"La Boheme" was the first production San Diego Opera ever staged in 1965, and it's back in its 10th incarnation this week. While the melodic Puccini tragedy is obviously familiar to local audiences (particularly John Conklin's evergreen set), this year's production has two great surprises tucked inside: Piotr Beczala's dazzling company debut and Priti Gandhi's sparkling, hilarious performance.
The Polish tenor Beczala's performance as the impoverished Parisian poet Rodolfo is perfection, from his honey-sweet Italianate sound and confident top notes to an unbroken vocal line. As my seatmate said after Beczala tossed off his first aria "Che gelida manina": "He sounded like what you'd hear on a record, only he did it live, without any re-takes."
And big-voiced, Indian-born soprano Gandhi -- who grew up in Del Mar and has risen from San Diego Opera chorister to leading lady over the past 14 years -- delivers both vocally and theatrically in the role of flighty songbird Musetta. She fluidly traverses the role's coloratura heights with a lush, creamy sound. And director E. Loren Meeker allows Gandhi's vivacious, fun-loving personality to shine more than she's ever been allowed in her many past SDO appearances. With her huge expressive eyes, and can-can dancer moves, she brings light and humor to the often-dark love story.
Soprano Ellie Dehn took over the role of consumptive seamstress Mimi just a few days before rehearsals began (the previous singer withdrew for personal reasons) and she acquits herself very well given the circumstances. While her singing is not as technically stunning as Beczala's, she's a solid singer and fine actress.
The San Diego Opera production, confidently conducted by Karen Keltner, moves the story forward about 40 years into the 1880s Paris of Toulouse-Lautrec and the Moulin Rouge, which makes for colorful costumes and lively scenery. Based on Henri Murgers' novel "Scenes de la Vie de Boheme," it's the story of a group of impoverished artists. Rodolfo and Mimi fall in love, but they're forced apart when Mimi's tuberculosis forces her to seek a wealthier suitor to care for her medical needs. The flirtatious singer Musetta has a fiery on-and-off relationship with the painter Marcello (Jeff Mattsey, with a robust voice and personality to match Gandhi). And adding humor to the mix are the musician Schaunard (Malcolm MacKenzie) and the philosopher Colline (Alfred Walker).
The production's second act is the most entertaining, with Timothy Todd Simmons' well-coached chorus filling the stage with tuneful music, marching, and activity, and a fun comic performance by Scott Sikon as Alcindoro (Musetta's much-older sugar daddy). And the finale, thanks to Dehn's fine acting, is moving.
Saturday's nearly sold-out performance was a promising debut for the company's streamlined 2010 season, which has been trimmed from five productions to four (and to just four performances per production). Still to come are Verdi's "Nabucco," Feb. 20-28; Gounod's "Romeo and Juliet," March 13-21; and Verdi's "La Traviata," April 17-25.
"La Boheme"
When: 8 p.m. Friday; 2 p.m. Sunday
Where: San Diego Opera at the San Diego Civic Theatre, Third Avenue at B Street, San Diego
Tickets: $35 and up
Info: 619-533-7000
Web: www.sdopera.com
