It came to life in the 29th of
October in the gorgeous stage of London Coliseum and will make you drop tears
of joy and sorrow until December 6th, by the experienced hand of the
English National Opera (ENO).
ENO made another revival of this classical play
written by Italian librettists Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa and composed
by their countryman Giacomo Puccini. Not taking the risk to fall on boredom ENO
made some cast changes providing Angel Blue, the Californian former model and
beauty queen, debut as Mimi, the main female character of this opera.
For 2h 15m ENO provides a really good spectacle
that takes us back to early XIX century Paris and presents us to the tempestuous
romance between Rodolfo, a broke poet and Mimi a seamstress with failing
health. The emotional balance of the play lies between a cheerful and bohemian
atmosphere in Rodolfo’s rented house, which he shares with the equally
financial depressed painter, Marcello, the penniless musician, Schaunard, and
the insolvent philosopher Colline, and his love affair, at the beginning lovely
and passionate and then cold and bitter as jealousy and jaundice take over
Rodolfo’s heart and mind.
The fabulous music and scenario plays a huge
role on this dynamic that often swifts between a melancholic mood of a dying
muse and the vibrant energy of Café Momus where Musetta, the sweetheart of
Marcello, delights the Parisians with her voice, among other attributes. These
turbulent affairs go on and off with a slow but steady rise of drama with the
worsening of Mimi’s disease and the return of the winter.
George von Bergen, as Marcello and Jennifer
Holloway, as Musetta play an amazing role, either alone or as a couple, often
raising the spirits and most of the time making an essential, quite genius and
most certainly funny complement to the main couple played by David Butt Philip,
as Rodolfo and Angel Blue as Mimi. It’s relevant to say that the cast members
are extremely gifted singers that remarkably sang their way into an admirable
performance.
A minor room for improvement in the show can be
considered Angel Blue’s inherent and effulgent vitality that refuses to
disappear or even diminish from her voice even as her character health is fading,
although this would hardly be enough to upset the overall experience.
An amazing play, an awesome representation and
a spectacle that brightens both the cast and the English National Opera.
Excellent evening program!
Rating:
Nuno Soares
Sem comentários:
Enviar um comentário