Hitting the right note
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posted
04/03/2008
expires
04/06/2008
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A Parisian attic with the sounds of some of opera’s most beautiful arias greeted the audience of a production of La Boheme at the Royal Free’s Peter Samuel Hall on 28 February. View photo gallery>> After several years of staging highly successful jazz concerts, featuring Humphrey Lyttelton and his band, the Friends of the Royal Free Hospital turned their fundraising talents to opera. The Garden Opera Company – “a small touring company without equal in Britain”, according to leading magazine Opera Now – presented La Boheme, one of the world’s most popular and best loved operas set to Puccini’s hauntingly beautiful music.
It tells the story of Mimi and Rodolfo, who fall in love and go through various ups and downs in their relationship. Rodolfo then becomes concerned about Mimi’s health. She is dying of consumption, and ultimately the lovers are reconciled before the heroine dies. Wonderful singing and excellent ensemble acting enhanced the poignancy of the lovers’ situation as the opera moved to its inevitable sad ending.
Nicky Begent, chair of the Friends, said: “Everyone really enjoyed the performance. This is the first time opera has come to the Royal Free and it brought a new audience of opera lovers. Lucy de Castro, the company’s manager, said all the cast members really enjoyed coming to the Royal Free, they liked performing in a proper, well- equipped theatre.”
Proceeds from the performance go to the Friends of the Royal Free to provide amenities and equipment for patients.
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