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SCMP Reporter

La Boheme

Welsh National Opera

Cultural Centre Grand Theatre

Reviewed: Mar 16

The Welsh National Opera's La Boheme  was a treat for the eyes and ears.  Giacomo Puccini's timeless music was sung  well, but without many vocal fireworks, and  one could have wished that the Italian had been better  delivered.

However, the singers' ensemble work  was excellent, vocally and  dramatically.

This was  the poorest group  of Bohemians I've  seen in 80 performances of the opera. The loft of the first and fourth acts was bereft of even the customary table and chairs. Less successful was the second act. It seemed too cramped  for   the chorus or for the  movement dictated by the story.  Maybe the home of  the Welsh National Opera has a smaller stage than the Grand Theatre.  The set  seemed to be  too far back from the audience.

The evening's highlight was  conductor Carlo Rizzi leading the orchestra and chorus.

Never has an orchestra sounded better.  This  opera is full of minefields for a conductor, as there's so much rubato (change of tempo) and subdivison in the score. Many times the show can bog down in over-indulgence by the  conductor or the singers.

Rizzi had his team  fully

under control,  maintaining a fine balance between pit and stage, and produced some wonderful sounds.



La Boheme