Acts II AND III
Relayed from the Royal Opera House,
Covent Garden Marcet INGHILIERI
THE libretto of La Boheme is founded upon
Henri Murger 's novel La Vie do Boheme.'
In Act I Rudolph and Mimi first meet and declare their love.
ACT II
The Second Act is a gay scene in a crowded, noisy square, on a merry Christmas Eve. Schaunard, the musician, Marcel the painter (both of these are Baritones), and Colline the philosopher (Bass) have come to dine at the Cafe Momus. The poet Rudolph (Tenor) brings Mimi (Soprano) to join them. The dinner party is a merry one, the food and drink lavish, for one of the artists has had a windfall.
Presently a coquette, Musetta (Soprano), appears, followed up by a wealthy old man, Alcindoro (Bass). These two sit down to dinner close to the five friends, who recognize Musetta, and pass facetious remarks.
Musotta is, in fact, ån old flame of Marcel's, and tries to attract him, much to his discomfiture. She manages to get rid of her aged admirer for a while, and she and Marcel fall into each other's arms.
Then the military tattoo approaches, and the party of Bohemians, preparing to go home, find they have not enough money to pay for their dinners. Musetta tells the waiter to put everything on her bill, and goes away with the artists and Mimi, leaving the bill for the old man to pay when he returns.
(Interval)
TOPICAL TALK
ACT III
Scene : At the city gate.
This Act brings a great change of feeling in the drama, which is strongly reflected in the music. It is winter, and the curtain rises on a group of scavengers and others, waiting in the raw, frosty early morning for one of the Gates of Paris to be opened. Sounds of revelry, including Musetta's voice, are heard from the tavern near by. Mimi, now apparently weak and ill, enters, and asks at the inn for Marcel, who is living here with Musetta, and who quickly comes to her. She asks him to help her. Quarrels have occurred; she and Rudolph find it difficult to live together, but equally difficult to part. Rudolph enters, and Mimi hides behind a tree. Rudolph, it appears, is torn by jealousy. He tells Marcel much the same tale as has just been heard from Mimi, and also expresses a fear that Mimi is dying. Mimi reveals herself by her coughing and sobbing.
Mimi and Rudolph sadly talk of separating.
Marcel, meanwhile, has hoard Musetta flirting in the inn, and these two, quarrelling, form a quartet with Mimi and Rudolph.
Musetta and Marcel go their own ways, shouting epithets at each other. Mimi and Rudolph move off together, singing ' Shall we await another spring ? '
The remainder of the work tolls of the parting of Rudolph and Mimi, of their reconciliation, and of Mimi's death from consumption.