"I put all my soul into
Bohčme, and I love it boundlessly. I love its creatures more than I
can say." ...Giacomo Puccini
"La
Bohčme is the opera I love most. It's probably the first opera I
listened to in its entirety when I was a child. It's a very real and
contemporary story. Rodolfo and Mimė are very much human - they are
not symbols or heroes - they are simple people: they love, they work
and they fight. Like most of us do. Undoubtedly, Puccini's
music is 'la musica dei sentimenti', the music of feelings, passion and
tears." ... Andrea Bocelli
"Andrea is a lyric tenor
with a voice of real beauty. His sense of romance and melody exalts
the very essence of the bohemian Rodolfo." ... Franco Corelli on
Andrea Bocelli's performance in Sardinai in 1998. Many of the
pictures on this page and in the slide show are from this performance.
It is Christmas Eve in Paris. Two poverty-stricken young bohemians,
Marcello, a painter, and Rodolfo, a poet, attempt unsuccessfully to work
in their freezing garret; in desperation, they burn one of Rodolfo's
dramas to keep warm. Their two roommates, Colline, a philosopher, and
Schaunard, a musician, return home. Even though Schaunard has brought home
some food, the bohemians decide to take their holiday dinner in the Latin
Quarter. Just then, Benoit, their landlord, arrives to demand his overdue
rent. The men ply him with drink, and when he boasts of marital
indiscretions, they throw him out with feigned indignation. Marcello,
Colline, and Schaunard leave for the Latin Quarter. Rodolfo promises to
join them after finishing some work, but a knock at the door interrupts
him. Mimė, a young neighbor, enters, wishing to relight her candle.
Obviously ill, she nearly faints, and drops her room key. Rodolfo is
instantly attracted to her and manages to detain her by concealing her key
after he secretly finds it. He also snuffs out his own candle, and as the
two search in the darkness for her key, their hands touch. The
couple tell each other about themselves, (Che gelida manina
and Si me chiamano Mimi) and then singing of their new-found love,
(O soave fanciulla)
go to join the others at the café.
A festive crowd celebrates Christmas Eve in the Latin Quarter. Rodolfo
buys a bonnet for Mimė as Marcello, Colline and Schaunard sit down at a
table outside the Café Momus. Rodolfo introduces Mimė to his roommates. Their carefree
mood changes abruptly when Musetta, Marcellos former lover, appears
with Alcindoro, her elderly paramour, in tow. Musetta attempts to attract
the attention of Marcello, (Quando me n'vō - Musetta's
waltz) who deliberately ignores her, but then finally
succumbs to her charms. Musetta shrewdly gets rid of Alcindoro, and
instructs the waiter to give him all of their bills. She and the bohemians
escape through the crowd.
Early one snowy February morning at the Barriere dEnfer, a tollgate in
Paris, Mimė arrives seeking Marcello, who is painting a mural at the
local tavern. She tells him that she and Rodolfo have separated, driven
apart by his jealousy. Earlier that morning, Rodolfo had arrived at the
inn himself, and when he now emerges to speak with Marcello, (Marcello,
finalmente!) Mimė
conceals herself and overhears their conversation. Rodolfo tells Marcello
that he wants to leave Mimė because of her flirtatious behavior. (Mimi č una civetta)
Finally,
he confesses that she is mortally ill and admits his guilty feelings; he
knows that the harsh conditions of their life together have undoubtedly
worsened her health. (Mimi č tanto malata!) Hearing Mimės coughing, Rodolfo suddenly realizes
that she has overheard everything. The two lovers pledge to stay together
until spring, while Marcello and Musetta argue viciously and separate.
Rodolfo and Marcello, now separated from Mimė and Musetta, again attempt
to work in their garret. Schaunard and Colline arrive with supper, and the
four fantasize about attending a fancy ball and then enact a mock duel.
Suddenly, Musetta enters with Mimė, who is near death and wants to be
with Rodolfo. Musetta
and Marcello leave to sell some of their possessions
in order to buy Mimė medicine and a muff, and to summon a doctor. Colline
also departs to sell his coat for needed money. Left alone for a few
moments, Mimė and Rodolfo reminisce about their first meeting and their
love. (Sono andati?
