Undernourished: ENO’s Bohème revival lacks red meat

Nadine Benjamin (Mimì) and Joshua Blue (Rodolfo)

Vuvu Mpofu (Musetta) and ensemble at Café Momus

Joshua Blue (Rodolfo) and Nadine Benjamin (Mimì)

Bohemians Dingle Yandell, Charles Rice, Patrick Alexander Keefe, Joshua Blue, Paul Sheehan (Benoît)

La bohème

By Dominic Lowe, 28 September 2024

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“Miller’s production still has plenty of wood to burn, even if there’s none in the Parisian garret”

Reviewed at The London Coliseum, London on 26 September 2024

Puccini, La bohème

English National Opera

Clelia Cafiero, Conductor

Sir Jonathan Miller, Director

Isabella Bywater, Set Designer, Costume Designer

Jean Kalman, Lighting Designer

English National Opera Orchestra

English National Opera Chorus

Crispin Lord, Revival Director

Joshua Blue, Rodolfo

Nadine Benjamin, Mimì

Charles Rice, Marcello

Vuvu Mpofu, Musetta

Patrick Alexander Keefe, Schaunard

Dingle Yandell, Colline

Paul Sheehan, Benoît

Andrew Tinkler, Alcindoro

Adam Sullivan, Parpignol

Robert Winslade Anderson, Customs Officer

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David Karlin, 16th February

Never has Brecht and Weill’s satire on the inhumanity of man to man been render with such utter darkness; Simon O’Neill heads up a superb cast.

*****

Taken for a ride: an energetic revival of Così fan tutte at ENO

Dominic Lowe, 6th February

English National Opera's revival of Phelim McDermott’s popular production is a blend of spectacle with some first-class singing, with Lucy Crowe emphasising her Mozartian credentials.

****1

Cocteau-esque camp: Alden’s Partenope returns to ENO

Mark Valencia, 20th November

Christopher Alden’s Olivier Award-winning production of Handel’s Partenope returns to the Coliseum, but it's the singing that earns the plaudits.

****1

Dead Man Walking at English National Opera: a superb execution

David Karlin, 1st November

Anneliese Miskimmon's ENO production of Jake Heggie and Terence McNally's tale of crime, repentance, compassion and redemption compels from start to finish.

*****

Comedy falls flat in ENO's season opening Cinderella

Mark Valencia, 27th September

Julia Burbach and her designer, Herbert Murauer, are defeated by the wide canyons of the Coliseum stage in their modern-dress Cinderella.

**111

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Nick Boston, 15th February

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****1

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Dominic Lowe

Dominic Lowe recently completed a degree in Classics, and one of his great interests is the reception of Greece and Rome in opera. A regular opera-goer since his very early teens, he is particularly keen on the hidden operatic gems of the 19th century. He is largely based in the South of England.

Undernourished: English National Opera’s Bohème revival lacks red meat