the mommy avenger

This year, I have branched out a bit. I’m delving into opera, a realm I know very little about. But, it’s something I really want to know more about and gain an appreciation for.

When I learned Puccini’s La Boheme was coming to the Capitol Theatre in Salt Lake City, I knew this was one I wanted to experience. I felt like I might have an upper hand comprehending the production, knowing that the world renown musical RENT was based on it.

When I arrived to the Opera, I was quickly taken into the world of four Bohemian friends struggling to live life to its fullest.

Four struggling bohemians—a poet, a painter, a musician and a philosopher—are living together in Paris when their lives are changed forever one freezing night. Their neighbor Mimì unexpectedly strikes the match of first love when she knocks at the door looking for a candle light. But as Mimì’s health declines, our four starving artists are sharply awoken to the harsh realities of life, in true operatic fashion.

I did recognize the basis for the musical RENT, but what I experienced was so much more intensive than that. There is something completely unique to listening to spectacular voices singing in Italian telling a story that transcends language. You can literally feel the emotions and depths the characters on stage are living through the intensity of the music. While there are English subtitles to follow along, you can certainly be there experiencing the acting and music and understand the common human experiences being portrayed on stage.

With some of opera’s best-known music, Puccini captures the thrill of young love and the devastation of untimely loss in this timeless classic.

While you don’t need to know anything about opera to enjoy the outstanding talented actors, singers, and musicians that create the experience, if you really want to understand the details of what is happening, there are some great resources available to you. At a minimum, taking time to read ahead of time the details of the story and the program will benefit you immensely. If you have even more time, Utah Opera does an absolutely incredible job providing a learning course of the history, music, storyline and more online. There are also Opera Talks which I highly recommend. One hour before each performance, patrons can join Utah Opera Principal Coach Carol Anderson to learn more about the production at a free talk in the Capitol Room of the Janet Quinney Lawson Capitol Theatre. This is incredibly beneficial. Then afterwards, you can participate in the post opera Q & A to discuss with Utah Opera’s Artistic Director. It’s a great way to maximize your experience and gain a better understanding of the entire production.

I love that these resources are available to ticket holders because, if you are a novice like me, it can be incredibly daunting to try to get it all on your own.

I feel like this was a great performance to test the waters of Opera understanding and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. I am gaining confidence and can’t wait to try another production with the Utah Opera in the future. In the meantime, I recommend trying the experience out for yourselves while it is being performed in Salt Lake City now through October 15th. You can learn more about the Utah Opera and purchase tickets for Puccini’s La Boheme by visiting them online.

^{*we were invited to facilitate a feature, all opinions are my own*}