Fingevo di dormire) The others
return as Mimė falls asleep. They all realize she has died except
Rodolfo. He glances at his friends and senses the tragic
truth. Rodolfo falls across Mimė 's lifeless body with despairing
cries and sobs of grief. (Che ha detto il
medico?)
La Bohčme is based on Henri Murgers "Scčnes de la vie de
Bohčme," (Scenes of the Bohemian life,) which was drawn
from Murgers own experiences as a struggling writer in Paris in the
1830s. Puccinis characters were drawn directly from Murgers
story.
Rodolfo, the poet and writer, was Murger himself. Marcello was a
figure drawn from several painters whom Murger knew. Schaunard is based on
the real life Alexandre Schanne who actually called himself Schaunard- a
Renaissance man a painter, a writer who published his memoirs, and a
musician and composer of rather unorthodox symphonies. Colline, the
philosopher, was modeled after a friend they called the "Green
Giant," because of his oversized green overcoat.
Oddly, the affair of
Rodolfo and Mimė is based on a secondary story line about the love and
poverty of a sculptor named Jacques and the seamstress, Francine. A muff
for her cold hands was Francines last wish one which Puccini and
his librettists gave to Mimė.
As for Puccini, La Bohčme portrayed many of his own personal
experiences. When he was in his twenties and attending the conservatory in
Milan, he was like the bohemians in his opera story - a starving young
artist. Pietro Mascagni, who later composed Cavalleria Rusticana and
L'amico Fritz, was
Puccinis roommate. They lived in a garret where they were forbidden to
cook, pooled their pennies to buy necessities, and dodged their creditors.
And like Colline in the fourth act of the opera, Puccini once pawned his
coat for money - but not for such a noble cause he was taking a young
ballerina out on the town!
Rodolfo
pretends to look for Mimi's key while trying to move closer to her. Finally he touches her hand in
the darkness.
Rodolfo
Che gelida manina,
se la lasci riscaldar.
Cercar che giova?
Al buio non si trova.
Ma per fortuna
č una notte di luna,
e qui la luna
l'abbiamo vicina.
Aspetti, signorina,
le dirō con due parole
chi son, e che faccio,
come vivo. Vuole?
Chi son? Sono un poeta.
Che cosa faccio? Scrivo.
E come vivo? Vivo.
In povertā mia lieta
scialo da gran signore
rime ed inni d'amore.
Per sogni e per chimere
e per castelli in aria,
l'anima ho milionaria.
Talor dal mio forziere
ruban tutti i gioelli
due ladri, gli occhi belli.
V'entrar con voi pur ora,
ed i miei sogni usati
e i bei sogni miei,
tosto si dileguar!
Ma il furto non m’accora,
poichč, poichč v’ha preso stanza
la speranza!
Or che mi conoscete,
parlate voi, deh! Parlate. Chi siete?
Vi piaccia dir!
How cold your little hand is,
let me warm it for you.
What's the use of looking?
We won't find it in the dark.
But luckily
it's a moonlit night,
and the moon
is near us here. As Mimi tries
to withdraw her hand
Wait, mademoiselle,
I will tell you in two words
who I am, what I do,
and how I live. May I? Mimi says
nothing. Rodolfo releases
her hand.
Who am I? I am a poet.
What do I do? I write.
And how do I live? I live.
In my carefree poverty
I squander rhymes
and love songs like a lord.
When it comes to dreams and visions
and castles in the air,
I've the soul of a millionaire.
From time to time two thieves
steal all the jewels
out of my safe, two pretty eyes.
They came in with you just now,
and my customary dreams
my lovely dreams,
melted at once into thin air!
But the theft doesn't anger me,
for their place has been
taken by hope!
Now that you know all about me,
Speak, tell me who you are.
Please do!
Sė. Mi chiamano Mimė,
ma il mio nome č Lucia.
La storia mia č breve.
A tela o a seta
ricamo in casa e fuori ...
Son tranquilla e lieta
ed č mio svago
far gigli e rose.
