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Instead of going to Bloggers’ Poker Night with the chance of beating Bim at the jackpot, I sort of worked some and then headed to the CCP to experience La bohème. I’m going to come clean this early on in the article by admitting that whenever I hear an aria being played anywhere, my eyeballs would suddenly shoot sideways without warning and stay there for a good 10 seconds minimum in protest. Opera just doesn’t feel alright to the ears, or at least MY ears.

When Lorna sent me an invite for a preview of La bohème, a classic written by Giacomo Puccini (who also composed Madama Butterfly) and first performed on stage in Italy back in February 1896, the same feeling of dread still weighed me down despite the week-long anticipation of finally getting to see my first ever real live opera. Once seated on the front row and center, I learned the hard way that my fears are indeed founded.

You see, I got bored. To tears. But let me elaborate.

First, the entire thing is in Italian. Sure, the set was easy on the eyes since the people behind the production made it look like the story they are telling happed in modern-day Manila but still, it’s in Italian. If I wasn’t taking videos, I’d take it as my cue to curl up on my seat and snore. But like a student who is about to take an exam, I should have come prepared. There are lots of resources everywhere in the Internet where I could have made an effort to read the lyrics and their corresponding translation in English but I didn’t bother. So yes, I’m partly to blame for this point.

Second, the opera singers’ eyeballs were very distracting. It would not have mattered, maybe, for people seated further away from the stage. I was less than 2 meters away from the conductor so when the opera singers would glance at her, I’d get very uneasy. It’s like seeing an orator fidget on stage for lack of confidence. I understand that the conductor dictates the flow and is thus in charge of the overall cohesion among the elements of the entire production so, yes, I know I must be fair in my judgement. She gives the cue, right. Ok, got that. And what we saw was a preview where they were ironing out the fine details of the show (OK, that part has already been explained to us by Lorna and I’m in a story-sharing mood so I wrote it down here for you to also experience).

Third, night after night, a different set of actors will perform the characters on stage. Mind you, though, that these are very talented/dedicated artists, as shown by their credentials. Director Floy Quintos shared that these actors were still rarin’ to do the role despite the need to learn the songs for four gruelling months just so they can perform for one night at the CCP. Having come from the theater, Director Quintos was humbled by this mind set shared by most young classical singers.

After the fourth act, I found myself easing up to the storyline. Could it be that my empathy found a way to transcend the language barrier? HUHLOLZ! I’d attribute my new-found satisfaction to the chemistry of the performers, director, orchestra, and the conductor. That plus probably the grandiose vibe of just being in the CCP and watching opera. Snooty much? Hellz yeah!

As repeatedly mentioned everywhere, the hit Broadway musical Rent was based on this classic. La boheme proudly earned the tagline “the greatest love story ever sang” and, as jokingly put by the director, the record-holder of the longest goodbye exchange between co-dependent lovers who can’t seem to live with nor be away from each other. That my dear friends is a classic right there with a plot that’s so current, you could smell, taste, and hump it!

The Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra provides professional and point-precise scoring as conducted by Helen Quach, a very energetic/lively woman. You’ll see what I mean in the video that’ll follow. You’ll notice her hands sticking out of the orchestra pit at times while I was shooting.

So, would I recommend the play? See the preview below and decide for yourself.

For tickets, contact the Philippine Opera Company at 892-8786 or visit www.philippineoperacompany.com for more details. Tickets are also available at all TicketWorld outlets with trunkline number 891-9999.