LA BOHEME DIDN'T DISAPPOINT
by Diva4Ever on 5/13/14Uihlein Hall Marcus Center - MilwaukeeI live in Minneapolis but often go to the opera in Milwaukee as a little weekend retreat. La Boheme was beautifully performed by The Florentine Opera. The sets were perfect and familiar - very much like the Met Opera's sets. The highlight of the opera, for me, was Noah Stewart, Rodolfo. He is an engaging actor and has the kind of effortless tenor voice that I could listen to all day. I didn't love Alyson Cambridge as Mimi. I prefer those upper notes in "Mi chiamano Mimi" to be sung pianissimo without the dramatic crescendo that Ms. Cambridge infused. But, to be fair, she did perform the role very well overall. Matthew Treviño as Colline sang a heart-breaking "Vecchia zimarra senti" and it was beautiful. Katrina Thurman as Musetta was very good, but her voice did not carry well over the orchestra. Corey McKern as Marcello was excellent, and Scott Johnson was a wonderful Schaunard. Florentine Opera only performs each opera twice, so "La Boheme" is now long gone. I do, however, recommend checking them out next season! I know that I will.