Puccini:La Bohème Opera in 4 Acts (Sung in Italian with Japanese Supertitles) OPERA HOUSE <STAFF>   Original by : Henri Murger Libretto by : Giuseppe Giacosa / Luigi Illica Music by : Giacomo Puccini     Artistic Director : Igarashi Kiyoshi Conductor : Antonio Pirolli Production : Aguni Jun Production Producer : Shimoyakawa Kyosuke Set Designer : Pascuale Grossi Costume Designer : Alessandro Ciammarughi Lighting Designer : Kasahara Toshiyuki Chorus Master : Misawa Hirofumi Stage Manager : Onita Masahiko Assistant Conductor : Sudo Keiji / Abe Katsuhiko / Ozawa Kazuya Assistant Stage Director : Hisatsune Hidenori / Maekawa Kuniko Chorus : New National Theatre Chorus / Fujiwara Opera Chorus Group Children's Chorus : Suginami Children's Chorus Orchestra : Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra     Presented by : New National Theatre, Tokyo <CAST>   April 2003 Saturday 19 Sunday 20 Wednesday 23 Saturday 26 Sunday 27 Tuesday 29 Mimi Fiorenza Cedolins X   X X   X Oiwa Chiho   X     X   Rodolfo Octavio Arevalo**     X   X   Alfred Portilla** X X   X   X Marcello Horiuchi Yasuo X   X   X   Makino Masato   X   X   X Musetta Nakajima Akiko X   X X     Sai Yan-Guang   X     X X Schaunard Alessandro Battiato* X   X   X X Tani Tomohiro   X   X     Colline Kubota Masumi X   X   X   Yatabe Kazuhiro   X   X   X Benoit Tsukiji Fumio X   X   X   Nakamura Yasushi   X   X   X Alcindoro Yamada Sachio X   X   X   Miura Katsuji   X   X   X Parpignor Chubachi Satoshi X X X X X X *Gianfranco Montresor, who was originally to perform the role of Schaunard on 19th, 23th, 27th and 29th, is unable to perform due to his physical condition. Alternatively, Alessandro Battiato is taking his place. Please refer to New National Theatre News. **Aquiles Machado,who was originally to perform the role of Rodolfo on 19th,23th,27th is unable to perform due to his physical condition. Alternatively, Octavio Arevalo(23th,27th) and Alfredo Portilla(19th) are taking his place. Please refer to New National Theatre News. <PERFORMANCES>   April 2003 Saturday 19 Sunday 20 Wednesday 23 Saturday 26 Sunday 27 Tuesday 29 3:00pm X X   X X X 6:30pm     X       Doors will open 60 minutes before the opening of the performance. Small lectures on this opera will be presented 45 minutes before the curtain time. <ADVANCE TICKETS>   Available from Sunday 16 February, 2003 at 10:00am. To order tickets, please call +81-3-5352-9999 (10:00am-6:00pm). Internet ticket reservation available through the following Websites.(Japanese only) http://t.pia.co.jp/ http://eee.eplus.co.jp/ <TICKET PRICES>   Type Seat S Seat A Seat B Seat C Seat D Seat E Price ¥21,000 ¥17,850 ¥13,650 ¥10,500 ¥6,300 ¥3,150 Seat Z(¥1,500) is sold only on the performance day at the Box Office and exclusive Ticket Pia Offices. Puccini's Enduring Opera of Youth Depicting the Dreams, Love and Suffering of Bohemians!! Struggling young artists with lofty aspirations find it hard to earn their daily bread though dedicated devoutly to art. La Bohème portrays the love stories of such Bohemian artists. It is an opera bound in the springtime of life, and the libretto by Giacosa is brilliant together with the orchestration by Puccini which is as rich in content as a four-movement symphony. Beautiful, captivating arias flow from the very first act, strongly drawing the audience to the work regardless of any negative preconceptions they may have had. The story follows the pattern of "introduction, development, twist and conclusion," with the ending underscoring the ephemerality of the heroine's life, moving the audience to tears. A splendid cast of singers, including Fiorenza Cedolins and Oiwa Chiho as well as Aquiles Machado and Alfredo Portilla, will sing under the fresh direction of Aguni Jun. The curtain is set to finally rise on this much-awaited production. Synopsis The setting is Paris, circa 1830. The poet Rodolfo, painter Marcello, philosopher Colline and musician Schaunard, who are poor but living happily together in a garret, decide to go out on the town to celebrate since it is Christmas Eve, although Rodolfo remains behind. When Mimi, a seamstress living downstairs, knocks on the door to ask for a light for her candle from Rodolfo, the pair begin to fall in love. Kindred spirits, they also leave for a night in town. At the cafè, where every one has gathered, Musetta, Marcello's old love, appears accompanied by an older admirer. Musetta sings "Quando men'vo soletto...(As I walk alone)" and tries to draw Marcello's attention. Finally, she leaves her admirer and avows her love for Marcello again. Two months later, on a snowy day, Mimi's consumption is worsening day by day while Rodolfo is steeped in liquor blaming himself for his inability to do anything for her. Worried that she may be a burden to Rodolfo, Mimi quietly bids him farewell. Musetta, who is as flirtatious as ever, and Marcello part after a violent quarrel. Some time passes, and Musetta brings the dying Mimi to where the four young artists are living together again. Mimi says that she has come back because she cannot forget Rodolfo. Everyone tries to help the two lovers, however, Mimi passes away quietly unnoticed. Rodolfo, sobbing, holds Mimi tightly in his arms crying out her name.