Act IV. "A vast plain on the borders of the territory of New Orleans.
The country is bare and undulating, the horizon is far distant, the sky is overcast. Night falls." Thus the libretto. The score is a long, sad duet between _Des Grieux_ and _Manon_. _Manon_ dies of exhaustion. _Des Grieux_ falls senseless upon her body.
LA BOHÈME
THE BOHEMIANS
Opera in four acts by Puccini; words by Giuseppe Giacosa and Luigi Illica, founded on Henri Murger's book, _La Vie de Bohème_. Produced, Teatro Reggio, Turin, February 1, 1896. Manchester, England, in English, as "The Bohemians," April 22, 1897. Covent Garden, London, in English, October 2, 1897; in Italian, July 1, 1899. San Francisco, March, 1898, and Wallack's Theatre, New York, May 16, 1898, by a second-rate travelling organization, which called itself The Milan Royal Italian Opera Company of La Scala; American Theatre, New York, in English, by Henry W. Savage's Castle Square Opera Company, November 20, 1898; Metropolitan Opera House, New York, in Italian, December 18, 1901.
CHARACTERS
RUDOLPH, a poet _Tenor_ MARCEL, a painter _Baritone_ COLLINE, a philosopher _Bass_ SCHAUNARD, a musician _Baritone_ BENOIT, a landlord _Bass_ ALCINDORO, a state councillor and follower of _Musetta_ _Bass_ PARPIGNOL, an itinerant toy vender _Tenor_ CUSTOM-HOUSE SERGEANT _Bass_ MUSETTA, a grisette _Soprano_ MIMI, a maker of embroidery _Soprano_
Students, work girls, citizens, shopkeepers, street venders, soldiers, waiters, boys, girls, etc.
_Time_--About 1830.
_Place_--Latin Quarter, Paris.
"La Bohème" is considered by many Puccini's finest score. There is little to choose, however, between it, "Tosca," and "Madama Butterfly." Each deals successfully with its subject. It chances that, as "La Bohème" is laid in the Quartier Latin, the students' quarter of Paris, where gayety and pathos touch elbows, it laughs as well as weeps. Authors and composers who can tear passion to tatters are more numerous than those who have the light touch of high comedy. The latter, a distinguished gift, confers distinction upon many passages in the score of "La Bohème," which anon sparkles with merriment, anon is eloquent of love, anon is stressed by despair.