I had requested La Bohème on DVD from the library because I was curious. I'd never seen it, nor have I seen Rent (yet). I read enough to have a sense of the story and to know that Rent is loosely based on La Bohème.
The library kept renewing it for me because I kept not watching it. I was pretty confident Louie wouldn't be interested in seeing it. Finally, my renewals are up and it must be returned! I watched it last night.
1. I'm super glad it automatically had the English subtitles. Italian opera is relatively incomprehensible to me.
2. Not everything that was being sung had a subtitle . . .
3. What? What happened between the second and third acts?!?! How did Rodolfo and Mimi go from being madly in love to jealous and fighting? Did I look down at a project for a crucial few moments?
Most of all, watching this made me think of my mom. Every once in a while, she would listen to opera on NPR. I would complain and ask her why she liked listening to "people screaming in Italian" so much. She pretty much brushed me off. I wish I could ask her genuinely now . . . what about this appeals to you?
I don't regret having watched it. I enjoyed seeing Pavarotti and the other performers. I have a deeper understanding of the story (so when it is referenced, my cultural literacy is improved) and now I can watch Rent. Win!
I also have to say that I had a positive opera experience. High school friend Leslie invited Jenifer, Connie, and me to see a show when she was involved with Minnesota Opera. I mostly admired the costumes and read the words on a screen to the side of the stage, but I also remember that Alan Page was there! Thanks, Leslie, for sharing that experience.