Mi piaccion quelle cose
che han si dolce malia,
che parlano d'amor, di primavere,
che parlano di sogni e di chimere,
quelle cose che han nome poesia...
Lei m'intende? Rodolfo
Sė. Mimė
Mi chiamano Mimė,
il perchč non so.
Sola, mi fo
il pranzo da me stessa.
Non vado sempre a messa,
ma prego assai il Signore.
Vivo sola, soletta
lā in una bianca cameretta:
guardo sui tetti e in cielo;
ma quando vien lo sgelo
il primo sole č mio
il primo bacio dell'aprile č mio!
il primo sole č mio!
Germoglia in un vaso una rosa...
Foglia a foglia la spiol
Cosi gentile il profumo d'un fiore!
Ma i fior chlio faccio, ahimč!
i fior chlio faccio, ahimč!
non hanno odore.
Altro di me non le saprei narrare.
Sono la sua vicina che la vien
fuori d'ora a importunate.
Yes, they call me Mimė,
But my name is Lucia
My history is brief
To linen or to silk
I embroider at home or outside ...
I am contented and happy
And it is my pastime
To make lilies and roses
I like these things
That have such sweet enchantment,
That speak of love, of springtime,
That speak of dreams and of visions
Those things that are called poetic
Do you understand me?
Yes.
They call me Mimė,
And why I don't know.
Alone, I make
Lunch for myself.
I do not always go to mass,
But I pray a lot to the Lord.
I live alone, quite alone.
There is a little white room
I look upon the roofs and the sky.
But when the thaw comes
The first sunshine is mine
The first kiss of April is mine!
The first sunshine is mine!
A rose opens in a vase
Petal by petal I watch it!
That gentle perfume of a flower!
But the flowers that I make, alas!
the flowers that I make, alas!
they have no odor!
About me I know nothing else to tell
I am your neighbor who comes
to bother you at the wrong moment.
A
moonbeam shines through the window on Mimi, Rodolfo, turning, sees her.
Rodolfo
O soave fanciulla, o dolce viso
di mite circonfuso alba lunar
in te, vivo ravviso il sogno
ch'io vorrei sempre sognar! Mimė Ah! tu sol comandi, amor!... Rodolfo Fremon giā nell'anima
le dolcezze estreme,
nel bacio freme amor! Mimė Oh! come dolci scendono
le sue lusinghe al core...
tu sol comandi, amore!...
No, per pietā! Rodolfo Sei mia! Mimė V'aspettan gli amici... Rodolfo Giā mi mandi via? Mimė Vorrei dir... ma non oso... Rodolfo Dė Mimė Se venissi con voi? Rodolfo Che?... Mimė?
Sarebbe cosė dolce restar qui.
C'č freddo fuori. Mimė Vi starō vicina!... Rodolfo E al ritorno? Mimė Curioso! Rodolfo Dammi il braccio, mia piccina. Mimė Obbedisco, signor! Rodolfo Che m'ami di'... Mimė Io t'amo! Together
Amor! Amor! Amor!
Oh lovely girl, oh sweet face
bathed in the soft moonlight.
I see you in a dream
I'd dream forever!
Ah! Love, you rule alone!
Already I taste in spirit
the heights of tenderness!
Love trembles at our kiss!
How sweet his praises
enter my heart...
Love, you alone rule! He kisses
Mimi.
No, please! She frees
herself.
You're mine!
Your friends are waiting. You send me away already? I dare not say what I'd like... Tell me. If I came with you...?
What? Mimi!
It would be so fine to stay here.
Outside it's cold. I'd be near you! And when we come back? Coquettishly
Who knows? Gallantly
Give me your arm, my dear...
Your servant, sir... Tell me you love me!
I love you. They exit, arm
in arm Love! Love! Love!
Musetta
Quando me nvō
Quando me nvō soletta per la via,
La gente sosta e mira
E la bellezza mia tutta ricerca in me,
ricerca in me
Da capo a pie' ... Marcello
Legatemi alla seggiola! Alcindoro
Quella genta, che dirā? Musetta
Ed assaporo allor la bramosia
sottil che da gl'occhi traspira
e dai palesi vezzi intender sa
Alle occulte beltā.
