La Bohème school TOUR 2021
Bohème Tour Overview
Florentine Opera celebrates love and its power to overcome any obstacle with its touring show La Bohème! Students will follow the lives of four poor artists in Milwaukee's Bronzeville neighborhood during the 1950s. Rudolfo, the writer; Marcello, the painter; sensitive Mimì, and adventurous Musetta, search for love, inspiration, and a place in the world. Featuring the music from the operatic masterpieces of Puccini and Leoncavallo, as well as as special song by Cab Calloway, this 35 minute condensed Bohème takes students on a journey filled with comedy, tragedy, love, loss, and friendship.
Synopsis
Milwaukee’s Bronzeville neighborhood, 1950s. In an apartment on Walnut Street, artists Rodolfo and Marcello are trying to find inspiration for their latest projects while urgently trying to stay warm in their chilly residence. Marcello gives up on his latest painting and tries to convince Rodolfo to stop writing and come with him to their favorite night club the “Flame”. Rodolfo tells Marcello he needs to finish for a deadline, but will join him later in the evening, Marcello leaves.
As Rodolfo attempts to get back to work, there is a knock at the door from Mimi. Mimi, also chilled from the cold, asks if Rodolfo has a match so she can light her stove. There is an immediate attraction between the two and as Rodolfo searches for a match, Mimi loses her key and the two attempt to search for it. As they search, their hands touch and Rodolfo comments on Mimi’s chilly hand and then proceeds to tell her a little bit about himself. After, he asks her to tell him more about her. Mimi tells him that her name is actually Lucia and she lives a simple life as a seamstress. Both quickly realize they are in love and Rodolfo asks Mimi to join him that evening at the Flame.
At the Flame, Marcello is center stage as the emcee and sings a song about “Minnie the Moocher” which is really about his ex-lover Musetta. After he sings, he is introduced to Mimi by Rodolfo and before long they hear the laughter of the one and only Musetta. She enters in a flurry of energy and sings, eventually getting everyone in the Flame up to dance. After, she begs Marcello’s forgiveness and they reconcile. Before the club closes, the two couples leave, leaving the bill for one of Musetta’s many admirers.
The next morning, Mimi, in search of Rodolfo, finds Marcello at the Flame. She explains that she and Rodolfo had a fight and then asks why he’s at the club. Marcello tells her that he paints murals for the Flame and they let him stay there to keep warm and that Musetta also teaches singing there. He also lets her know that he will speak with Rodolfo on her behalf, Mimi leaves, but not far.
Marcello proceeds to shout and wake Rodolfo up to scold him about being mean to Mimi. Mimi overhears, as Marcello presses his friend for answers. Rodolfo eventually confesses that he believes Mimi’s cough is more serious and that she needs help, more importantly she needs someone with more money than he to get her the care she needs. Mimi coughs and Rodolfo realizes she’s heard everything. At this same moment, Musetta laughs and Marcello knows she’s flirting with someone. The two couples break up and leave in separate directions.
Spring has come to Bronzeville, but both Rodolfo and Marcello are melancholy, both knowing it’s because Mimi and Musetta are no longer in their lives. Abruptly, they hear Musetta shout for each of them to help her with Mimi who is weak from her illness. They get Mimi into a bed to rest and she tell’s Rodolfo how happy she is to see and be with him. Mimi tells everyone that she’s cold and wishes she could make her hands warm, wanting to grant her wish Musetta decides to pawn her watch to buy Mimi a muff, Musetta and Marcello leave. Alone, Mimi tells Rodolfo she loves him and that she knew he hid her key from her the first night they met. Musetta and Marcello return and give Mimi a muff to keep her hands warm. She thanks them and asks Musetta for one last thing, to say a prayer for her. She does and at the end of the prayer, Mimi peacefully dies. The friends reflect on their love for each other and memory of their dear friend Mimi.
Milwaukee’s Bronzeville
Milwaukee’s Bronzeville began over 100 years ago when a small group of African American families moved to Milwaukee after the Civil War. During World War I, increasing numbers moved from the farms in southern states in hopes of finding higher-paying factory jobs, escaping Jim Crow segregation, and providing new opportunities for their families. A larger wave of Southerners came north during World War II in the Second Great Migration. In the 50 years from 1900 to 1950, Milwaukee’s African American population grew from 900 to over 20,000.
The Golden Era of Milwaukee’s Bronzeville neighborhood was during the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s. While industrial jobs were exhausting and dangerous, they also provided higher incomes and a path to the middle class for these African American families. Family, community, faith, work, and education were pillars of life in this tight knit community.
At the heart of Bronzeville was Walnut Street, thriving with restaurants, barbershops, beauty parlors, record stores, tailors, jewelers, hotels, law firms, and the beautiful Regal Theater. Bronzeville’s most popular attraction was its jazz clubs, with jazz legends like Louis Armstrong, Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, and Billie Holiday playing in the neighborhood, often after having played gigs downtown.
Take a deeper dive into the history of Bronzeville:
Music from the Opera
Florentine Opera’s Bohème Tour is set to the music of Giacomo Puccini, Ruggero Leoncavallo, and Cab Calloway. Explore the original works by clicking on the links below.
Rodolfo’s aria “Che gelida manina” sung here by Jose Carreras
Mimi’s aria “Si mi chiamano Mimi” sung here by Angel Blue
Cab Calloway performing “Minnie the Moocher”
From Leoncavallo’s Bohème, “Valzer di Musetta”
Act III Quartet
The Finale of our tour show is an instrumental version of “Quando m’en vo” but hear it sung here by Nicole Cabell
school tour book
Our School Tour Book is right here - with everything from Meeting our Cast, Meeting our Creative Team - Building a School Tour, and our fascinating Bronzeville history. School Tour Book