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Classically Speaking

Classical music in West Virginia and Beyond

Opera in Cinema: La Boheme

(Concert Reviews) Permanent link

By Carole Carter

· September 29, 2009

A friend and I took in this weekend’s Opera in Cinema broadcast of Puccini’s La Boheme – a film by director Robert Dornhelm.

At first I was put off by the ticket price ($12) but upon reflection, realized that’s cheap by opera standards – just not by movie standards. However, I actively looked but couldn’t find the price ahead of time.

Not publicizing the ticket price was the least of the cinema’s sins. They simply didn’t promote it at all.

We only heard it about in Charleston because the Huntington cinema contacted us about it. And of course, that resulted in only about a dozen folks showing up to view it.

Those few opera lovers were treated to fine entertainment. At first I was worried because the time was only 1 hour, 49 minutes. It’s a four-act opera, for heaven’s sake!

I Puritani is the next Opera in Cinema

I’ve sung in and stage managed several productions of La Boheme, but if they left something out, I couldn’t spot it. Neither could other audience members I queried. I guess if you drop the intermissions and ovations, it really brings the opera down to a manageable length. That makes it more enjoyable, especially for novices.

Even though Mona warned me it was lip-synced, I didn’t realize that meant the cast was filled with actors who were lip-syncing to opera singers – except for the two leads of course, Anna Netrebko and Rolando Villazon.

I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed the acting, and having been forewarned, simply didn’t focus on the synchronization.

La Boheme Trailer

There are more productions scheduled, including two full-length ballets, so if there’s a Marquee Cinema near you, watch for it about every two weeks. The showings are Thursday evenings at 7 pm and Sunday afternoons at 1 pm.

There are two live productions scheduled, but they are supposedly not going to be shown in Charleston. That’s a shame because they’re two of my favorite operas – Carmen and Il Trovatore. There are also two notable full-length Tchaikovsky ballets – Swan Lake and The Nutcracker.

The next opera is Bellini’s I Puritani. It's slated for Thursday, October 15 at 7 pm & Sunday October 18 at 1 pm. Check the Marquee Cinema nearest you for details.