The Met’s La Boheme is Riveting and Emotional at Orcas Center

Sunday, February 25, 1 p.m., Orcas Center

— from Susannah Weaver for Orcas Center —

Orcas Center presents the New York Met’s new production of Puccini’s La Boheme streaming Live in HD on Sunday, February 25 at 1:00 pm. Come and see this timeless love story with music that moves the soul in what the New York Times declares to be a “theatrical and inventive” La Boheme.
Franco Zefferelli’s spectacular production returns to the Met for the third time in 2017. Since its premiere in 1896, La Boheme has grown into one of the most beloved operas in the world, with only Puccini’s other masterwork Madama Butterfly rivalling it for sheer popularity. This staging is split between two casts, and conducted by Alexander Soddy and Marco Armiliato.

Tenor Michael Fabiano is the poor poet Rodolfo who falls head over heels for his neighbor, the seamstress Mimì, sung by soprano Sonya Yoncheva. Soprano Susanna Phillips returns as the flirtatious Musetta, baritone Lucas Meachem is her sweetheart Marcello, and baritone Alexey Lavrov as Schaunard and bass Matthew Rose as Colline complete the ensemble.

A four-act tragedy, the story delves into 1830s Paris where a group of struggling artists live in destitute slum conditions, yet are determined to celebrate love in all its simple glory. When Rodolfo helps his pretty neighbor Mimi to find her keys in the dark, their hands touch and attraction ignites. The story then moves on over the course of a few months, where Mimi is found to be terminally ill from consumption; despite having broken up, Rodolfo cares for her deeply, and is heartbroken to hear that she is dying. He carries her upstairs to his couch and caresses her, as she slips away in his arms.

The New York Times raves, “The Metropolitan Opera’s production of La Boheme, Puccini’s masterpiece of emotional manipulation, is like any institution: it transcends the people, good or bad, who move through it.” Don’t miss this opportunity to be initiated to a “front row” opera with internationally acclaimed greats at Orcas Center.

Tickets for the Met’s La Boheme are $20 and $15 for students, with $2 off for Orcas Center members. They may be purchased at www.orcascenter.org or by calling 360-376-2281 ext. 1 or visiting the Orcas Center Box Office open Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 12-3 pm. $5 subsidized tickets available at the Box Office. This show is rescheduled from November 26 and those ticket holders have tickets available in the box office for the January 14 event. For more information about Orcas Center’s 2017-2018 season visit www.orcascenter.org.