Opera Bound

We are getting so cultured! We decided to take the plunge and attend our first ever opera this weekend. The opera was La Boheme and put on by New Zealand Opera, which was in Christchurch for three performances of this opera.

Here is the overview from the NZOpera website - it summarizes it all so well.

Eternal Flame.

A lost key and an accidental touch of cold hands in the dark – so begins one of the great romances of all opera. Puccini’s glorious masterpiece of youthful flirtation, passionate love and heart breaking tragedy springs to life in this exciting production which brings freshness, energy and a modern perspective. Whether it’s your first time or your fiftieth, La bohème will remind you what it means to be alive and in love.

The Cast

This NZ Opera production, revisited from our acclaimed 2008 season, stars Talise Trevigne as Mimì, with New Zealanders tenor Shaun Dixon as Rodolfo and baritone Phillip Rhodes as Marcello.

The Story

When Rodolfo, a penniless poet, meets Mimì, a seamstress, they fall passionately in love. But their happiness is threatened when Rodolfo learns that Mimì is gravely ill. As her health rapidly declines her friends gather and watch on helplessly as she succumbs, her true love at her side.

Rudolfo (Shaun Dixon) cares for Mim (Talise Trevigne) as she dies. So sad!

We had a wonderful time. The was a screen on either side of the stage with subtitles so that we could follow the story. Thank goodness for modern technology! I really appreciated being able to follow the story line. It was such a good experience that I would definitely want to see another opera. We are getting so cultured!