Giacomo Puccini
La bohème
Puccini's classic opera toured nationwide from 13 May - 3 June. A chance encounter in a freezing attic results in a red-hot affair between penniless poet Rodolfo and innocent seamstress Mimi. But will their love be strong enough to survive against the odds? La bohème follows a group of friends as they struggle as artists in Paris in 1930. Puccini’s timeless classic promises a breathtaking experience for newcomers and opera fans alike, with ravishing music and thrilling arias and ensembles.
Ben Barnes (the founding Artistic Director of OTC) directed a sterling cast of Irish and international singers, including rising star soprano Máire Flavin as Mimi, Argentinian tenor Pablo Bemsch as Rodolfo, Sinéad Campbell-Wallace as Musetta, Charles Rice as Marcello, Rory Musgrave as Schaunard, Padraic Rowan as Colline, Adrian Clarke as Alcindoro/Benoit and Patrick Hyland as Parpignol, together with a professional chorus of twelve and a thirteen member chamber orchestra conducted by Andrew Greenwood. Designed by Joe Vaněk with lighting design by John Comiskey and movement direction by Libby Seward. La bohème was sung in Italian with English surtitles.
OTC has a long history of developing Irish talent with programmes such as the Young Artist Association. This performance gave a platform for three graduates of this programme, Máire Flavin, Padraic Rowan and Patick Hyland, with the addition of Rory Musgrave who is an artist in the OTC Opera Hub.
9 Venue Nationwide Tour
| Friday 13 May | Dublin | O'Reilly Theatre Belvedere College |
| Sunday 15 May | Dublin | O'Reilly Theatre Belvedere College |
| Tue 17 May | Limerick | Lime Tree Theatre |
| Thurs 19 May | Wexford | National Opera House |
| Sun 22 May | Ennis | Glor |
| Wed 25 May | Letterkenny | An Grianan |
| Fri 27 May | Navan | Solstice Arts Centre |
| Mon 30 May | Kilkenny | Watergate Theatre |
| Wed 01 June | Galway | Town Hall Theatre |
| Fri 3 June | Sligo | Hawk's Well Theatre |
"Flavin, a soprano, excelled; her voice a force of nature that swept through the aisles. Rice also convinced as the artist tormented by the flirtatious Musetta, portrayed by Sinead Campbell-Wallace. The perfectly pitched music was provided by a small orchestra bathed in dim lighting, capturing the brooding on-stage drama."
"The leads are strongly taken: Máire Flavin is a multifaceted Mimi and Pablo Bemsch a heroic-sounding Rodolfo."
"ingenious"
"dramatically compelling ... classy production *****"
"Outstanding"
Production Information
Cast |
|
| Mimi | Máire Flavin |
| Rodolfo | Pablo Bemsch |
| Musetta | Sinéad Campbell-Wallace |
| Marcello | Charles Rice |
| Colline | Padraic Rowan |
| Schaunard | Rory Musgrave |
| Alcindoro/Benoit | Adrian Clarke |
| Parpignol | Patrick Hyland |
Creative Team |
|
| Conductor | Andrew Greenwood |
| Director | Ben Barnes |
| Designer | Joe Vaněk |
| Lighting Designer | John Comiskey |
| Movement Director | Libby Seward |
