Same old Paris garret, you think at first, wondering why the Royal Opera has wheeled out John Copley's 1974 staging of La Boheme, with heavy naturalistic sets by Julia Trevelyan Oman, yet again. By the time Marcelo Alvarez, as Rodolfo, emits his final, anguished "Mimi" over his lover's dead body, the question is irrelevant.
That Copley has directed the revival himself makes all the difference. The fine balance between tragedy and comedy, implicit in Puccini's richly layered score but not always brought out, adds piquancy, and prevents excess fustiness or sentiment. Anna Leese's late replacement Musetta, witty and louche, was key in this respect.
Conductor Philippe Jordan tends to be fussy in approach. But once the quickfire opening unfolded into long lines of pure feeling, the performance gathered momentum. Alvarez gave a big hearted performance, sometimes rough-toned but always committed, drawing extra cheers from a house which has taken him to its heart.
Katie Van Kooten's persuasive Mimi combined strength and fragility. Alexander Vinogradov's Colline stood out among well-cast cameos. Some first night ragged chorus work and slips of intonation did not impede enjoyment. The mark of a good Boheme must always be the emotional impact and this production could not be watched or heard unmoved.
The Royal Opera: La Boheme
Royal Opera House
Floral Street, WC2E 9DD
