La bohème 1974
Set in the Latin Quarter of Paris in the 1830s…
…this tragic love story of young Bohemians is one of Puccini’s most beloved and enduring masterpieces.
Synopsis
Act I
A garret. Marcello, an artist, and Rodolfo, a poet, try to keep warm in their Latin Quarter garret on Christmas Eve by feeding the stove pages from Rodolfo’s drama. Before long, they are joined by their roommates, Colline, a philosopher, and Schaunard, a musician, who arrive bringing food and money. In high spirits, all but Rodolfo leave for the Café Momus; he promises to join them later. A young neighbor, Mimi, enters requesting a light for her candle which has gone out. As she is about to leave, she discovers that she has lost her room key and her candle is again blown out by a draft from the door. Rodolfo blows out his own candle and the two search for the key in the now darkened room. He takes Mimi’s hand and tells her of his dreams, and she tells him of her simple life. The others call from the street and Mimi and Rodolfo decide to go to the Café together.
Act II
Café Momus. Amid the cries of street vendors, Rodolfo buys Mimi a bonnet inside the Café Momus. The poet introduces Mimi to his friends and they select a table for their Christmas Eve celebration. Musetta, Marcello’s former sweetheart, makes a spirited entrance on the arm of her rich new admirer, the elderly Alcindoro. At first she teases Marcello, and then, pretending that her shoe pinches, sends Alcindoro to have it repaired. As Alcindoro returns, the others run off leaving him with the bill from the Café.
Act III
At the barriére d’Enfer, a city gate. Mimi enters in search of the Inn where Marcello and Musetta are now living. Mimi tells Marcello of Rodolfo’s incessant jealousy and says that they must part. Rodolfo comes out and Mimi hides, listening. The poet tells Marcello that he must separate from Mimi because her illness can only grow worse in the poverty in which they are living. Mimi comes out of her hiding place to bid farewell to Rodolfo. They exchange memories of their happiness, and decide to stay together for the winter.
Act IV
A garret. Separated from their lovers, Rodolfo and Marcello try to work but find it difficult to concentrate. Colline and Schaunard join them and the four stage a mock ball. Suddenly, Musetta rushes in, announcing that Mimi is dying and has asked to return to the garret where she and Rodolfo have been so happy. Rodolfo and Mimi are left alone and recall happier times together. As the others return with food and medicine, Mimi dies.
Artists
Ellen Shade
Soprano
Mimi
Ellen Shade
Hometown: New York, NY
SFO Debut:
Mimi, La bohème, 1974
Santa Fe Opera Apprentice: 1968, 1969
Past Seasons:
Arabella, Arabella, 1983
Countess Almaviva, The Marriage of Figaro, 1982
Pamina, The Magic Flute, 1980
Pamina, The Magic Flute, 1979 (August 15 – 24)
Mistress Alice Ford, Falstaff, 1977 (August 6 – 26)
Climene, L’Egisto, 1976
Violetta, La traviata, 1976 (July 7, 9, 15, 30; August 14)
Fiordiligi, Così fan tutte, 1975
Salud, La vida breve, 1975
Climene, L’Egisto, 1974
Page of Herodias, Salome, 1969
Orphan, Der Rosenkavalier, 1968
William Lewis
Tenor
Rodolfo
William Lewis
Hometown: Tulsa, OK
SFO Debut:
Marco Palmieri, The Gondoliers, 1960
Past Seasons:
Alfredo, La traviata, 1976
Narraboth, Salome, 1976
John Adams, The Mother of Us All, 1976
Rodolfo, La bohème, 1974
Alwa, Lulu, 1974
Danilo, The Merry Widow, 1973
Rodolfo, La bohème, 1973
Cavaradossi, Tosca, 1960
