NZ Opera’s latest production is a feast for the eyes and the ears. Spectacular staging and costuming along with powerful singing made for a grand night of opera.
New Zealand Opera's La Boheme Photo: David Rowland
This opera is a rich mixture of comedy and tragedy which need to be finely balanced to make a coherent piece.
This production achieves this on many levels and delivers emotion without slipping into saccharine emotionalism.
The standout singers for me were the two sopranos.
Marlena Devoe’s Mimὶ was a rich and developed character and her singing was moving and, equally importantly, her acting was convincing.
New Zealand Opera's La Boheme Photo: David Rowland
Amelia Berry’s Musetta was rich in personality and sung with arch humour and feeling.
Thomas Atkins could have been in stronger voice as Rodolfo at some points. Nicholas Lester as Marcello sang and acted with nuance and charisma.
Julien Van Mellaerts as Schaunard and Timothy Newton as Colline had great fun with the opera’s horseplay but also delivered strong performances that gave us developed characters rather than extras.
The APO played beautifully under the baton of Tobias Ringborg without succumbing to sentimental excess.
New Zealand Opera's La Boheme Photo: David Rowland
The playing and singing during the gloomy Act III in particular was full of contrasts and subtleties that avoided obvious musical or theatrical gestures and clichés.
The Freemasons New Zealand Opera Chorus contributed a lot of action during the second act set at the Momus Café and sang with precision.
The production is a pleasure to look at.
The sets, lighting and costumes were effective and told the story in their own ways too.
New Zealand Opera's La Boheme Photo: David Rowland
The mess of the student flat, the foreboding darkness and greyness of the third act’s staging, and the energy of the café and street scenes kept the eyes as busy as the ears.
The set design seemed a little too compact during the second act and there was so much business going on during the crowd scene there was too much to take in.
More could have been made of the stage depth at times.
New Zealand Opera's La Boheme Photo: David Rowland
But overall this was a moving and beautifully staged production with glorious singing from the principals.
The dark tragedy is allowed to speak for itself without being overwhelmed by histrionics and the fast-moving comedy provides contrasting light.
The cast, crew and musicians all deserved the enthusiastic applause at last night’s opening.
New Zealand Opera's La Bohème runs in Auckland until September 23 and opens in Wellington on October 4.
