© In höchsten Tönen! La Bohème: Opera in the Krypt
Vienna, Peterskirche — Krypta
About the Event
The crypt of St. Peter’s Church is one of Vienna’s most extraordinary performance venues. Its intimate setting transforms Puccini’s masterpiece into a moving, all‐encompassing experience that goes far beyond a typical evening at the opera.
The unique acoustics of the historic vault lend the voices a natural warmth and create a soundscape that is both powerful and intimate. Each performance thus becomes a unique moment of exceptional quality, performed according to the composer’s original piano scores.
An insider’s tip for opera lovers and for anyone who wants to experience culture not just by seeing and hearing it, but with all their senses—as well as a sophisticated opera evening at one of Vienna’s most extraordinary cultural venues—personal, authentic, and unforgettable!
The KRYPTA is pleasantly temperate in every season.
Plot:
Act 1
The impoverished Bohemians—Rodolfo, the poet Marcello, the painter Schaunard, the musician and Colline, the philosopher—celebrate Christmas in their shared attic apartment in Paris. Chaunard, who had earned some money, treats them to a sumptuous meal and firewood for the freezing room. When they want to continue celebrating at the popular Café Momus, the poet Rodolfo decides to stay behind alone for a while to finish his work.
Suddenly, there is a knock at the door. Mimi, a neighbor, asks for a light for her extinguished candle, but a coughing fit leaves her exhausted. As she tries to leave, she realizes she’s lost her key. Once again, the draft blows out the candle. Rodolfo finds it first and mischievously hides it in his hand. As they feel around the floor, their hands touch, and they are instantly smitten.
The friends call up to Rodolfo from below, whose heart has already completely surrendered to Mimi. The two leave the attic as a couple and follow their companions.
Act 2
On the way to Café Momus, Rodolfo buys Mimi a little pink bonnet with his last bit of money. He introduces her to his friends, and a conversation about love ensues, which particularly rubs Marcello the wrong way, as he has been disappointed by love himself.
Suddenly, Musetta, his former lover, appears upon seeing Marcello, she does everything in her power to regain his attention. The former couple reunites, and together they all leave the café, leaving the bill unpaid.
Act 3
Some time later, in the early hours of the morning, Mimi searches desperately for Marcello in a small, snow‐covered town. Rodolfo has left her after a fit of jealousy. When he suddenly appears, she hides nearby and listens. She is devastated to learn the true reason for his behavior. Out of fear and helplessness, he could no longer bear her condition. Mimi is suffering from tuberculosis. Their life together in his freezing attic only worsened her health.
When Mimi can no longer control her coughing, Rodolfo discovers her, and they fall into each other’s arms. But eventually, they bid each other a comforting farewell and go their separate ways. Meanwhile, a heated argument breaks out between Musetta and Marcello, until they too part ways in anger.
Act 4
Spring has now arrived. Rodolfo and Marcello are working in their attic, but nothing seems to go right. Each is thinking of his lost lover. When Colline and Schaunard try to cheer up their friends, they briefly forget their heartache and get caught up in a boisterous game.
Suddenly, Musetta bursts in and asks Rodolfo for help. Mimi, who is terminally ill, wants to see her Rodolfo one last time. The friends lay her down on their worn‐out divan. Musetta, whose big heart can barely bear the suffering, grants her final wish. She goes out and buys a muff for Mimi’s ice‐cold hands. Colline decides to pawn his only possession, his coat, to raise money for the doctor. Marcello receives Musetta’s earrings from her to pawn them for the doctor as well.
Left alone, Mimi and Rodolfo reminisce about their great love. When the friends return, Mimi is delighted by the wonderful muff. Musetta assures her it is from Rodolfo. Happily, she falls asleep on it.
While they are preparing the medicine, Schaunard notices that Mimi has died. Stunned, Rodolfo collapses over his beloved.
Practical Information
The 'Opera in the Crypt' series is a unique form of presenting opera at its very essence. With piano accompaniment, talented singers in costumes perform the works in the exceptional, intimate atmosphere of the crypt under St. Peter's Church. Through the short distance between audience and musicians you can experience opera in a way you have never heard or seen it before.
Program
- Giacomo Puccini – La Bohème
Cast / Production
Mimì – Tatiana Rasa
Musetta – Valeria Komarova
Rodolfo – Sergio Tallo‐Torres
Marcello – Yechan Bahk
Schaunard – Maxim Smirnov
Colline – Florian Pejrimovsky
Benoit/Alcindoro – Michael Pinsker
Musical direction– Ekaterina Nokkert
Production/lights – Dorothee Stanglmayr
Peterskirche
The Peterskirche (St Peter’s Church) is the second-oldest church in Vienna, founded around 800AD, if legend is to be believed. The present church was built in 1732 in the Baroque style, with Vienna's first baroque dome. Inspired by St Peter's Basilica in Rome, the interior is adorned with frescoes, sculptures, golden altarpieces and carved wood. Peterskirche is one of Vienna's busiest classical music venues, featuring a diverse program that includes daily organ concerts, operas, choral concerts and performances by prominent local and international artists. In addition to performances in the elegant main sanctuary, the Peterskirche also hosts concerts in the fascinating and intimate crypt below ground level.
Giacomo Puccini
Giacomo Puccini was an Italian opera composer of the late 19th century. He was considered one of the greatest composers of the Italian Opera, second only to Verdi. His early works were characterised by features of the traditional 19th century romantic Italian opera. Later, his style developed into the realistic verismo style, which inspired him to write his most famous masterpieces and became one of the leading exponents of the style. His most renowned works La bohème (1896), Tosca (1900), Madama Butterfly (1904), and Turandot (1924), all are popular operas played in the most prestigious venues of the classical world.
Customer Reviews
5.0 of 5
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Oxana G, Россия
Nov 2018
Потрясающее исполнение оперы в камерной атмосфере. Выше ожиданий. Супер!
Address
Peterskirche, Petersplatz, Vienna, Austria — Google Maps
