Tragic Story of Mimi In Opera

Radio Record, 29 April 1938, Page 21

Tragic Story of Mimi In Opera

LAUGHTER OF THE BOHEMIANS ENDS IN SADNESS

PPUCCINT’S Bohemians, taken from Murger’s novel of Paris life, were Colline, the great philosopher, Marcel the great painter, Rudolph, the great poet, and Schaunard, the great musician---insepurable comrades, At their favourite haunt, the Cafe Momus, they were known as "the four Musketeers." The period js about 1830. ‘The scene of Act I is the garret which they share. It is Christmas Eve and bitterly cold; there is no fuel for their stove. Marcel offers to burn his picture, ‘The Crossing of the Red Sea,’ but Colline and Rudolph object thats the smell would be too unpleasant, and Rudoiph nobly sacrifices the manuscript of a tragedy, burning it act by act. As its feeble warmth yanishes, errand boys come in with food, drink and fuel, followed by Schaunard, who is in funds; he has found a generous patron. They proceed to toast each other in the unlooked-for wine, when their landlord, Benoir, appears to démand his overdue rent. They make him drink with them and chaff him, turning him out half tipsy, and then Schaunard insists that the occasion demands a festive meal at the cafe. Rudolf ha's an article he must write and stays behind, promising, as the others go out, to follow soon, It is then Mimi enters, a pale and fragile girl, who introduces herself as a neighbour, asking for a light for her

eandle. Rudolf and she are at once attracted to one another. "Your tiny hand is frozen," he sings, and "They Call me Mimi," she tells him-two of the best-known pieces of melody.in the opera, a The voices of the others are heard Without, calling Rudolph to join them, and with Mimi's arm in his, they go out together, confessing their love for one another. The cafe is at one side of the scene in the second act-a square where four streets meet. A merry throng of people are there. A supper-party, including the "Four Musketeers" and Mimi, is the setting for the ensuing action. When the curtain rises on Act IIL it is daybreak on a wintry morning at one of the city gates of Paris. Mimi comes in, pale and coughing, from the tavern; Marcel, and, a little later, Rudolph and Musettg join her. The young people are accusing ech other jealously of faithlessness and tiie two-fold quarrel becomes a _ quartet, which is one of the outstanding numbers of the whole work. The final act is again the garret of the Bohemians. Here what begins as a frolic ends in stark tragedy with the death of poor Mimi. The scene at the curtain is one of the most impressive in all opera. A complete recorded presentation of Puccini’s opera "La Boheme" will be heard from 1YA on Sunday, May 1.