Alfredo, La traviata, 1960
Rinuccio, Gianni Schicci, 1960
Rita Shane
Soprano
Musetta
Rita Shane
Hometown: New York, NY
SFO Debut:
The Queen of the Night, The Magic Flute, 1968
Past Seasons:
Musetta, La bohème, 1974
The Queen of the Night, The Magic Flute, 1974
Nightingale, Le Rossignol, 1973
Le Feu/ Le Rossignol, L’enfant et les sortilèges, 1973
Musetta, La bohème, 1973 (July 6, 14 & 28)
The Queen of the Night, The Magic Flute, 1971 (July 10 – 16, August 13 – 26)
Brent Ellis
Baritone
Marcello
Brent Ellis
Hometown: Kansas City, MO
SFO Debut:
Sharpless, Madame Butterfly, 1972
Santa Fe Opera Apprentice: 1966, 1967
Past Seasons:
Giorgio Germont, La traviata, 1989
Kunrad, Feuersnot, 1988
Figaro, The Marriage of Figaro, 1985
The Confidence Man, The Confidence Man, 1982
Marcello, La bohème, 1981
Germont, La traviata, 1980
Enrico Ashton, Lucia di Lammermoor, 1979 (July 5 – August 4)
Germont, La traviata, 1976 (July 30 – August 28)
Ford, Falstaff, 1975
Guglielmo, Così fan tutte, 1975 (August 9 – 22)
Escamillo, Carmen, 1975 (August 2, 15)
Marcello, La bohème, 1974
Ipparco, L’Egisto, 1974
Marcello, La bohème, 1973
Second Nazarene, Salome, 1972
Masetto, Don Giovanni, 1972
John Mount
Bass-baritone
Colline
John Mount
Hometown: Montana
Santa Fe Opera Apprentice: 1973, 1974
Past Seasons:
Colline, La bohème, 1974
Un Arbre, L’enfant et les sortilèges, 1973
William Parker
Baritone
Schaunard
William Parker
Hometown: Butler, PA
SFO Debut:
Schaunard, La bohème, 1974
Past Seasons:
Papageno, The Magic Flute, 1980
Guglielmo, Così fan tutte, 1975 (July 12 – 30)
Manuel, La vida breve, 1975
Le Fauteuil/Le Chat, L’enfant et les sortilèges, 1975
Harašta, The Cunning Little Vixen, 1975
Douglas Perry
Tenor
Benoit
Douglas Perry
Hometown: Indianapolis, IN
SFO Debut:
Timothy, Help! Help! The Globolinks, 1970
Santa Fe Opera Apprentice: 1968, 1969
Past Seasons:
Old P’eng/Old Mountain Dweller, A Night at the Chinese Opera, 1989
Baron Puck, Grand Duchess of Gerolstein, 1979
Journalist, Lulu, 1979
First Jew, Salome, 1979
Bardolph, Falstaff, 1977
Desiré, Fedora, 1977
Dema, L’Egisto, 1976
Don Basilio, The Marriage of Figaro, 1976
Thaddeus Stevens, The Mother of Us All, 1976
El Remendado, Carmen, 1975
Bardolph, Falstaff, 1975
La Rainette/Le Petit Vieillard, L’enfant et les Sortilèges, 1975
Benoit, La bohème, 1974
Baron Puck, Grand Duchess of Gerolstein, 1974
Monostatos, The Magic Flute, 1974 (August 14 – 23)
The Prince, Lulu, 1974
Dema, L’Egisto, 1974
Benoit, La bohème, 1973
Don Basilio, The Marriage of Figaro, 1973
Raoul de St. Brioche, The Merry Widow, 1973
Le Petit Vieillard/ La Rainette, L’enfant et les sortilèges, 1973
Baron Puck, Grand Duchess of Gerolstein, 1972
Goro, Madame Butterfly, 1972
Secretary, Melusine, 1972
First Jew, Salome, 1972
Baron Puck, Grand Duchess of Gerolstein, 1971
Monostatos, The Magic Flute, 1971
Don Basilio, The Marriage of Figaro, 1971
Don Basilio, The Marriage of Figaro, 1970
Singer, Opera, 1970
Sellem, The Rake’s Progress, 1970
Timothy, Help! Help! The Globolinks, 1969
First Priest, The Magic Flute, 1969
Fourth Jew, Salome, 1969
Spoletta, Tosca, 1969 (July 5 – 16)
Lackey, Der Rosenkavalier, 1968
Jack Davison
Baritone
Alcindoro
Jack Davison
Hometown: Bolivar, MO
SFO Debut:
Baron Grog, Grand Duchess of Gerolstein, 1972
Santa Fe Opera Apprentice: 1959
Past Seasons:
Napoléon, Orpheus in the Underworld, 1983
Baron Grog, Grand Duchess of Gerolstein, 1979
Dr. Goll/A Professor, Lulu, 1979
Alcindoro, La bohème, 1974
Baron Grog, Grand Duchess of Gerolstein, 1974
