La Boheme in modern-day Manila? Why not?

When Giacomo Puccini wrote his immortal opera, La Boheme, he gave the world a view of love and lovers that was far from pretty or sanitized. And yet, the opera about Mimi, Rodolfo, Musetta, Marcello and their band of young bohemians is still called, “the greatest love story ever sung”. Perhaps the real glory of “La Boheme” lies in the fact that the storyline delves into youthful passion, obsessive jealousy, co-dependency and love-at-first sight and makes these rather unruly and uncontainable feelings soar with beauty of his music.

Puccini was also very concerned with the concept of “verissimo,” a truthful rendition of life even in an art-form like opera that is governed by artifice. He wrote about young people on the fringe of society, young people who make art and who can’t pay their bills, and yet are given to grand passions and extravagant gestures, like falling in love and breaking up on a whim. In short, it is a love story all about the dizzy joys and deep pitfalls of young love, as all young people experience it. The universality of Puccini’s themes transcends borders and, yes, physical settings.

Thus, it seems only right that the Philippine Opera Company’s exciting new production of La Boheme, while retaining the original Italian libretto, is set in present-day Manila, a city obsessed with youth and beauty. In this new production, Rodolfo and Marcello are Indie artists working on their manuscripts and their multi-media art forms. Mimi is a creator of silk accessories, and Musetta, an ambitious and brazen performer out to make a name for herself. The horizon that Rodolfo’s garret looks out to, is a jungle of billboards advertising the promises of youth and beauty. The famous Café Momus is set in a street full of tiangge stands. The third act, traditionally set in a camp outside an army garrison, is now a tired perya in the off-season. The characters of Puccini’s masterpiece could be any young person wanting to make a name in a city that doesn’t care. That is the look and feel of the POC production. Aside from being a statement on the impermanence of love, the POC Boheme is also about a statement about young people on the fringe of society.

Giving life to the roles are tenors Juan Alberto Gaerlan, Dondi Ong and Gary del Rosario, who by the way also sang Parpignol in the Rolando Tinio version of Boheme at the CCP in the 90s. He is also currently a resident artist of the Seattle Opera House after spending many years with Cleveland Opera. Mimi, on the other hand, will be performed by Jennifer Uy, a finalist in the 2001 Maria Callas Opera Grand Prix in Athens, Greece, where she has worked intensively with Dame Joan Sutherland and Gundula Janowitz. Alternating as Mimi is Maribel Miguel who is making her opera debut while sopranos Ana Feleo and Elaine Lee play Musetta. Baritones Lawrence Jatayna and Jesus Baang play Marcello while Joseleo Logdat and John Ocampos play Colline and Schaunard, respectively.

The costumes are created by the hip clothing line Sabella. The sets are created by Jo Tecson with video settings designed by the video artists of Furball, the country’s leading video production house.

Sharing the stage is a 65-piece orchestra to be performed by the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra, under the baton of international conductor Helen Quach. 

La Bohème Manila is set to open on October 3 with a cocktail gala at 8 p.m. and October 4 at 8 p.m. and a 3 p.m. matinee on October 5 at the main theater of the Cultural Center of the Philippines.

La Boheme is supported in part by the Yuchengco Group of Companies, Actors Studio, McDonald’s, 92.3 XFM, Sabella Fashion, Make Up For Ever, and Power Mac Center.

Other upcoming and equally exciting productions of the Philippine Opera Company (POC) include Mozart’s “Magic Flute” and Terence McNally’s Tony-award winning play, “Master Class,” on the life-story of Maria Callas as portrayed by highly-respected movie actress, Cherie Gil.

For tickets, block sales, sponsorship and other information, call the Philippine Opera Company at 892-8786 or visit www.philippineoperacompany.com for more details. 

Tickets are also available at all TicketWorld outlets with trunkline number 891-9999.