Anish Agrawal Novemeber 4, 2011 The Dimensions of Arts Dr.

Grace

La Boheme
(1895) By Giacomo Puccini Presented by THE AUSTRSLIAN OPERA Directed by Baz Luhrmann

An opera is a dramatic work that is sung to orchestral accompaniment. In opera, the music comprises the predominant element, but the addition of a storyline, scenery, costumes, and staging makes opera significantly different from other forms of music. In one sense, we could describe opera as the purest integration of all the arts. La Boheme by Giacomo Pucccini revealed character and plot through song rather than speech. This convention removed opera from lifelikeness we might expect in the theatre and asked us to suspend our disbelief; sometimes incredibly, so that we can enjoy magnificent music and the heightening of dramatic experience that musics contribution to mood character and dramatic action afford us. Like theatre, opera is a collaborative art, joining the efforts of a conductor, a dramatist, a stage director, and a musical director. In La Boheme, all characters came to life through performers who combined singing and acting. The opening element in opera is the overture. Here the composer worked directly with our sense responses, putting us in the proper frame of mind for what follows. The opera included the basic voice ranges of soprano, alto, tenor, and bass, but divided them more precisely. Major characters played by star performers as well as

Anish Agrawal Novemeber 4, 2011 The Dimensions of Arts Dr. Grace

secondary solo singers and chorus members plus supernumeraries or extras who do not sing but merely flesh out crowd scenes were the central attraction of the opera. I was amazed of the demands made on the human voice by the conductor of opera. I believe it called for the highest degree of skill and training of any vocal medium- tone, placement, and the vowels and consonants requisite to that placement. Mimi, a seamstress played by Cheryl Barker, was a dramatic soprano with a powerful voice who was capable of portraying passionate intensity and Rodolfo, a poet played by David Hobson, was a dramatic tenor with powerful voice was capable of showing heroic expression. The other characters also played very important roles to unfold the plot of the opera through recitative, or sung dialogues. It was interesting to watch the inclusion of architecture entity with very specific requirements for orchestra, audience, and stage space, as well as stage machinery. The opera contained ensemble pieces such as duets, trios, and quartets, as well as chorus section in which everyone got into the act. In addition, ballet or dance interludes appeared frequently. These may have nothing to do with the plot but added more life and interest to dramatic production and in some cases provided a link from one scene into another. The orchestra boosted the audiences feelings of grief, anger and happiness.