Viva La Boheme

Opera has a stuffy image. And that’s not entirely fair.

Yes, it is typically performed in a foreign language, and the singing is quite stylized, but these days opera is shedding some of its more formal trappings and presenting productions that are straightforward, yet still lavish.

Foremost among those pushing the boundaries of the art form is the Portland State Opera Department.

Every year, the PSU Opera Department puts on a full-scale opera production, for which professional singer and teacher Christine Meadows brings in a distinguished opera director to run the show.

This year, the guest director is Tito Capobianco who also worked on last year’s PSU production of Cosi fan tutte, which was given second place by the National Opera Association at their highest collegiate level of awards.

Essentially, the award proves what some people on campus already knew–PSU has one of the best opera programs in the country.

This year’s production is Giacomo Puccini’s La Boheme, one of the best known and loved operas of all time. Those who are unfamiliar with the opera, but who have seen the musical or movie Rent, will recognize the thematic structure. Rent is based on La Boheme.

The main male characters in the story are a group of Bohemians, the typical “starving artists” and philosophers in Paris. Included in the group are Marcello the painter and Rodolfo the writer.

The first act begins when the friends have an unexpected windfall and go out on the town, Rodolfo staying behind to finish an article. A girl who lives below, Mimi, knocks on his door, asking for a light for her candle. A romance between the two quickly develops.

In act two, Mimi and Rodolfo join the others out on the town. Marcello’s former sweetheart, Musetta, is there with a nobleman admirer she has grown tired of. She tries to recapture Marcello’s attention and the two eventually re-unite. The third act leaps forward to Mimi and Rodolfo considering splitting up because Mimi is ill and Rodolfo’s drafty room is making her sickness worse. They decide to wait until the spring.

In the last act, Musetta and Mimi have found noblemen suitors. Mimi, however, has left hers and is very sick again. Musetta brings her to the room of the Bohemians. As Mimi lies dying, the others go to get medicine, a doctor and things to warm her up. Rodolfo and Mimi reminisce and declare their love for each other. Then … well, I won’t spoil the ending.

La Boheme is considered one of the most romantic operas, as well as one of the most plot and character driven works. It sticks more closely to the romantic theme than does its adaptation, Rent, and also focuses more on social issues of money and class.

PSU’s production amazes, with complete set changes between each of the acts, and an amazingly well simulated snowfall on stage at one point, in addition to a wide-range of wonderful costumes.

The PSU students who perform in this opera do well. Standing the tallest both musically and theatrically is Lucas Tannous’ performance as Rodolfo. But the performances I saw featuring Allison Armerding as Mimi and Audrey Sackett as Musetta, were great as well. (The two alternate performances with Anna Viemeister and Emily Baker in their respective roles.)

Both these female leads were obviously up to the task. Jim Rose also stood out in his performance of Marcello. The entire cast of supporting characters was also up to par.

It has been said by many that just to speak in Italian sounds like singing, and the cast does a good job with their pronunciation of this beautiful language while remaining completely believable in their characters (subtitles are projected on a screen).

Fans of the Italian language, classical music, the Bohemian life, great spectacle, the musical Rent or musicals in general will no doubt love this production.

Wednesday, Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. All performances at Lincoln Hall are in the main auditorium. Tickets are $12 for PSU students, general admission is $25