Dr. Goll, Lulu, 1974
Njegus, The Merry Widow, 1973
Fifth Jew, Salome, 1972
Gregory Weist
Tenor
Parpignol
Gregory Weist
Hometown: Delaware
Santa Fe Opera Apprentice: 1974
Past Seasons:
Parpignol, La bohème, 1974
Paul Milkie
Bass-baritone
Custom-house Sergeant
Paul Milkie
Hometown: Missouri
Santa Fe Opera Apprentice: 1973, 1974
Past Seasons:
Customs Officer, La bohème, 1974
Customs Officer, La bohème, 1973
John Crosby
Conductor
John Crosby
Hometown: New York, NY
SFO Debut:
Madame Butterfly, 1957
Past Seasons:
La traviata, 2002
The Egyptian Helen, 2001
Elektra, 2000
Countess Maritza, 1999
Ariadne auf Naxos, 1999
Madame Butterfly, 1998
Salome, 1998
La traviata, 1997
Arabella, 1997
Madame Butterfly, 1996
Daphne, 1996
Countess Maritza, 1995
Salome, 1995
Tosca, 1994 (July 1 – 15)
Intermezzo, 1994
La bohème, 1993 (July 2 – 16)
Capriccio, 1993
Die Fledermaus, 1992
Der Rosenkavalier, 1992
La traviata, 1991 (June 28 – July 6)
Die schweigsame Frau, 1991
La bohème, 1990
Ariadne auf Naxos, 1990
La traviata, 1989 (June 30 – July 12)
Der Rosenkavalier, 1989
Die Fledermaus, 1988
Feuersnot, 1988
Friedenstag, 1988
Madame Butterfly, 1987
Die schweigsame Frau, 1987
Die Fledermaus, 1986
The Egyptian Helen, 1986
Orpheus in the Underworld, 1985
Die Liebe der Danae, 1985
A Florentine Tragedy, 1984
Violanta, 1984
Intermezzo, 1984
Orpheus in the Underworld, 1983
Arabella, 1983
Die Fledermaus, 1982
Die Liebe der Danae, 1982
La bohème, 1981
Daphne, 1981
La traviata, 1980
Elektra, 1980
The Grand Duchesse of Gerolstein, 1979
Lucia di Lammermoor, 1979
Salome, 1979
Tosca, 1978
Salome, 1978
The Italian Straw Hat, 1977
Fedora, 1977
La traviata, 1976
Salome, 1976
Carmen, 1975
La bohème, 1974
The Grand Duchesse of Gerolstein, 1974
La bohème, 1973
The Merry Widow, 1973
The Grand Duchesse of Gerolstein, 1972
Madame Butterfly, 1972
Salome, 1972
Don Carlo, 1971
The Grand Duchesse of Gerolstein, 1971
La traviata, 1970
Anna Bolena, 1970
Tosca, 1969
Salome, 1969
Madame Butterfly, 1968
La traviata, 1968
Der Rosenkavalier, 1968
Carmen, 1967
La bohème, 1967
Tosca, 1966
Capriccio, 1966
Rigoletto, 1966
La traviata, 1965
Madame Butterfly, 1965
Arabella, 1965
Rigoletto, 1964
Daphne, 1964
La bohème, 1964 (August 22 & 28)
Die Fledermaus, 1963
Madame Butterfly, 1963
Der Rosenkavalier, 1963
Salome, 1962
Oedipus Rex, 1962
Perséphone, 1962
Tosca, 1962
Der Rosenkavalier, 1961
La bohème, 1961
The Gondoliers, 1960
Tosca, 1960
Die Fledermaus, 1959
Madame Butterfly, 1959
La bohème, 1958
Wuthering Heights, 1958
Capriccio, 1958
Ragnar Ulfung
Tenor
Director
Ragnar Ulfung
Hometown: Oslo, Norway
SFO Debut:
Cavaradossi, Tosca, 1966
Past Seasons:
Herod, Salome, 2006
Captain, Wozzeck, 2001
Aegisth, Elektra, 2000
Bill-Poster/Dean of Law, A Dream Play, 1998
Herod, Salome, 1995
Ambrogio, The Barber of Seville, 1994
Monostatos, The Magic Flute, 1993
Valzacchi, Der Rosenkavalier, 1992
Valzacchi, Der Rosenkavalier, 1989
Alfred, Die Fledermaus, 1988
Jedediah Potter, The Black Mask, 1988
Basilio, The Marriage of Figaro, 1987
Alfred, Die Fledermaus, 1986
Basilio, The Marriage of Figaro, 1985
Pollux, Die Liebe der Danae, 1985
Basilio, The Marriage of Figaro, 1982
Pollux, Die Liebe der Danae, 1982
Director/ Benoit, La bohème, 1981
Sellem, The Rake’s Progress, 1981
Monostatos, The Magic Flute, 1980
Aegisth, Elektra, 1980
Monostatos, The Magic Flute, 1979
Herod, Salome, 1979
Herod, Salome, 1978
Fadinard, The Italian Straw Hat, 1977
Herod, Salome, 1976
Director, La bohème, 1974
