La Bohème...

Last night Stu and I went to the ENO to see Jonathan Miller's brilliant revived staging of Puccini's powerfully popular opera La Bohème.

Atmospherically updated to 1930s Paris, this uber-romantic story of young love blighted by sudden tragedy unfolds on cinematically realistic sets inspired by the iconic photographs of Cartier-Bresson and Brassaï.

The story started with the lovers Mimì and Rodolfo meeting. Then falling in love. The ups and downs of their lives together and apart. And then Mimì was feeling a bit peeky. And then Rodolfo, who was a poet, went from being lost in her eyes to being lost for words. And when Mimì died, Rodolfo was just simply... lost.

He should have perhaps known that when a leading lady coughs in Act 3 she'll be dead by the end of Act 4. This is opera after all.

The cast were great. The orchestra sublime. And the staging simply wonderful. Five stars for Mr Miller. A great revival.

Madam Butterfly...

Last night Stu and I went to see the ENO's production of Puccini's Madam Butterfly at the Coliseum in London's glitzy West End.

It was a sumptuous show filled with beauty, spectacle and stunning performances.

The story of heartless American navy officer who does the dirty on sweet Japanese geisha is full of emotion and this is fully brought out in Anthony Minghella's Oliver Award-winning production. The costumes were amazing, the set a wonder and the lead performers sang and acted their hearts out.

Mary Plazas as Cio-Cio San was simply a triumph.

If you ever get the chance to see this show. Go. It's a delight.

La bohème...

Last night Paul and I went to the ENO to see Jonathan Miller's brilliant staging of Puccini's powerfully popular opera La bohème.

Atmospherically updated to 1930s Paris, this uber-romantic story of young love blighted by sudden tragedy unfolds on cinematically realistic sets inspired by the iconic photographs of Cartier-Bresson and Brassaï.

The story started with the lovers Mimì and Rodolfo meeting. And then falling in love. And the ups and downs of their lives together and apart. And then Mimì wasn't feeling very well. And then Rodolfo, who was a poet, went from being lost in her eyes to being lost for words. And then Mimì died. And then Rodolfo was just simply... lost.

He should have perhaps known that when a leading lady coughs in Act 3 she'll be dead by the end of Act 4. This is opera after all.

The cast were great. The orchestra sublime. And the staging simply wonderful. Five stars for Mr Miller. A great revival.