Cosi leffluvio del desio tutta m'aggira,
felice mi fa, felice me fa! Alcindoro
Quel canto scurrile
mi muove la bile!
Me muove la bile! Musetta
E tu che sai, che memori e ti struggi
Da me tanto rifuggi? Mimė
Io vedo ben che quella
poveretta tutta invaghita ellč! Musetta
So ben:
le angoscie tue non le vuoi dir,
Ma ti senti morir! Mimė
- tutta invaghita di Marcel
tutta invaghita ellč!
Alcindoro
Quella genta, che dirā! Rodolfo
Marcello un dė lamō - Schaunard
Ah! Marcello cederā! Rodolfo
- la fraschetta labbandonō - Colline
Chi sa mai quel che avverrā! Rodolfo
- per poi darsi a miglior vita - Schaunard
Trovan dolce al pari il laccio - Colline
Santi numi, in simil briga Schaunard
- chi lo tende e chi ci dā! Colline
- mai Colline intopperā! Musetta
(Ah! Marcello smania
Marcello č vinto!) Alcindoro
Parla pian! Zitta, zitta! Mimė
Quellinfelice mi muove a pietā! Colline
Essa č bella, io non cieco Mimė
Tamo! Rodolfo
Mimė! Schaunard
Quel bravaccio a momenti cederā!
Stupenda č la commedia! Musetta
So bene angoscie tue
non le vuoi dir.
Ah! Ma ti senti morir! Mimė
Quellinfelice mi muove a pietā!
Lamor ingeneroso č tristo amor! Rodolfo
Č fiacco amor
quel che le offese vendicar no sa!
Non risorge spento amor! Colline
- ma piaccion mi assai pių
una pipa e un testo greco,
mi piaccion assai pių! Alcindoro
Modi, garbo!
Zitta, zitta! Musetta
Io voglio fare il mio piacere!
Voglio far quel che mi par,
non seccar! Mimė
Quellinfelice, ah! ah!
mi muove, mi muove a pietā! Rodolfo
Č fiacco amore
quel che le offese vendicar no sa! Schaunard
Se tal vaga persona
ti trattasse a tu per tu,
la tua scienza brontolona
manderesti a Belzebų! Colline
Essa č bella, non son cieco,
ma piaccion mi assai pių
una pipa e un testo greco! Musetta
(Ora convien liberarsi de vecchio!)
Ahi! Alcindoro
Che cč? Musetta
Qual dolore, qual bruciore! Alcindoro
Dove? Musetta
Al pič!
Sciogli, slaccia, rompi, straccia!
Te ne imploro
Laggių cč un calzolaio.
Corri, presto! Marcello
Gioventų mia tu non sei morta Alcindoro
Imprudente! Musetta
Ne voglio un altro paio, ahi,
che fitta, maledetta scarpa stretta.
Or la levo Marcello
- nč di te morto č il sovvenir! Alcindoro
Quella gente, che dirā? Schaunard & Colline
La commedia č stupenda -
La commedia č stupenda! Marcello
Se tu battessi alla mia porta
tandrebbe il mio core ad aprir,
ad aprir! Musetta
Eccola qua.
Corri, va, corri!
Presto! Va! Va! Mimė
Io vedo ben,
ellč invaghita de Marcello! Rodolfo
Io vedo ben -
La commedia č stupenda!
Alcindoro
Ma il mio grado!
Vuoi chio comprometta?
Aspetta! Musetta! Vo!
Musetta very obviously sings to Marcello.
When I walk
When I walk alone in the street
People stop and stare at me
And everyone looks at my beauty,
Looks at me,
From head to foot... Most
agitatedly.
Tie me to the chair!
Those people, what will they say?
And then I relish the sly yearning
which escapes from their eyes
and which is able to perceive
my most hidden beauties.
Thus the scent of desire is all around me,
and it makes me happy, makes me happy! Alcindoro
tries vainly to hush Musetta.
That scurrilous song
provokes my wrath!
It enrages me!
And you who know, who remember and yearn
you shrink from me? To
Rodolfo
I see very well that this
poor girl is all in love!