Monostatos, The Magic Flute, 1974 (July 6 – August 8)
Director, Lulu, 1974
Director, La bohème, 1973
Vicomte Cascada, The Merry Widow, 1973
La Théière, L’enfant et les sortilèges, 1973
Herod, Salome, 1972
Monostatos, The Magic Flute, 1969
Herod, Salome, 1969
Adam, The Devils of Loudun, 1969
Monostatos, The Magic Flute, 1968
Valzacchi, Der Rosenkavalier, 1968
Officer, Cardillac, 1967
Herod, Salome, 1967
Tom Rakewell, The Rake’s Progress, 1966
John Scheffler
Scenic Designer
John Scheffler
Hometown: New Orleans, LA
SFO Debut:
La bohème, 1973
Past Seasons:
The Confidence Man, 1982 (Scenic & Costume Designer)
La bohème, 1981
Lulu, 1974
La bohème, 1974
Owen Wingrave, 1973
Suzanne Mess
Costume Designer
Suzanne Mess
Hometown: Toronto, Canada
SFO Debut:
The Rake’s Progress, 1970
Past Seasons:
Eugene Onegin, 1980
Lucia di Lammermoor, 1979
Grand Duchess of Gerolstein, 1979
Eugene Onegin, 1978
Falstaff, 1977
La traviata, 1976
Carmen, 1975
Falstaff, 1975
Grand Duchess of Gerolstein, 1974
La bohème, 1974
The Flying Dutchman, 1973
The Merry Widow, 1973
La bohème, 1973
Don Giovanni, 1972
Grand Duchess of Gerolstein, 1972
The Flying Dutchman, 1971
Grand Duchess of Gerolstein, 1971
Georg Schreiber
Lighting Designer
Georg Schreiber
Hometown: Albuquerque, NM
SFO Debut:
Rigoletto, 1964
Past Seasons:
The Mother of Us All, 1976
Salome, 1976
L’Egisto, 1976
The Marriage of Figaro, 1976
La traviata, 1976
The Cunning Little Vixen, 1975
L’enfant et les sortilèges, 1975
La vida breve, 1975
Così fan tutte, 1975
Falstaff, 1975
Carmen, 1975
L’Egisto, 1974
Lulu, 1974
Grand Duchess of Gerolstein, 1975
The Magic Flute, 1974
La bohème, 1974
Owen Wingrave, 1973
L’enfant et les sortilèges, 1973
Le Rossignol, 1973
The Merry Widow, 1973
The Marriage of Figaro, 1973
La bohème, 1973
Salome, 1972
Pelléas et Mélisande, 1972
Madame Butterfly, 1972
Grand Duchess of Gerolstein, 1972
Yerma, 1971
The Flying Dutchman, 1971
The Marriage of Figaro, 1971
Grand Duchess of Gerolstein, 1971
The Magic Flute, 1971
Don Carlo, 1971
Opera, 1970
The Rake’s Progress, 1970
Anna Bolena, 1970
The Marriage of Figaro, 1970
Le Rossignol, 1970
Help! Help! The Globolinks, 1970
La traviata, 1970
The Devils of Loudun, 1969
Le Rossignol, 1969
Help! Help! The Globolinks, 1969
The Magic Flute, 1969
Così fan tutte, 1969
Salome, 1969
Perséphone, 1968
Die Jakobsleiter, 1968
The Bassarids, 1968
The Elixir of Love, 1968
La traviata, 1968
The Magic Flute, 1968
Madame Butterfly, 1968
Salome, 1967
The Marriage of Figaro, 1967
Boulevard Solitude, 1967
Cardillac, 1967
Carmen, 1967
The Marriage of Figaro, 1965
The Nose, 1965
The Stag King, 1965
Arabella, 1965
Lucia di Lammermoor, 1965
Madame Butterfly, 1965
The Barber of Seville, 1965
La traviata, 1965
Lulu, 1964
La bohème, 1964
Daphne, 1964
L’enfant et les sortilèges, 1964
Gianni Schicchi, 1964
Carmen, 1964
The Marriage of Figaro, 1964
Robert Jones
Chorus Master
Robert Jones
SFO Debut:
Don Carlo, 1971
Past Seasons:
La bohème, 1974
The Magic Flute, 1974
Grand Duchess of Gerolstein, 1974
Lulu, 1974
L’Egisto, 1974
La bohème, 1973
The Marriage of Figaro, 1973
The Merry Widow, 1973
The Flying Dutchman, 1973
Le Rossignol, 1973
L’enfant et les sortilèges, 1973
Owen Wingrave, 1973
Grand Duchess of Gerolstein, 1972
Madame Butterfly, 1972
Don Giovanni, 1972
Pelléas et Mélisande, 1972
Melusine, 1972
The Magic Flute, 1971
Grand Duchess of Gerolstein, 1971
The Marriage of Figaro, 1971
The Flying Dutchman, 1971
Yerma, 1971
La bohème 1974
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