Rodolfo: a poet
Marcello: an artist
Colline: a philosopher
Schaunard: a musician
Mimì: a seamstress
Musetta: Marcello's girlfriend
Benoit: the Landlord
Alcindoro: Musetta's elderly admirer
Setting: the Latin Quarter in Paris, c. 1830
About the music
Giacomo Puccini
About the cast
International Cast
ACT ONE
In a garret in the Latin Quarter of Paris on Christmas Eve. Marcello, the painter and the poet Rodolfo try to keep warm by burning pages from Rodolfo's latest drama. They are joined by their young friends Colline, a young Philosopher and Schaunard, a musician. The latter has brought money and food. They are celebrating their new-found fortune when there is a knock on the door. It is their landlord Benoit who has come to collect the overdue rent. Plying him with wine, they urge him to speak of his infidelities and finally they throw him out in mock indignation at his disloyalty to his wife. Colline, Schaunard and Marcello depart for the Café Domus. Rodolfo remains at home to write, promising to join them very shortly. There is a gentle tap at the door and this time the visitor turns out to be a pretty young woman, one of their neighbours, Mimì, who is pale and weak. Her candle has been blown out on the draughty stairs and she would like it to be re-lit. Rodolfo does what she asks and just when she is about to leave she feels faint. Rodolfo offers her some wine to restore her energy. Mimì then realizes she has lost her key and as they are both searching for it on the stairs, their candles are blown out. The poet takes the girl's hand and tells her his dreams in the moonlight. Mimì explains that she leads a simple and solitary life and embroiders flowers. She adores the springtime. Rodolfo in the meantime finds Mimì's key but hides it in his pocket. From outside, Rodolfo's friends beckon him to come along to Café Momus. He calls to them to keep two seats for him that he will be along very soon. Rodolfo and Mimì, who are very drawn to each other, leave for the bar to join the others.
ACT TWO
There are great festivities going on in the Latin Quarter. Rodolfo buys a pink bonnet for Mimì, one which she has desired for a long time. Colline in the meantime has bought himself a patched-up coat. In the bar Marcello's ex-girlfriend Musetta enters with her elderly admirer Alcindoro. She is obviously still attracted to Marcello, and he to her, but he tries to ignore her as she sings about how popular she is with men to try and gain his attention. She pretends that her shoes are hurting her and she sends Alcindoro to buy her some new shoes. When he leaves, she throws herself into Marcello's arms. The group then leaves and Musetta tells the waiter in the café that Alcindoro will look after the bill.
ACT THREE
At dawn on a snowy morning in February on the outskirts of Paris, Mimì, breaking down in coughing fits, approaches the tavern where Marcello and Musetta, reunited, now live. Mimì reveals to Marcello that she can no longer remain with Rodolfo due to his incessant jealousy. It is advisable that they part company. Suddenly Rodolfo's voice is heard and Mimì conceals herself from him. The poet informs Marcello that he wishes to terminate his relationship with Mimì as a result of her being fickle and flirtatious and also because of their frequent quarrelling. Subsequently, he breaks down and reveals the truth. He admits that he fears for Mimì's health and believes she will become worse if she remains in his poverty-stricken and chilly garret. Mimì takes a fit of coughing and emerges from her place of hiding. Rodolfo is distraught as he knows his sweetheart has heard everything. She bids him farewell but he insists that they stay together until spring as winter would be too lonely a season for them to stay apart. In the meantime Marcello runs back into the tavern as Musetta can be heard laughing and flirting with another man. Marcello and Musetta part in anger while Rodolfo and Mimì resolve to stay together until spring.
ACT FOUR
Months later in the garret, Marcello and Rodolfo lament about their loneliness having both parted from their loved ones. Colline and Shaunard enter offering a small meal. The four bohemians decide to make the most of it, pretending it is a banquet. They dance around the room, laughing and joking and eventually stage a mock sword fight. Their merriment comes quickly to a close as Musetta bursts in with news of Mimì who has collapsed on the stairs and has demanded to see Rodolfo. The weak and faint Mimì is transported upstairs and is made comfortable in the bed. With no money for a doctor or medication, Musetta removes her own earrings and urges Marcello to pawn them. Colline makes the decision to sell his prized overcoat to help with the costs. After he and Schaunard leave the room, Mimì and Rodolfo are alone. They reminisce about how they first met and discuss their love for one another. They vow to remain together always. The others return with a muff to warm Mimì's cold hands and news of the doctor who will shortly visit the garret. Mimi is overtaken by a coughing fit and as Rodolfo turns away momentarily, Schaunard notices that Mimì has passed away. Everyone but Rodolfo is aware of the fact. He believes her to be resting and does not want to give in to the force of destiny. Finally he discovers the truth and cries out her name in desperation.
