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SF Opera “Boheme” Outdoors in the Park: Mar. 31-Apr. 2 (Dublin)

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Saturday, April 1, 2023 - 7:30 pm | Cost: FREE
Emerald Glen Park Amphitheater (Dublin) | 4201 Central Pkwy Dublin, CA 94568

Free / RSVP

San Francisco Opera “Boheme” Outdoors in the Park: Free Bay Area Tour 2024

San Francisco Opera is taking opera out of the Opera House for Bohème Out of the Box. These free, live performances of an abridged version of Giacomo Puccini’s La Bohème will travel to outdoor locations throughout the Bay Area this spring. The very first opera to be presented by San Francisco Opera 101 years ago, Puccini’s popular work of love and loss among a group of bohemian artists will be performed in an intimate one-hour version on a converted shipping-container-turned-mobile opera stage.

Directed by Jose Maria Condemi, Bohème Out of the Box, sung in Italian and featuring English narration, will be performed by guest artists and San Francisco Opera’s Adler Fellows with piano accompaniment. These free performances bring La Boheme’s powerful emotions and soaring arias to Bay Area communities as the Company launches into its second century.

Coming April 2024. Check back soon for more information regarding 2024 dates and locations!

Bohème Out of The Box is performed without an intermission, with a running time of approximately 75 minutes.

The story deals with a group of artists and friends living communally and the struggle to make ends meet. And the romantic yet bittersweet love story between Rodolfo and Mimi.

It’s Christmas Eve. Rodolfo and Marcello, a painter, complain about the bitter winter cold. Having run out of wood for the stove, they decide to burn Rodolfo’s latest play to keep warm. They are joined by Colline and Schaunard, who brings unexpected food, wine, wood, and money. Their landlord, the greedy Benoît, arrives to collect the three months of rent they owe. They quickly devise a trick to avoid paying the rent and kick Benoit out of the house. Schaunard suggests they celebrate by going to the new hotspot in town, Momus but Rodolfo chooses to stay behind to finish an article he’s working on.

Mimi, an upstairs neighbor, knocks at the door after her candle goes out. Rodolfo invites her in, and she faints briefly (she is seriously ill.) As Mimi starts to leave, she realizes she has also lost her keys. While they search the room, their hands touch, and suddenly they develop an attraction.  Rodolfo tells Mimi about his work as a poet and his dreams. In turn, she tells him of her quiet and reserved life as a seamstress. They declare their love for each other and leave to join Rodolfo’s friends at Momus. On the way, Rodolfo buys Mimì a pink hat before introducing her to his friends.

Marcello’s former girlfriend, Musetta makes a grand entrance, followed by her wealthy new lover Alcindoro. Marcello ignores her but Musetta is determined to get his attention. She taunts Marcello mercilessly and sends Alcindoro away on a pretext, before falling into Marcello’s arms. They make up and go away together. Mimi and Rodolfo decide to also return home, and it seems that happiness is in store for them.

Several weeks have gone by and Mimi’s health has worsened. She and Rodolfo have been fighting a lot and their relationship has soured. Rodolfo leaves abruptly and stumbles upon his friend Marcello. Rodolfo confesses his real feelings: he knows Mimì is dying, and he has no means to help her. He is consumed with guilt and doesn’t know what to do. Mimì accidentally overhears their conversation and is discovered by Rodolfo. Mimi declares their liaison is over but that she has no animosity against him. Rodolfo tries hard to persuade her against leaving and, eventually, they decide to wait until spring arrives to part.

A couple of months have passed. Nobody has heard from Mimi, and everybody is worried. The friends attempt to forget reality by goofing around but, just as their fun gets going, Musetta bursts in. Mimì is with her and is dying. They all rush to comfort Mimi and Musetta and Marcello leave to buy medicine and find a doctor. Mimì and Rodolfo reaffirm their love. Amid the general sorrow and concern, Mimì dies. An inconsolable, Rodolfo cries out her name.

Synopsis by Jose Maria Condemi

Disclaimer: Please double check event information with the event organizer as events can be canceled, details can change after they are added to our calendar, and errors do occur.


Cost: FREE
Categories: *Top Pick*, In Person, Live Music, Outdoors, Theater & Performance
Venue: Emerald Glen Park Amphitheater (Dublin)
Address: 4201 Central Pkwy Dublin, CA 94568