It’s Christmas in Paris on Memorial Day in LA

As much as I may want to pretend otherwise, I can’t say I’ve ever actually lived like a bohemian—unless of course, you consider residing in the NoHo Arts District and avoiding the other inhabitants while working an office temp job to be bohemian. My apartment’s trash chute was often blocked and I did go without cable for awhile, if that helps. But I digress…

If you, like me, are at a place in life where you would prefer to experience the bohemian lifestyle from a comfortable seat in a temperature-controlled room, you may want to check out the return of LA Opera’s La Bohème to the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. It’s a revival of the celebrated 1993 Herbert Ross production.

The intriguing difference this time, is that the two leads, Ailyn Pérez and Stephen Costello, are actually married, and therefore possibly really in love. Though I haven’t seen them perform, I have to wonder if their real-world chemistry might provide a sense of authenticity I’ve often found lacking in other operatic expressions of romance.

For those unfamiliar, La Bohème is the original Rent. Just swap New York for Paris, and AIDS for tuberculosis (yes, there’s more to it than that, but this isn’t one of those articles). More specifically, the story follows six young Parisians in the 1830s, who are financially destitute, but spiritually rich. It’s Christmas time as the young poet, Rodolfo, falls in love with a shy seamstress, Mimi. Providing contrast and context to their central love story is the on-again, off-again love affair of the painter Marcello and the cabaret singer Musetta. Against the backdrop of nineteenth-century Paris, including an unfinished Eiffel tower, the young artists experience passion, poverty, joy, suffering and ultimately (spoiler alert), death.

While I have not seen La Bohème, I’ve been to a few LA Opera productions in the past. They have always delivered gorgeous sets and costumes, and a grandiose sound that you cannot get from film or your corner NoHo theater (sorry, real bohemians).

Tickets are going fast, so don’t wait to get seats. If you’ve never been to an opera, this is meant to be one of the more accessible, so check it out. It’s the last production of LA Opera’s season. @scottfuse

Photo by Robert Millard for LA Opera.

The young artists celebrate not living in North Hollywood. From left: Robert Pomakov, Stephen Costello, Museop Kim, Artur Rucinski. Photo by Robert Millard for LA Opera.

The young artists celebrate not living in North Hollywood. From left: Robert Pomakov, Stephen Costello, Museop Kim, Artur Rucinski. Photo by Robert Millard for LA Opera.

Spouses Stephen Costello and Ailyn Pérez as Rodolfo and Mimi. Photo by Robert Millard for LA Opera.

Real-life couple Stephen Costello and Ailyn Pérez fictionally embrace as lovers Rodolfo and Mimi. Photo by Robert Millard for LA Opera.