Cover A scene from Viva Voce Voice Lab’s earlier staging of ‘La Boheme’ at the Mirror Studio Theatre last summer 2023 (Photo: Fernando Quitlong III / Viva Voce Voice Lab’s Facebook page)
A scene from Viva Voce Voice Lab’s earlier staging of ‘La Boheme’ at the Mirror Studio Theatre last summer 2023 (Photo: Fernando Quitlong III / Viva Voce Voice Lab’s Facebook page)
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Don’t miss out on the re-staging of one of the greatest operas in history
One of the world’s most famous operas, La Bohème by Giacomo Puccini, is returning to the Philippine stage at the Tanghalang Ignacio B Gimenez on November 11 and 12, 7.30pm. Under the direction of Nelsito Gomez, musical direction by soprano Camille Lopez-Molina and with Dr Oliver Salonga on the piano, this riveting production of Viva Voce Voice Lab that ran earlier this year had audiences thrilled for its revitalised spin on the beloved classic.
First staged at the Teatro Regio in Turin, Italy, in 1896, La Bohème has since grown into a phenomenon and has since been recognised as one of the greatest operas ever written—inspiring many cinematic and artistic interpretations such as Jonathan Larson’s Broadway rock musical, Rent.
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Above La Bohème Official Poster
La Bohème Official Poster
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The tragic love story follows four friends: a poet named Rodolfo, Marcello the painter, Schaunard the musician and Colline, a philosopher. Their lives change as they meet a seamstress named Mimi, and immediately, Rodolfo falls in love.
As they navigate the struggles of living in Paris’ Latin Quarter during the 1840s, the flame between the two continuously flickers—keeping audiences hooked if their love will survive every trial life throws at them. It touches on timeless themes like poverty, illness, and youthful passion—digging deep into the essence of human emotion.
A scene from Viva Voce Voice Lab’s earlier staging of ‘La Boheme’ at the Mirror Studio Theatre last summer 2023 (Photo: Fernando Quitlong III / Viva Voce Voice Lab’s Facebook page)
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Viva Voce Voice Lab’s production offers a unique twist to the typically grandiose nature of opera—omitting the chorus numbers and only using a piano as the sole musical accompaniment. The performance will be held in an intimate space without the theatrical accents of traditional opera, highlighting the things La Bohème is known for: the drama, the music and the singing.
“Our goal was to move away from the potentially inaccessible 1840s setting and find a more relatable period to set this story. Upon researching, we decided on 1960s Paris, Post-war France, when the country was booming with a newfound sense of optimism and energy. It was the time of New Wave cinema, existentialism, Yé-Yé music, and streets filled with youth—a very apt backdrop for the Bohemians of this opera,” said Gomez.
Bringing the characters to life are familiar names in the opera and musical theatre space: Nomher Nival stars as Rodolfo, Anna Migallos as Mimi, Carlo Falcis as Marcello, Iona Ventocilla-Borja as Musetta, Roby Malubay as Colline, Fritz Rivera as Schaunard, and Raymond Yadao as Alcindoro.
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About
Gabriel found his passion for writing through poetry in high school. He sharpened his skills at Ateneo de Manila University and hopes to write a play worthy of Broadway one day. A self-proclaimed geek, he loves to spend his free time playing video games and board games. When he's not clicking heads on Valorant or roleplaying as a barbarian in Dungeons and Dragons, you can find him exploring art galleries or watching stage plays.
Work
A creative writer who writes about anything and everything, Gabriel loves to dive deep into the arts and culture scene—as well as going on long road trips for travel pieces.
You can reach him on Instagram at @gbohol for any leads, casual conversations or game invites.
