La Bohème
Music by Giacomo Puccini
Libretto by Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa
Four performances only – October 24, 28, November 1, 3 2007
Segerstrom Hall, Orange County Performing Artscenter
Opera Pacific, led by Artistic Director John DeMain, presents Puccini’s La Bohème at Segerstrom Hall, Opera Pacific’s opera house, at the Orange County Performing Artscenter. The production, originally conceived and staged by Jim Robinson for the New York City Opera and presented for the first time on the West Coast, will be conducted by Edoardo Müller, and directed by Michael Scarola. The sets are by Allen Moyer and the costumes are by James Schuette. The scenery and costumes belong to New York City Opera.
Framed in Paris at the outbreak of World War I, Robinson’s La Bohème contrasts the elegance of the belle époque with the march of industrialization and war. La Bohème will be sung in Italian with English translation projected above the stage. The arias, some of the best known in all of opera, include “Quando me'n vo',” “Mi chiamano Mimi” and “Che gelida manina.”
With these performances, Opera Pacific begins its 22nd season. Since its inception Opera Pacific has been the resident opera company of the Orange County Performing Artscenter for the entire history of the venue.
The cast of La Bohème includes American soprano Kelly Kaduce as Mimi, Mexican born tenor Arturo Chacón-Cruz as Rodolfo, Canadian baritone James Westman as Marcello, and returning to Opera Pacific, Megan Monaghan as Musetta and Andrew Gangestad as Colline.
First presented in Turin in 1893, La Bohème was conducted by a young Arturo Toscanini, and established Puccini as a new star in Italian opera. According to Opera America, La Bohème is one of the two most performed operas in North America. The adaptations and references to the opera in popular culture are myriad, from a 1926 silent MGM film starring Lillian Gish, to the Tony Award winning Broadway smash musical Rent.
La Bohème is based on Murger's novel Scenes de la Vie de Boheme, although the opera is based more on Murger's adaptation of his novel for the stage (La Vie de Boheme, 1849) than on the novel itself. Puccini's opera draws from a collection of true-life sketches describing life among the original bohemians, the poor artists of Paris's Latin Quarter.
The opera begins on a moonlit Christmas Eve, in the garret of the poet Rodolfo which he shares with the painter Marcello and two others. When the frail seamstress Mimi comes to Rodolfo's door for help, the two fall passionately in love. Mirroring the relationship of Rodolfo and Mimi is that of Marcello, who is carrying on a turbulent affair with flirtatious Musetta. Rodolfo, for his part, is impossibly jealous of Mimi, and the two regretfully part, until Musetta reveals that Mimi is dying of consumption. Rodolfo flies to Mimi's side, and the lovers are united, only to be separated forever by Mimi's death.
Soprano Kelly Kaduce makes her Opera Pacific debut in the signature role of Mimi. Ms. Kaduce has garnered thunderous praise for her stage portrayals, most recently for her star-making turn in David Carlson's Anna Karenina for Florida Grand Opera and Opera Theater of St. Louis. Of her performance in Anna Karenina, The New York Times said, “The soprano Kelly Kaduce was a terrific Anna, conveying the title character’s passion and despair.” Kaduce was mentioned in the August 2007 issue of Opera News as “a radiant new voice in American Opera…She has developed one of the most individual profiles of any young soprano around today.” After her stay in Orange County she returns to Malmö Opera as Marguerite in Faust, to Minnesota Opera in her first assumption of the title role in Rusalka, and to Opera Theatre of St. Louis in the title role of Madama Butterfly. Kelly is married to her La Bohème co-star Lee Gregory, singing the role of Schaunard.
Arturo Chacón-Cruz, who sings the role of Rodolfo, made his Italian debut this season with Teatro Comunale di Bologna singing Rodolfo in La Bohème, his Spanish debut as Christian in Cyrano de Bergerac with Valencia Opera opposite Plácido Domingo, his debut with Teatro di San Carlo in Naples as Rinuccio in Gianni Schicchi, his French debut with Festival de Radio France and Montpellier Opera singing Marcello di Bruges in Il Duca d’Alba, and his debut as Roméo in Roméo et Juliette with Detroit Opera. Chacón- Cruz has also appeared often in concert. He made his Carnegie Hall debut in March 2002 singing Mozart’s Coronation Mass, and he returned in June 2003 to sing Beethoven’s Mass in C and Charpentier’s Te Deum with the New England Symphonic Ensemble, as well a concert with the New York Pops in 2006.
