La Boheme

La Boheme

The Project Gutenberg eBook, La Boheme, by Giuseppe Giacosa and
Luigi Illica, et al, Translated by W. Grist and P. Pinkerton
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Title: La Boheme
Author: Giuseppe Giacosa and Luigi Illica
Release Date: October 24, 2004 [eBook #13843]
Language: English
Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
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BOHEME***
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Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team

LIBRETTO: LA BOHÈME
An Opera in Four Acts
Libretto by G. GIACOSA and L. ILLICA
English Version by W. GRIST and P. PINKERTON
Music by GIACOMO PUCCINI

CHARACTERS
RUDOLPH (a poet) Tenor SCHAUNARD (a musician) Baritone
BENOIT (a landlord) Bass MIMI Soprano PARPIGNOL Tenor
MARCEL (a painter) Baritone COLLINE (a philosopher) Bass
ALCINDORO (a councilor of state) Bass MUSETTA Soprano
CUSTOM-HOUSE SERGEANT Bass
Students, Work Girls, Citizens, Shopkeepers, Street Vendors, Soldiers,

Restaurant Waiters, Boys, Girls, etc.
TIME ABOUT 1830--IN PARIS

SYNOPSIS
The opera is founded on Henri Murger's book "La Vie de Bohème."
ACT I
Rudolph and Marcel are sitting in the latter's attic-studio in the Quartier
Latin, in Paris. Marcel is absorbed in his painting. The day is cold.
They have no money to buy coal. Marcel takes a chair to burn it, when
Rudolph remembers that he has a manuscript which has been rejected
by the publishers and lights a fire with that instead. Colline enters,
looking abject and miserable. He had gone out to pawn his books, but
nobody wanted them. Their friend, Schaunard, however, had better luck.
He comes bringing fuel and provisions. They all prepare their meal,
when the landlord enters and demands the payment of his rent. The
friends offer him a glass of wine and turn him out amidst joking and
laughter. After their gay repast they separate and Rudolph remains
alone writing.
A knock is heard at the door and Mimi, a little seamstress, who lives on
the same floor, appears and asks Rudolph to give her a match to light
her candle. As she is about to go out, she falls in a faint. Rudolph gives
her wine and restores her to consciousness. She tells him that she
suffers from consumption. Rudolph is struck by her beauty and her
delicate hands. She notices that she has lost her key and whilst they
search for it their candles are extinguished. As they grope on the floor
in the dark, Rudolph finds the key and puts it in his pocket. Their hands
meet and Rudolph tries to warm her hands and tells her all about his
life. Mimi confides her struggles to him and their conversation soon
turns upon their love for each other.
ACT II
Rudolph's friends have repaired to their favorite Café. It is Christmas
Eve and everyone is in festive spirits. All the shops are bright and
displaying their goods. Hawkers offer their goods for sale in the streets.
Rudolph and Mimi are seen entering a milliner's where Rudolph is to
buy her a new hat. Colline, Schaunard and Marcel take their seats in
front of the Café, where a table has been prepared for them. Rudolph
introduces Mimi to his friends. Musetta, Marcel's flame, with whom he

has quarrelled, now enters with Alcindoro. Marcel is deeply moved
when he sees her. Musetta notices this and sends Alcindoro on an
errand. Whilst he is away, she makes peace with Marcel. The friends
find that they have not sufficient money to pay for their supper, so they
carry off Musetta and leave their bills to be paid by Alcindoro.
ACT III
Months have elapsed, bringing joy and misery to Rudolph and Mimi.
Rudolph loves Mimi passionately, but is consumed with jealousy. On a
wintry day, Marcel is seen leaving a tavern near the Gates of Paris. He
meets Mimi; she looks pale and haggard. She asks Marcel to help her
and tells him of Rudolph's love and jealousy, explaining that she must
leave him. Rudolph now comes upon the scene and not seeing Mimi
tells of all the miseries of their lives; how he loves her and believes her
to be dying of consumption. Mimi's cough betrays her and although she
says good-bye to Rudolph they find they cannot part and determine to
await the spring. Meanwhile Musetta and Marcel have a violent
quarrel.
ACT IV
Marcel and Rudolph are now living together in their attic-studio.
Musetta and Mimi have left them. They are seemingly working, but
their thoughts wander towards the women they love. Schaunard and
Colline enter with rolls and a herring for