James Gill
Eleni Calenos as Mimì and Mackenzie Whitney as Rodolfo in “La Boheme.”
Madison Opera opened its season with a musically and visually superb realization of Puccini’s La Bohème. The story of love and loss among the poor artists of 19th-century Paris is a surefire hit, but a production like this really brings its beauty and power to fullest life — a fact recognized by the enthusiastic audience at Overture Hall on Friday, Nov. 13.
The cast is a fine assemblage of gifted young singers who look their parts and sing confidently. The two soprano leads are outstanding. Eleni Calenos suggests the frail Mimi while still projecting vocal power and dramatic color. Emily Birsan, an established Madison favorite, brilliantly sings and acts the frivolous and flirtatious Musetta, showing a warm heart under her tempestuous surface.
As Mimi’s lover, Rodolfo, Mackenzie Whitney displays a high lyric tenor voice of just the right timbre. Baritone Dan Kempson is particularly captivating as Marcello, Musetta’s on-again, off-again lover. Liam Moran and Alan Dunbar create vivid portrayals of their two friends. And Evan Ross creates amusing effects in his two small roles, as the artists’ landlord and Musetta’s hapless sugar-daddy.
Much praise must go to stage director David Lefkowich, in his third service to Madison Opera. Whether it’s in the simple and intimate scenes or in the big spectacle that takes place in Act II, he has devised ingenious and telling movements, including wonderful crowd operations in Act II.
The vividly evocative set (on loan from the Kansas City Lyric Opera) and the splendid period costumes (provided by the Utah Symphony and Opera) round out the visual dimension, providing just the right setting for the range of action that Puccini — and his hard-working librettists — so cunningly created out of the characters in Henri Murger’s stories about the Paris “Bohemians.” (I loved seeing Musetta actually dance her Act II Waltz Song.)
Ultimately, it’s Puccini’s compellingly rich and melodious score that has made this opera so beloved for more than a century. Conductor John DeMain knows it well and conveys it with utter conviction. He has prepared his pit orchestra to perfection.
Once again, using new and rising vocal talents, Madison Opera has shown it can reach performance standards that larger cities would find it difficult to match.
This stunning production of La Bohème has one remaining performance on Sunday, Nov. 15 at 2:30 p.m.
