Opera Idaho

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Review: Soprano charms audience in ‘La Boheme’
Aside from music that initially drowned out the singers and a prop that was too big, Opera Idaho is off to a good start.

By Dana Oland, Idaho Statesman
Edition Date: 10/09/07

The artist’s credo of art, love, life and misery came beautifully to life in Giacomo Puccini’s "La Boheme," a one-night performance that opened Opera Idaho’s 2007-08 season Saturday night.

Artistic director Julie Kilgrow brought a cast of vocalists to Boise that delighted the Morrison Center audience.

Director David Cox, who staged last season’s "The Barber of Seville," returned to create a warm, funny and moving "Boheme." As he did with "Barber," he rendered a thoughtful and character-rich production.

Puccini’s opera is one of the most produced works in the country. It’s a story of a group of struggling artists living and loving in Paris’ Latin Quarter, the creative center of the city in the 1830s. Filled with soaring musical themes and poetic lyrics, the opera contains just enough humor and irony to avoid cloying sentimentalism and remain freshly contemporary.

The story focuses on four friends: a poet Rodolfo (Adam Flowers), an artist Marcello (Jason Detwiler), a musician Schaunard (Joseph Rawley) and a philosopher Colline (Dennis Rupp).

The actors each had a dynamic presence and charm. Rawley and Rupp are both wonderfully cast. Each brings the right touch of humor and tenderness to their roles.

Detwiler is charming with a devilish touch as Marcello. He plays the perfect foil for Flower’s Rodolfo and a passionate match for the lovely Musetta, Marcello’s spirited and flirtatious girlfriend. She is played by Aimee Puentes, who dazzled every time she stepped on stage. She was particularly wonderful in the second act performing "Musetta’s Waltz," during which she flirts and wins Marcello back, if just for a while.

Puentes was complemented by the Opera Idaho resident and children’s choruses, who sang well and made for some fun play with Puentes, especially the men she flirted with. But the stage seemed a bit overrun with children for the scene. It did, however, offer a fun moment for Boise tenor Joe Dewey, who took a fun turn as a colorful Parpignol.

The heart of this "Boheme" came from lyric soprano Barbara Divis’ performance as Mimi, the beautiful young seamstress who speaks poetry, embroiders flowers and captivates the poet Rodolfo. Divis has a rare voice, as rich and warm as it is clear and bell-like.

And when she paired with Flowers, they gave a stunning performance. His lovely tenor solidly matched Divis’ at every turn. In their first-act duet, "Oh soave fanciulla" their voices blended to great effect.

Cox again did a good job of juxtaposing Marcello and Musetta’s stormy breakup against Mimi and Rodolfo’s agreement to stay together until spring. The four voices together were captivating.

San Jose-based conductor David Rohrbaugh led the performance, coaxing a marvelous performance from the musicians. Although, as often happens in the Morrison Center, they struggled for balance, often overpowering the singers, especially Flowers, particularly in the first act.

By the third act, Rohrbaugh had honed it into a wonderful blend.

One clunky spot in the performance came not from the music, but from a prop. During Mimi’s death scene, Rawley and Rupp carried on a large bed that didn’t at all match the rest of the set. It was quite fluffy; it created a barrier between Divis and the rest of the cast. A worn chaise already on the set might have been a better choice.

Still, Divis’ voice was impeccable.

The performance was a great way to begin the season. The real tragedy is that Opera Idaho only had one night to pull it off.

It’s another reason to explore the idea of a smaller, quality performance venue in Boise. With 600 to 800 seats, the opera, or even the ballet or other groups, could potentially run a production for a week.

Without such a venue, our arts groups won’t have the opportunity to cultivate a larger audience.

Dana Oland: 377-6442Kate Sutherland of Boise: "I really enjoyed it. It’s one of my favorite operas. I thought the first act was lovely, and the blend of the voices was wonderful. The duets they did were exceptional and stunning. The orchesta was lovely, and the harp was particularly lovely. But I wish the balance between the orchestra and the singers had been better. I thought the stage direction was grand. The acting was really at the same caliber of the voices."

David Hertling of Boise: "It’s been gorgeous, quite a lot of fun. It’s my first time at the opera. It was just a great chance for me to see something a little different. The voices were stunning, the soprano (Barbara Divis) was particularly amazing. It’s been moving."

Jessica Colbert, of Boise: "It’s amazing, more wonderful than I could have ever thought. This is my first time to an actual opera and I’ll most definitely be back."

Emily Upchurch of Boise: It’s my first opera and I really enjoyed it. I did cry at the end. The voices were amazing, I got the chills several times."

Ron Wilson of Dallas: "I thought the singing was really good and I really enjoyed myself."