I know it very well:
you don't want to express your anguish,
but you feel as if you're dying!
All in love with Marcello,
shes all in love! Marcello
rises to leave, but cannot resist
Musettas voice.
Those people, what will they say! To
Mimė
Marcello used to love her -
Ah! Marcello is going to yield!
- the flirt abandoned him -
Who knows what will happen!
- in order to lead a better life -
One finds the snare as sweet as the other -
Holy saints, in a like affair -
- the one who sets it and the one who falls into it.
Colline will never fall! To herself
(Ah! Marcello is raging
Marcello is conquered!)
Speak softly! Quiet, quiet!
I pity that unhappy girl!
She is beautiful, I am not blind Mimė snuggles
up to Rodolfo.
I love you! Rodolfo
squeezes Mimė.
Mimė!
That swaggerer is going to yield in a moment!
The comedy is stupendous! Musetta now
directly faces Marcello.
I well know your anguish,
you will not tell it!
Ah! yet you feel yourself dying!
I pity that unhappy girl!
Selfish love is unhappy love!
It is a feeble love
that does not know how to avenge itself!
A dead love does not revive!
- but I much prefer
a pipe and a Greek text,
they please me much more! Furiously.
Behave yourself, cant you!
Quiet, quiet!
I will do just as I please!
I will do whatever I like,
dont bother me!
That unhappy girl! Ah! ah!
I pity, I pity her!
It is a feeble love
that does not know how to avenge itself! To Colline
If such an attractive person
treated you to a tęte-ā-tęte,
youd consign your grumbling
maxims to the devil!
She is beautiful, I am not blind,
but - I much prefer
a pipe and a Greek text! Aside
(Now is the time to get rid of the old man!) She
pretends to have a pain in her foot.
Ow!
What is it?
What pain, what agony!
Where?
In my foot! Alcindoro
unties her shoe.
Untie it, loosen it, break it, tear it!
I beg you
Theres a cobbler down there.
Run, quick!
My youth you are not dead -
Be more discreet!
I want another pair, ow,
what a pain, damned tight shoe. Removing her
shoe.
Now Ill take it off -
- nor is your memory dead!
Those people, what will they say?
The comedy is stupendous -
The comedy is stupendous!
If you knocked at my door,
my heart would run to open it to you,
to open it! Placing her
shoe on the table.
There it is.
Run, go, run!
Quick! Go! Go!
I can see full well,
she is in love with Marcello!
I can see full well,
the comedy is stupendous! Embarrassed,
Alcindoro hides the shoe
under his coat.
But my dignity!
Do you want me to compromise it?
Wait! Musetta! I am going! As soon as
Alcindoro leaves, Musetta
and Marcello rush into each others arms.
Marcello!
Mimė hides as Rodolfo hurries
out of the inn to Marcello.
Rodolfo
Marcello. Finalmente!
Qui niun ci sente,
Io voglio separarmi da Mimė. Marcello
Sei volubil cosė? Rodolfo Giā unaltra volta credetti
morto il mio cor,
Ma di queglocchi azzurri allo splendor
esso č risorto.
Ora il tedio lassal Marcello E gli vuoi rinnovare il funeral? Rodolfo Per sempre! Marcello Cambia metro.
Dei pazzi č lamor tetro che
Lacrime distilla. Se non ride
E sfavilla, lamore č fiacco e rocco.
Tu sei geloso. Rodolfo Un poco. Marcello Collerico, lunatico,
Imbevuto di pregiudizi,
Noioso, cocciuto. Mimė Or lo fa incollerir.
Me poveretta!
Marcello. At last!
No one will hear us out here.
I want to separate from Mimė.
Are you so inconstant?
Already once before,
I thought my heart was dead,
but at the splendor of those blue eyes,
it was revived.
Now weariness assails it
And you want to repeat the funeral for it?
Forever!
Change your tune.
Its the gloomy love of madmen that
distills tears. If it doesnt laugh
and sparkle, love grows weak and hoarse.
Youre jealous.
A little.
Choleric, lunatic,
Full of prejudices,
Moody, headstrong. Aside Now hell make him furious.