Acto I
En la buhardilla de los bohemios. Marcello pinta mientras Rodolfo mira por la ventana. Como no tienen combustible y hace frío, utilizan los manuscritos del drama que está escribiendo Rodolfo para hacer fuego. Colline, el filósofo, entra en la pieza congelado y molesto por no haber podido echarle la mano a unos libros. Schaunard, el músico, llega con comida, madera, vino y dinero; explica a sus compañeros la fuente de su súbita riquezas, atender el loro de un caballero inglés. Nadie le presta atención porque caen sobre la comida, que es retirada rápidamente por Schaunard, que les deja tan solo el vino. Mientras beben, llega Benoit, el casero, en busca del pago de la renta. Los bohemios le engatusan ofreciéndole vino, y, en medio del efecto del alcohol, les narra sus aventuras amorosas, añadiendo que está también casado, ante lo cual todos reaccionan con una indignación pacata, fingida, y le echan de la habitación sin pagarle la renta. Deciden que lo mejor es utilizar ese dinero para disfrutar del barrio. Rodolfo no les acompaña porque quiere trabajar. En ese momento alguien llama a la puerta, es Mimi que ha venido a pedir que le ayuden a encender nuevamente su vela. Sale, pero regresa en seguida porque ha olvidado su llave. En ese momento, ambas luces se apagan y en la oscuridad deben buscar la llave. Rodolfo la encuentra y la guarda para que la búsqueda continúe en la oscuridad. Cuando sus manos tropiezan, ambos aprovechan la ocasión para contar la historia de sus vidas: él interpreta 'Che gelida manina' - ('que manita más fría') y ella, 'Sì, mi chiamano Mimi' ('sí, me llaman Mimi'). Son interrumpidos por las voces de los amigos que han venido a buscar a Rodolfo, y él antes de que entren, les advierte que no está solo y que pronto se reunirá con ellos, aunque prefiere quedarse en casa, pero deciden marchar, juntos, cantando su amor (en el delicioso dúo, "O soave fanciulla" - "oh! suave niña").
Acto II
En el Quartier Latin (Barrio Latino). En las calles hay una multitud que se divierte mientras los vendedores vociferan sus productos. Los amigos llegan al Café Momus, y mientras beben y comen aparece Musetta, ex de Marcello, acompañada de un admirador un poco parco, Alcindoro. Ella intenta de varias maneras llamar la atención de Marcello, y lo logra cantando una sensual aria dedicada fingidamente a su nuevo amante ("Quando men vo' - Cuando me voy"). Fingiendo un dolor en un pie, por culpa del zapato que le aprieta demasiado, hace que Alcindoro vaya a buscarle un nuevo par, ocasión que Musetta aprovecha para reunirse con su amado Marcello. Cuando los bohemios deciden pagar la cuenta para marchar, encuentran que Schaunards no tiene suficiente dinero, y siguiendo una sugerencia de Musetta, deciden cargar la cuenta a Alcindoro. Soldados desfilan en la calle, y aprovechando la confusión, Marcello y Colline llevan a Mussetta en brazos y huyen, bajo la risa cómplice de los espectadores. Cuando se han ido todos, Alcindoro llega con el par de zapatos y es sorprendido por el mesonero que le ordena pagar la cuenta.
Acto III
La aduana de Enfer. Aduaneros llegan a la ciudad. Mimi, notablemente enferma, desea hablar con Marcello. Ella le cuenta lo difícil que se ha vuelto la vida con Rodolfo, que ha abandonado la casa la noche anterior (aria: "O buon Marcello, aiuto! - ¡Oh! ¡Marcello, ayuda!"). Marcello le cuenta que Rodolfo está durmiendo en una taberna donde él también vive. Rodolfo, que acaba de despertar y busca a Marcello, entra en escena, y Mimi rápidamente se oculta. Rodolfo cuenta por qué ha dejado a Mimi, primero aduce que Mimi es demasiado coqueta con otros hombres, pero luego confiesa que él teme que enferme y muera en las pobres condiciones en las que están viviendo, que todo será mejor para ella si vive con alguien que le puede ofrecer una forma de vida más confortable. Marcello, preocupado por Mimi intenta hacerle callar, pero ella ya lo ha escuchado todo y se descubre a sí misma cuando tose violentamente. Marcello les deja para volver con Musetta, y Rodolfo y Mimi, a punto de separarse, declaran nuevamente su amor y deciden permanecer juntos hasta que llegue la estación de las flores, la primavera. En la distancia se escucha la discusión entre Musetta y Marcello (cuarteto: "Addio dolce svegliare alla mattina!").
Acto IV
Nuevamente en la buhardilla. Marcello y Rodolfo trabajan, mientras lamentan la pérdida de sus respectivas amadas (dúo: "O Mimì, tu più non torni" -- ¡Oh Mimi! ¿regresarás?). Schaunard y Colline entran con la cena, y los cuatro parodian un delicioso banquete, cantando y bailando. Musetta entra alarmada, le acompaña una Mimi muy enferma que sufre mucho; todos ayudan a la chica moribunda. Preocupados, Musetta y Marcello salen de la habitación para vender las joyas de ella y así comprar algunas medicinas. Colline y Schaunard salen para vender el abrigo de Colline. Solos, Rodolfo y Mimi, recuerdan sus tiempos felices (dúo: "Sono andati? - ¿se han ido?"). Regresan todos y se postran a los pies de la cama, Musetta reza una plegaria, y Mimi, inadvertidamente, muere. Poco a poco sus compañeros notan lo sucedido, hasta que finalmente, Rodolfo cae en la cuenta y grita desesperado "¡Mimí...! ¡Mimí...!".
From Wikipedia.com