Originally from Stratford, Ontario, baritone James Westman in the role of Marcello, was baritone in residence with the San Francisco Opera Adler's Fellowship program until March 2000. Westman's performances at the San Francisco Opera include: Silvio in Pagliacci, Guglielmo in Così fan tutte, Marcello in La Bohème, Germont in La Traviata, Renato in Un ballo in maschera and Sid in Albert Herring. Westman also sang the baritone’s signature-role, Germont, with the English National Opera for his London debut. Mr. Westman also recently sang a new role in Dallas, Talbot in Donizetti’s Maria Stuarda, before joining the Opéra de Montréal for another new role, Frédéric in Lakmé. Mr. Westman also returned to London for a commercial recording for Opera Rara and a concert performance of another Donizetti opera, the rare Imelda de’ Lambertazzi.
A native of Philadelphia, Megan Monaghan, singing the role of Musetta, was recently hailed by Opera News as "...A voice of pure silver, easily negotiating coloratura flights of fancy with exquisite musicianship..." for her role of Gilda in Dayton Opera’s production of Rigoletto. Ms. Monaghan’s recent engagements have included Floriana in Zazà at Alice Tully Hall Lincoln Center, Cunegonde in Candide at the Teatro Argentina, Rome, Clomiri in Handel’s Imeneo at Glimmerglass Opera, Barbarina and Susanna (cover) in Le Nozze di Figaro with Opera Pacific, and Gilda in Rigoletto with both Dayton Opera and Eugene Opera. She was also a member of Opera Pacific’s Young Artist program. Ms. Monaghan also recorded Maestro Lorin Maazel’s new opera 1984 with the conductor before its’ premiere at Covent Garden.
Andrew Gangestad returns to Opera Pacific singing the role of Colline, after singing the role of Leporello in last season’s Don Giovanni and singing twice in the 2005-2006 season (Ramfis in Aïda and Angelotti in Tosca). In the 2004-05 season, he sang at the Metropolitan Opera as Colline in La Bohème, Vaudemont in I Vespri Siciliani, and Lignière in the company premiere of Cyrano de Bergérac. He also sang at Sarasota Opera as Leporello in Don Giovanni and Carnegie Hall as Hermit in Der Freischütz with Opera Orchestra of New York. The bass’s recent engagements included returning to the Metropolitan Opera as Truffaldino in Ariadne auf Naxos, Count Ceprano in Rigoletto, and Lignière in Cyrano de Bergerac.
Baritone Lee Gregory sings the role of Schaunard and is a regular performer with American Opera projects collaborating with new playwrights and composers, performing their works in progress. Recent performances include Mercutio in Roméo et Juliette with Toledo Opera and Nashville Opera, Mr. Marshall in Regina at Bard's SummerScape Festival, John Brooke in Little Women with Dayton Opera, and Moralès in Carmen with New York City Opera. Mr. Gregory also sang the title role in Don Giovanni and Melchoir in Amahl and the Night Visitors with the Opera Company of Brooklyn, and the roles of Maximillian in Candide and Ping in Turandot with Des Moines Metro Opera. A winner of the Licia Albanese Puccini Foundation Competition, Mr. Gregory has participated in a number of training programs including San Francisco Opera's Merola Opera Program and the Western Opera Theater Tour, Aspen Music Festival, Cincinnati Opera's Apprentice Artist Program, and the Des Moines Metro Opera Tour. Gregory is married to his La Bohème co-star Kelly Kaduce, singing the role of Mimi.
