Miami performances are at the Sanford and Dolores Ziff Ballet Opera House at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County, 1300 Biscayne Boulevard, Miami.

Fort Lauderdale performances are at the Au-Rene Theater at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts, 201 SW 5th Avenue, Fort Lauderdale.

Children must be at least six years old to attend.

FEATURED ON-SITE DINING

La bohème

by GIACOMO PUCCINI

Experience Giacomo Puccini’s lyrical romantic tragedy of young lovers in the Latin Quarter of nineteenth century Paris. Will Mimì and Rodolfo find a way to make their love survive terrible poverty, the freezing winter, and Mimì’s life-threatening illness? Puccini’s magical melodies, including “Si, mi chiamano Mimì” and Musetta’s famous waltz, transform this tale of lovers living on borrowed time into a timeless classic.

MIAMI
Adrienne Arsht Center Ziff Ballet Opera House
Nov 3 at 7:00pm
Nov 6 and 8 at 8:00pm
Nov 11 at 2:00pm

FORT LAUDERDALE
Broward Center Au-Rene Theater
Nov 15 and 17 at 7:30pm

Synopsis

Act I. In a garret: Paris, Christmas Eve

The painter Marcello and poet Rodolfo are distracted by the cold. Marcello is also frustrated because of a woman: his fingers are frozen, he says, as if he were holding them in the glacier of Musetta’s heart. Rodolfo throws his manuscript into the stove, providing a burst of heat. Colline, a philosopher, joines them. The flames die, to cries of “down with the author,” when the musician Shaunard appears with food, wine, and money. As the friends celebrate, Benoit, their landlord, arrives, looking for back rent. Marcello invites him in, serves him wine, and feigns outrage when Benoit boasts of amorous adventures. The bohemians toss him out and leave for dinner.

Rodolfo stays behind to work, saying he’ll join the others shortly. He hears a knock. It is a neighbor, Mimì. She has a coughing fit, then faints, dropping her candle and key in the process. Rodolfo relights her candle, but it blows out, as does his. Hunting for her key, they touch. Rodolfo notices her hand is cold and tells her about himself, letting her know that he finds her attractive. She responds, revealing her gentle nature and vivid imagination. Rodolfo’s friends call from below. Rodolfo shouts back that he is no longer alone. He and Mimì are in love.

Act II. In the Latin Quarter

Crowds of people, shopping and socializing, mill around outside Café Momus. Colline is pleased to find a good secondhand coat; Rodolfo buys Mimì a pink bonnet. The friends settle in at the café when, to Marcello’s dismay, Musetta enters with her escort, a rich old man named Alcindoro. She flamboyantly attempts to attract Marcello, who avoids her. She breaks down his resolve, much to the amusement of his friends, by publicly, seductively, calling attention to the pleasure she takes in being admired. Marcello cannot resist. Feigning a hurt foot, Musetta sends Alcindoro off to buy shoes, then falls into Marcello’s arms. She directs the waiter to give the bohemians’ bill to Alcindoro. The group runs off into the crowd with Musetta on their shoulders.

Act III. At the Barrière d’Enfer: Winter

Before daybreak, sweepers at the tollgate call for the guards to let them enter. Countryfolk arrive en route to their markets. Meanwhile, nighttime revelries continue at a nearby tavern. Mimì asks a sergeant for directions to the tavern. She seeks Marcello, who, with Musetta, works there. She tells Marcello that Rodolfo is overly jealous and suspicious of her. When Rodolfo emerges from the tavern, she hides. Rodolfo confides to Marcello that he must leave Mimì because her flirtatiousness drives him crazy, then admits that her bad health is to blame. He feels remorse because he can’t afford to care for her. Mimì, overhearing, realizes that she might die. As she sobs, Rodolfo finds her. Suddenly, Marcello hears Musetta’s laugh and, jealous, runs into the tavern. Mimì bids Rodolfo farewell, but the two agree that parting in winter is difficult: They’ll wait until April. Marcello and Musetta break up.

Act IV. In the garret

Rodolfo and Marcello each report on having seen the other’s former girlfriend. They voice pleasure that the women are prospering, but their feelings are reflected in their inability to concentrate on work. Shaunard and Colline arrive with food. The four are interrupted by Musetta: Mimì is on her way, too weak to climb the stairs. They bring her in and put her to bed. Musetta leaves with Marcello to fetch a doctor. Colline decides to sell his coat, taking Shaunard off so that Mimì and Rodolfo can be alone. The two reminisce about the night they met. When the others return, Musetta gives Mimì a muff to warm her hands, allowing her to think it is from Rodolfo. Mimì drifts off to sleep. As the friends wait for the doctor, they realize that Mimì has died. Rodolfo learns of it from the others’ faces. He cries out her name.