robbie762 Being a fan of Rent, Gary Larsons take on Puccini's La Boheme, I was interested in seeing the roots of the material. But do a search on La Boheme and you'll find many versions of this masterpiece. It was Baz's name attached to this piece that drew me in, as I am a fan of his work. I don't speak a word of the language, and never watched Opera before. But this was quite an enjoyable experience. To see the parallels between the Boheme and Rent was quite amazing. The sets are even similar to the movie, with the loft being almost a duplicate. And look out for the name TOM written in the window dirt. Even if you weren't a fan of Moulon Rouge (Which I was) you can take something away from this. And check out Collin's bright yellow jacket - wow!A very good piece to experience, as it is an experience.Culture yourself people, culture yourself!

Daniella This is, definitely, one of the most beautiful and poignant interpretations/performances of this classic opera. The director, Baz Luhrmann (best known for Strictly Ballroom and Moulin Rouge!), revamped it and set it in the 1950s French Latin Quarter. Not only is the acting strong, but the singing is superb. The leads, David Hobson (as the poet, Rudolfo) and Mimi (the ailing Mimi) are absolutely mesmerizing.Even watching it, back in 1994, I could tell it was going to go on to be legendary. The artistic direction is vibrant, the music is beautifully performed and there are even warm, humorous moments, sprinkled between the seams of tragedy and mournfulness. You feel a connection to the actors, and it ultimately tugs at your heartstrings........Note: Watch this with a box of tissues and someone you love........

Jessica Carvalho I had never seen the Opera La Bohéme before, then,I cannot say that this version is better than the other ones.In my opinion, I found it quite interesting, not only for the love story, which is beautiful spite of being simple, but also because it take place in modern times. Most of the Operas that I watched, happened in remote time, or in the last century.La Bohéme has its story in France, after the Second World War and tells about Rodolfo and Mimi , neighbours that fall in love to each other.As all the operas, it finishes in a tragic way, that it is the death of Mimi.

jynnantonnix I first saw this production (at least, part of it) on Public Television a few years ago, and was just smitten with the look and atmosphere.I had been haunted by it since, but unable to find it until recently. Anyway, suffice it to say I enjoyed it as much as I had remembered! The setting of the story in the 50's makes it truly accessible, and while I agree that the cast is vocally somewhat lightweight, this is not, in my mind, a flaw in this sort of production.It is not about huge and beautiful singing...this is an intimate production in which the personalities themselves are more important than some pinnacle of musical excellence.Personally, I found David Hobson's (Rodolfo)light yet musical voice perfect for the character. This seems to me a wonderful production with which to introduce young people to the world of opera (which is a tremendous merit in itself!).There is not the problem of having to look "beyond" the physical appearance of a character (no robust Mimi here, nor middle aged,rotund Rodolfo), and the very lightness of the voices may make it somewhat easier to swallow for those not accustomed to operatic style.In short, if you are a diehard, pure "Opera" fan, you are likely to be somewhat ambivalent toward this, but if you can handle opera with a popcorn factor,it just might be a really enjoyable experience.