A Sneak Peek into Regina’s “La Bohème”

Brooklyn-based professional opera company Regina Opera’s next production for the 2019 season is “La Bohème.” “La Bohème” is a four-act Italian opera that was composed by Giacomo Puccini (Italian libretto by Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa) and premiered at the Teatro Regio in 1896. As one of the most popular Italian operas of all time, it’s a tragic love story among the Bohemians of Paris in the 1830s.

President and producer Francine Garber-Cohen, who joined Regina Opera in 1974, said this is the sixth time “La Bohème” will be performed in the company’s history – which will celebrate its 50^th year in 2020. It will be fully costumed, fully staged with new scenery and performed with the accompaniment of a 35-piece orchestra for two weekends.

This year’s production also features a diverse cast with some who have done the opera before and some who haven’t. Singer Hyunho Cho, for instance, will be making his role debut as writer Rodolfo during the March 2 and 10 performances with Regina Opera. He has performed in numerous venues including Carnegie Hall, Alaska Center of Performing Arts, Gerald Lynch Theater and the National Arts Center, as well as the Opera House of Seoul Arts Center in Korea. Cho told the RHSR that he began singing at the age of 18 and always enjoyed participating with his church choir. He later fell in love with opera when his mother took him to see “La Bohème” at the Korean National Opera Theater.

“It made such a big impact on me and that’s when I decided I wanted be an opera singer. I found my God-given talent and love for singing more as I was learning,” Cho said. “Now I’m working with [Regina Opera] as Rodolfo, which is the role I’ve always dreamed to play.”

Without giving too much away, Cho’s favorite scene is from Act 3, Scene 2, in which his character tells fellow artist Marcello that his relationship with seamstress Mimì is over, though he still loves her.

“That is a very special love that one can have,” he added. “Puccini wrote a beautiful solo line for Rodolfo there; I love it.”

Principal stage director Linda Lehr, who always attended New York City operas as a child and teen, has been directing at Regina Opera since 1998. She told this paper that she wanted to keep “La Bohème” in its original time period to give cast and audience members the experience of a standard production. As a result, Lehr did some research for stage design inspiration, which will help everyone feel like they’re in 19^th century Paris.

“The design aspect for this one was fun because I went back to the original source material [the novel Scènes de la Vie de Bohème by Henri Murger] and I’ve taken some of the original illustrations from the book and put them on the stage so … it’s like we’re in the book,” she explained.

While “La Bohème” is specific to its time period, the storyline and music are universal and timeless. Gregory Ortega, Regina Opera’s principal conductor who will be leading the show musically, has roots with “La Bohème” that actually go back to his college years. It was the first opera he conducted with his self-formed company while attending Hunter College.

“It’s one of the most technically difficult operas to conduct,” he explained. “[But] it’s a score that’s very direct and almost anyone can enjoy the music.”

The production will be performed in Italian, and English supertitles will be projected above the stage. The translations are as close to literal as possible, while maintaining easy readability for audience members.

Show dates are on March 2, 3, 9 and 10 at 3 pm. Tickets can be purchased online (reginaopera.org/tickets.htm) and at the door on the day of the performance (cash only). Ticket prices are as follows: $25 for general admission, $20 for seniors (age 60+), $20 for college students (age 25 and under), $5 for teens, and free for kids (age 12 and under). TDF vouchers are also accepted.

All performances are held at the auditorium of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Academy of Brooklyn (5902 6^th Avenue), which is handicap accessible. Garber-Cohen said “La Bohème” is about three hours long with four acts and three intermissions. For more information, visit reginaopera.org or call 718-259-2772.

Top photo by Gregory Ortega: The 4 Bohemians, living in a Parisian garret, distract Benoit, their landlord who has come for the rent, with some wine. Front row – from left: Kevin Rowkower (left ) Ken Young (as Benoit, center) HyungJoo Eom -(right)
Back row – Thomas Massey (left) and Lindell Carter (right)