SHANGHAI: “La Boheme” by Teatro Regio di Torino.

4th August 2010

The IIC Shanghai is glad to announce the theatrical performance “La Boheme” by Teatro Regio di Torino, which will be held on 4th August 2010, 19.30 hrs., at Shanghai Grand Theatre.
Music: Giacomo Puccini;
Conductor: Gianandrea Noseda:
Director: Vittorio Borrelli.
The bohème is an opera in four scenes by Giacomo Puccini, on libretto by Giuseppe Giacosa and Luigi Illica. Inspired by the novel by Henri Murger “Scènes de la vie de Bohème”, it was has been performed for the first time by Maestro Arturo Toscanini in 1896 exactly at the “Regio”.

Date and Time: Wed, 4th August 2010, 19.30.
Venue: A1 Gate, Shanghai Grand Theatre, 300, Renmin Dadao - 人民大道，300号，上海大剧院，A1大门.

Info & Ticket: 150-800 RMB, www.shgtheatre.com, 0086-63.59.80.32/63.72.87.05.

La bohème is an opera in four acts by Giacomo Puccini to an Italian librettoby Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa, based on Scènes de la vie de bohèmeby Henri Murger. The world premiere performance of La bohème was inTurin on 1 February 1896 at the Teatro Regio and conducted by the youngArturo Toscanini.

This performance at the Shanghai Grand Theatre is therefore historical, since Chinese music lovers can appreciate the very original rendering by the very original first production.

La bohème has become part of the standard Italian opera repertory and is one of the most frequently performed operas internationally.

The opera's libretto focuses on the relationship between Rodolfo and Mimì, ending with her death. The most popular arias are “ Che gelida manina” by Rodolfo, a tenor role, and “Mi chiamano Mimi’” by Mimi’, a soprano role.
Why this French title? Since the 16th century, the French word bohémienwas used to refer to gypsies, based on the erroneous belief that they come from Bohemia. As gypsies are associated in the common imagination with a wild and free life-style separate from the established bourgeoisie, the name came to be associated with the counter-culture of young artists in theLatin Quarter of 19th century Paris.
La bohème continued to gain international popularity throughout the early 20th century and the Opéra-Comique in Paris alone had already presented the opera one hundred times by 1903.
Boheme was firstly performed in China in 1986, with the Italian Luciano Pavarotti, the greatest tenor of all times, singing the role of Rodolfo. He also made a memorable concert at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.
Paolo Sabbatini, at that time UN Officer in Beijing, helped the organization of the performance, negotiating with the authorities, helping with the scenography and the logistics. Pavarotti’s visit to China in June 1986 was captured on film. He visits schools, dines in local restaurants, tries out some Chinese operatic gear and sings a good deal. He is seen and heard in rehearsal and performance of Rigoletto, La Bohème, Turandot, Pagliacciand L'Arlesiana.