Fri 9/13 & Sun 9/15
Under the perceptive and clever guardianship of Scott Skiba and Domenico Boyagian, the city of Cleveland finally has an opera company in the same league as its world-renowned cultural paragons: The Cleveland Orchestra, the Cleveland Museum of Art, and its distinguished theater complex Playhouse Square. Cleveland Opera Theater is an exemplary opera company that seems to improve with every performance musically and artistically.
Last weekend’s production of La Boheme at the beautiful Mimi Ohio Theatre at Playhouse Square was a visual and aural masterpiece. Matthew McCarren’s scenic design and Brittany Merenda’s projection design, coupled with Steve Shack’s lighting design produced a set that was as breathtaking to look at as an impressionist’s art exhibit. The cityscape and natural horizon outside of the set’s windows changed colors and hues with the dawn and dusk and helped to color the mood of the characters as much as the masterful score under Maestro Boyagian’s commanding arrangements.
Scott Skiba and his superlative cast injected refreshing and invigorating life into Puccini’s classic magnum opus. Skiba delicately infuses diminutive doses of wit and irony into this grand dramatic tragedy that make its themes even more relevant and relatable to younger audiences. His extremely talented singers are all very fine actors who are worth watching even in tiny moments of silence. He coaxes even the smallest performances toward a modern relatability whether cast members are portraying moments of fraternal jocularity, intimate tenderness, or overly possessive jealous outrage.
La Boheme tells the story of a love affair between a penniless poet and an impoverished seamstress in 19th-century Paris. It opens on Christmas Eve where we meet the destitute artist Marcello (Young-Kwang Yoo) and his roommate the poet Rodolfo (Mackenzie Whitney), trying to keep warm by using Rodolfo’s latest prose as kindling for the stove. Their roommates — Colline (James Eder), a philosopher, and Schaunard (James Tibbets), a musician — arrive with food, fuel and much-needed funds. All but Rodolfo depart to celebrate. In the hall, Rodolfo meets Mimi (Eleni Calenos), his pretty neighbor, whose candle has gone out. Rodolfo attempts to relight her candle when Mimi realizes that she’s lost her key. As they search for it, Rodolfo tells her about his dreams while she tells him about her lonely life as an embroiderer.
Act two has Mimì and Rodolfo meet the others at the cafe when they encounter Marcello’s former sweetheart Musetta (Angela Mortellaro) with the doddering but wealthy Alcindoro (Jason Budd). Musetta falls into Marcello’s arms as she leaves a clueless Alcindoro with the group’s unpaid check.
Act three opens a couple of months later. Mimì appears, coughing violently. She encounters Marcello and tells him that Rodolfo has abandoned her. Marcello tells her that Rodolfo is asleep inside, and expresses grave concern about Mimì’s cough. When Rodolfo awakens, Mimì hides nearby. Rodolfo first Marcello he left Mim because of her flirtatiousness, then admitting that their poverty can only make her illness worse. Mimì comes forward to say goodbye to her lover. While Mimì and Rodolfo recall past happiness and decide to remain together until springtime.
Act four opens in late spring at men’s apartment. Rodolfo and Marcello, now single, express their loneliness. Musetta runs into the apartment and relates that she has run into a very ailing Mimì who begged to be taken to Rodolfo to die. Mimì and Rodolfo recall their happy days, but she is seized with violent coughing. When the others return, Mimì slowly drifts into unconsciousness. Musetta prays for Mimì, but it is too late. Rodolfo collapses in despair.
Eleni Calenos is a stellar Mimi with a voice that is at once angelic and soul-stirring. She is believable as a woman who is ailing but in love with life and her soulmate Rodolfo. These two leading actors drive the plot with their genuine chemistry and harrowing storyline. Mackenzie Whitney portrays Rodolfo with genuine charm and wit that lightens the plot trajectory. This duo propels the love story and remains memorable to a contemporary audience.
Young-Kwang Yoo as Marcello and Angela Mortellaro as Musetta are a colorful couple whose lustful attraction takes center stage. The audience erupted with blissful applause each time Mortellaro entered the stage and beckoned them both back with numerous ovations. Jason Budd, James Eder and James Tibbets all have impressive voices and acting and dancing skills that will keep them busy at opera houses globally. The entire cast, chorus and symphony were superb, and the choreography was impressive. The children’s chorus, under the direction of Jennifer Call was at once delightful and professional. The costumes designed by Glenn Avery Breed were lavish yet realistic.
Cleveland is acclaimed for its cultural treasure trove of achievement and the city finally has an opera company befitting its reputation and deserving of great praise.
[Written by Lisa DeBenedictis]
Cleveland, OH 44115