodolfo stares at the snowy sky. “Eureka,” he suddenly cries. “L’idea vampi in fiamma.” The manuscript goes up in flames. The philosopher Colline comments on the glowing embers. The musician Schaunard throws down a Louis d’or: “Luigi Filippo ai nostri piedi!” The quartet spins fantasies. The landlord Benoit demands the rent. The gentlemen draw him into conversation: “L’altra sera al Mabil l’han colto in peccato d’amor.” He boasts: “Son vecchio ma robusto.” He seeks his amusements outside the home. The gentlemen feign indignation and usher him out of the door. That is how you pay the quarter’s rent! Off to the “Momus”! Rodolfo stays behind to finish an article for the “Castoro”. His neighbour Mimì appears with a candle that has gone out and her keys. She faints. He helps her. She wants to leave again, but her candle and his are both extinguished. She loses her key. He finds it, but holds her back: “Che gelida manina!” Her name: Mimì. He is enchanted: “O soave fanciulla!” and kisses her. She confesses: “Io t’amo!”

A turbulent scene in the Latin Quarter. Vendors are hawking all manner of wares. Mimì spots a pretty bonnet, “una cuffietta e un bel vezzo di corallo”, while Colline discovers a rare example of “grammatica runica”. Dinner is being served at Café Momus. Colline and Schaunard quote Latin. The children shout “Parpignol!” At the next table, Musetta and the elderly Alcindoro have taken their seats. Who is she? Marcello, none too flatteringly: “un uccello sanguinario”. She makes a scene and sends her plate flying (“una puzza di rifritto”). Mimì believes Marcello is in love with Musetta. That was once the case. Colline contents himself with his pipe and Greek texts. Musetta feigns a painful foot to draw attention to herself. Marcello weakens. The waiter brings “il conto”. Musetta demands that both bills be paid, then promptly hands hers to her escort and leaves him empty-handed (“E dove s’è seduto, ritrovi il suo saluto!”). A military tattoo (“ritirata”) with the “tambur maggiore” marches in. Musetta is carried aloft by Marcello and Colline.

“La Barriera d’Enfer” on a February morning. Le lattivendole, the milkmaids, are already on their way. Mimì is looking for Marcello. Musetta is giving singing lessons. Mimì does not want to meet the jealous Rodolfo.

There is talk of parting. He confesses to his friend: he loves Mimì, but she is ill. Love alone is not enough to keep her alive. Mimì despairs: “al solitario nido ritorna un’altra volta”. They bid each other farewell, while Marcello and Musetta quarrel. He, jealous: “sotto il mio cappello non ci stan certi ornamenti”. Musetta scornfully calls the cuckolded lover a “Pittore da bottega”.

Back in the attic: Marcello and Rodolfo throw down pen and brush. Schaunard brings four pagnotte. Colline serves up a herring. The gentlemen dance with one another: gavotta, menuetto, pavanella, quadriglia, rondo. They fence with fire tongs and pokers. Musetta has found Mimì exhausted in the street. Marcello is to fetch a doctor. Mimì and Rodolfo recall the beautiful times of their first meeting. Marcello brings cordial drops. Musetta sings “Madonna benedetta”. Schaunard: “È spirata.” Rodolfo’s last cry: “Mimì!”