Poor little me!
Rodolfo
Mimė č una civetta
che frascheggia con tutti.
Un moscardino di Viscontino
le fa l'occhio di triglia.
Ella sgonnella e scopre la caviglia
con un far promettente e lusinghier. Marcello
Lo devo dir?
Non mi sembri sincer. Rodolfo
Ebbene no, non lo son.
Invan, invan nascondo
la mia vera tortura.
Amo Mimė
sovra ogni cosa al mondo, io l'amo,
ma ho paura, ma ho paura!
Mimė is a coquette
Who flirts with everyone.
A dandy of a little Viscount
Makes lovesick eyes at her.
She lifts her skirts and shows her leg
In a most promising and provocative way .
Should I say it?
You dont seem sincere to me.
All right then, no, Im not.
In vain, in vain I hide it,
My real anguish.
I love Mimė,
More than anything in the world, I love her,
But Im afraid, Im afraid!
Rodolfo
Mimė č tanto malata!
Ogni dė pių declina.
La povera piccina
č condannata! Marcello
Mimė? Mimė
Che vuol dire? Rodolfo
Una terribile tosse
l'esil petto le scuote
e giā le smunte gote
di sangue ha rosse... Marcello
Povera Mimė! Mimė
Ahimč, morire! Rodolfo
La mia stanza č una tana squallida
il fuoco ho spento.
V'entra e l'aggira il vento
di tramontana.
Essa canta e sorride
e il rimorso m'assale.
Me, cagion del fatale
mal che l'uccide! Marcello
Che far dunque? Mimė
O mia vita!
Mimė is so sick!
Every day she gets worse.
The poor little thing
Is doomed! He
moves out of Mimės earshot Mimė? She
moves closer to them. What does he mean?
A terrible cough
Shakes her slender breast,
And yet her pale cheeks
Are flushed Marcello
is upset, knowing Mimė can hear. Poor Mimė! Weeping Alas to die!
My room is a squalid hole
Ive used up the fire
The north wind enters there
And whirls around.
She sings and smiles,
And remorse attacks me
I am the cause of the fatal
Illness that is killing her.
Marcello and Musetta have left to buy medicine and find a doctor.
Schaunard glances around. As an excuse for leaving, he picks up the water
bottle, and follows Colline out, softly shutting the door. Mimė opens her
eyes and holds out her hands to Rodolfo.
Mimė
Sono andati? Fingevo di dormire
perché volli con te sola restare.
Ho tante cose che ti voglio dire,
o una sola, ma grande come il mare,
come il mare profonda ed infinita...
Sei il mio amore e tutta la mia vita! Rodolfo
Ah, Mimė, mia bella Mimė! Mimė
Son bella ancora? Rodolfo
Bella come un'aurora. Mimė
Hai sbagliato il raffronto.
Volevi dir: bella come un tramonto.
"Mi chiamano Mimė,
Mi chiamano Mimė
il perché non so...". Rodolfo
Tornō al nido la rondine e cinguetta. Mimė
La mia cuffietta, la mia cuffietta!
Ah! Te lo rammenti quando sono
entrata la prima volta, lā? Rodolfo
Se lo rammento! Mimė
Il lume si era spento... Rodolfo
Eri tanto turbata!
Poi smarristi la chiave... Mimė
E a cercarla tastoni ti sei messo!... Rodolfo
...e cerca, cerca... Mimė
Mio bel signorino,
posso ben dirlo adesso:
lei la trovō assai presto... Rodolfo
Aiutavo il destino... Mimė
Era buio; e il mio rossor non si vedeva...
"Che gelida manina...
Se la lasci riscaldar!..."
Era buio, e la man tu mi prendevi...
Are they gone? I was pretending to sleep
because I wanted to be left alone with you.
I have so many things I want to tell you,
or only one thing, but as huge as the ocean,
deep and infinite as the sea.
You are my love and my whole life!
Oh, Mimė, my beautiful Mimė!
Am I still beautiful?
Lovely as a sunrise -
Your comparison is wrong.
You meant: lovely as a sunset.
