‘La Boheme’ back on stage
A mid the mounting number of strikes and the overall financial chaos, feelings of general unease and unending fear of what lies ahead, Giacomo Puccini’s music is the perfect remedy to provide local audiences with a much-appreciated escape. This is because the National Opera is currently restaging the famous «La Boheme,» a sensational production directed by leading opera man Graham Vick. The production, which has already been performed by the Greek company for two consecutive years to major critical and public acclaim, is back at the Olympia Theater for a series of performances, with the remaining shows scheduled tomorrow, Saturday, Sunday and then on April 27 and 29. The story of «La Boheme» unfolds in Paris and tells of the love affair between poet Rodolfo and the seamstress Mimi – from the moment they first set eyes on each other until the young woman’s untimely death of tuberculosis. The opera is based on Henri Murger’s «Scenes de la vie de boheme,» while the libretto was developed by Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa. Conductor Lukas Karytinos leads the orchestra and chorus of the National Opera and the Manolis Kalomiris Children’s Choir. The production’s costumes and set design were undertaken by Richard Hudson and the lighting is by Giuseppe Di Iorio. «La Boheme» is one of the most popular works of the classical repertoire, an opera accessible to audiences of all ages. At the National Opera, Vick’s contemporary and also moving direction is defined by the director’s subversive creative take. The cast The cast is led by Valter Borin and Yannis Christopoulos alternating in the role of Rodolfo; Elena Kelessidou and Mata Katsouli sharing the interpretation of Mimi; Kyros Patsalides, Dionysis Sourbis and Dimitris Tiliakos taking turns as Marcello; Akis Lalousis and Haris Andrianos alternating in the role of Schaunard, and Petros Magoulas and Tassos Apostolou taking on Colline. Also participating in the production are Loukia Spanaki, Mina Polychronou and Maria Mitsopoulou as Musetta, Pavlos Maropoulos as Benoit, Thanasis Evangelou as Parpignol, and Christos Amvrazis as Alcindoro. National Opera, Olympia Theater, 59-61 Academias, tel 210.3612.461, www.nationalopera.gr