Singing the dual roles of Benoit and Alcindoro is Michael Gallup, who has been a regular guest of opera companies throughout the United States. He has also performed opera at the Hollywood Bowl under Michael Tilson Thomas, Sir Charles Groves, and Leonard Slatkin. Notable roles at Los Angeles Opera include Bottom in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Faninal in Der Rosenkavalier, the Sacristan in Tosca, Trinity Moses in The Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny, Doctor Bartolo in Le Nozze di Figaro and Il Barbiere di Siviglia, Taddeo in L’Italiana in Algieri, Don Alfonso in Cosí fan tutte, Dulcamara in L’elisir d’amore, Zuniga in Carmen, and Alcindoro/Benoit in La Bohéme. Elsewhere he has performed to great acclaim the roles of Leporello for Michigan Opera Theater, Opera Pacific, Dayton Opera and Utah Opera, Dulcamara, Don Magnifico and Doctor Bartolo for Arizona Opera, Mustafà in L’Italiana in Algieri for the Palm Beach Opera, Faninal for Portland Opera, Alcindoro/Benoit for Dallas Opera and Vancouver Opera and Don Alfonso in Cosí fan tutte and Osmin in The Abduction from the Seraglio for the San Luis Obispo Mozart Festival.
Edoardo Müller will lead the orchestra in Puccini’s melodious operatic score, with a libretto by Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa . Since his debut at the Metropolitan Opera in 1984 conducting Il barbiere di Siviglia, Edoardo Muller has returned often conducting performances of Lucia di Lammermoor, I puritani, L’elisir d’amore, La fille du regiment, Roméo et Juliette and La Cenerentola. A regular presence throughout the opera houses of the United States, recent seasons have had Edoardo Muller conducting Il barbiere di Siviglia for Michigan Opera Theatre, La cenerentola for Houston Grand Opera and L’italiana in Algeri for Seattle Opera. Muller was for many years the Director of the School for Advanced Studies at the Teatro all Scala in Milan. He has also frequently appeared in recital with artists including Renata Tebaldi, Leyla Gencer, Katia Ricciarelli, Carlo Bergonzi, Jose Carreras and Piero Cappuccilli. His has recorded in collaboration with world-renowned tenor Ramon Vargas, Verdi Arias for BMG classics.
Stage Director Michael Scarola made his professional directing debut with the Sarasota Opera in 1996 with La Forza del Destino. Since then, his work has been seen with major opera companies throughout the United States and abroad. He was on the Metropolitan Opera Directing Staff for five seasons, where he worked on the Met premieres of Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk, A Midsummer Night's Dream, and La Cenerentola, starring Cecilia Bartoli and conducted by James Levine, as well as many other productions. Recent engagements have included a return to the Directing Staff of New York City Opera, as well as directing Bernstein's Mass for the Dallas Symphony Orchestra in commemoration of the 40th Anniversary of the JFK assassination, and directing excerpts from Mass for the re-opening of the opera house at Washington’s Kennedy Center. He also directed Bernstein's Mass for Catholic University, where he has been named Visiting Director of Opera.
Opera Pacific Prologue
An Opera Pacific prologue on La Bohème will be held at Bowers Museum on Sunday, October 7 at 2:00 p.m. Opera Pacific’s Prologues provide an introduction to the opera for all audiences and are designed to provide information for those new to opera, as well as those who have been lifelong fans of the art form. The Prologue speaker will be Ron Shaheen, who lends his insight into the history, music and plot intricacies as intended by the composer. Audience members have the opportunity to ask questions of and engage in discussions with the speaker, and hear excerpts from the upcoming production performed by cast members.
22nd Season of Opera Pacific
Celebrating its 22nd Season, Opera Pacific has established itself as one of the finest professional opera companies in the nation. Opera Pacific's mainstage productions, extensive community outreach programs, and energetic Guild Alliance combine to create a cultural resource for all of Southern California. More than 670,000 people have enjoyed Opera Pacific's productions at the Orange County Performing Arts Center, while over 575,000 young people have discovered the world of opera through the company's in-school presentations, Student Previews, and nationally recognized Opera Camps.
In addition to the "grand opera" repertory, Opera Pacific has responded to the need for strong, professional productions of classic American musical theatre and European operetta. Under the baton and dedication of John DeMain, opera is an event with the honest communication of the stories and musical values of the works, combined with exciting singers, and major opera house scale productions.
Tickets for La Bohème
Tickets for La Bohème are priced from $27 to $191, and are available by calling 1-800-34-OPERA, online at www.operapacific.org, or by visiting the Orange County Performing Artscenter Box Office at 600 Town Center Drive in Costa Mesa. For information, go to www.operapacific.org. For groups, call (714) 830-6361.
Photos by Carol Rosegg.