"They call me Mimė
They call me Mimė -
why I dont know "
The swallows returned to the nest and sings. He
shows Mimė the bonnet he has kept. My bonnet, my little bonnet!
Ah! Do you remember when
I came here for the first time?
Do I remember!
The candle had gone out
You were so upset!
Then you lost the key
And you began groping around to find it!
And I searched and searched
My handsome young sir,
I can tell you now,
you found it quite soon
I was helping fate
It was dark, and my blushing couldnt be seen-
What a frozen little hand
let me warm it for you "
It was dark, and you held my hand She has
a sudden, violent coughing spell and sinks back, exhausted.
Rodolfo cautiously moves away from Mimė and motions to the others to
be still. He speaks to Marcello.
Rodolfo
Che ha detto il medico? Marcello
Verrā.
Musetta
Madonna benedetta,
fate la grazia a questa poveretta
che non debba morire.
Qui ci vuole un riparo
perché la fiamma sventola.
Cosė. E che possa guarire.
Madonna santa,
io sono indegna di perdono,
mentre invece Mimė
č un angelo del cielo. Rodolfo
Io spero ancora.
Vi pare che sia grave? Musetta
Non credo.
Schaunard Marcello, č spirata...
Colline Musetta, a voi!
Come va?...
Rodolfo
Vedi?... Č tranquilla.
Che vuol dire
quell'andare e venire,
quel guardarmi cosė...
Marcello
Coraggio!
Rodolfo
Mimė... Mimė!...
What did the doctor say?
He will come. Musetta heats
the medicine over the spirit lamp. She prays almost unconsciously.
Blessed Madonna,
show grace to the poor little girl
that she need not die. She
motions to Marcello.
This needs a screen here,
because the flame flickers. Marcello
approaches and puts a book on the table forming a windscreen for the lamp.
So. And that she will recover.
Holy Madonna,
I am unworthy of forgiveness,
while instead Mimė
is an angel of the heavens.
While
Musetta prays, Rodolfo approaches her. I am still hoping.
Does it seem serious to you?
I dont think so.
Schaunard tiptoes to the bedside. Horrified, he goes over to Marcello. Marcello, shes dead A ray of sun
falls through the window onto Mimė. Rodolfo takes Musettas cloak and
tries to hang it over the window. Colline enters softly and lays some
money on the table. Musetta for you. He goes
Io spero ancora.
Vi pare che sia grave? Musetta
Non credo.
Schaunard
Marcello, č spirata...
Colline Musetta, a voi!
Come va?...
Rodolfo
Vedi?... Č tranquilla.
Che vuol dire
quell'andare e venire,
quel guardarmi cosė...
Marcello
Coraggio!
Even though Schaunard has brought home
some food, the bohemians decide to take their holiday dinner in the Latin
Quarter. Just then, Benoit, their landlord, arrives to demand his overdue
rent. The men ply him with drink, and when he boasts of marital
indiscretions, they throw him out with feigned indignation. Marcello,
Colline, and Schaunard leave for the Latin Quarter. Rodolfo promises to
join them after finishing some work, but a knock at the door interrupts
him. Mimė, a young neighbor, enters, wishing to relight her candle.
Obviously ill, she nearly faints, and drops her room key. 
Rodolfo is
instantly attracted to her and manages to detain her by concealing her key
after he secretly finds it. He also snuffs out his own candle, and as the
two search in the darkness for her key, their hands touch. The
couple tell each other about themselves, (
Rodolfo tells Marcello
that he wants to leave Mimė because of her flirtatious behavior. (
Colline
also departs to sell his coat for needed money. Left alone for a few
moments, Mimė and Rodolfo reminisce about their first meeting and their
love. (
When he was in his twenties and attending the conservatory in
Milan, he was like the bohemians in his opera story - a starving young
artist. Pietro Mascagni, who later composed Cavalleria Rusticana and
L'amico Fritz, was
Puccinis roommate. They lived in a garret where they were forbidden to
cook, pooled their pennies to buy necessities, and dodged their creditors.
And like Colline in the fourth act of the opera, Puccini once pawned his
coat for money - but not for such a noble cause he was taking a young
ballerina out on the town!