| articletext">It is act one of Puccini’s La | | | | the woman who he has come to look upon for all the |
| Boheme and we see a writer by the name of | | | | beauty she posses; by the hand as he tells her all |
| Rodolfo, sitting all alone in a humble one room | | | | about himself. Rodolfo informing her that he is a poet |
| apartment in Paris trying to write a story yet can not | | | | who lives in poverty but writes rhymes of love which |
| get started as he does not feel the motivation to do | | | | enrich his life like a great lord for his soul is that of a |
| so. It is just as he puts down his pen in frustration that | | | | millionaire which creates castles in the air. |
| he hears a knock on the door which he naturally | | | | It is after Rodolfo formally introduces himself to his late |
| answers to find out it is the woman who lives across | | | | night guest that she does likewise in an aria that begins |
| the hall who has come to ask him if he can light her | | | | Si mi chiamano Mimi ma mio nome e Lucia. This |
| candle which has gone out. | | | | meaning they call me Mimi but my name is Lucia, |
| She comes in and Rodolfo is immediately attracted to | | | | it being after this opening sentence that Mimi starts to |
| her, he naturally doing what she requested of him | | | | speak about herself; refereeing to herself as |
| however it is in those few seconds that his beautiful | | | | somebody who lives alone and is calm; as she likes to |
| guest momentarily faints; much to his disquiet. Rodolfo | | | | look at roof tops from her window. Mimi also tells of |
| asks her if she is feeling ill, telling her she is pale and | | | | how she makes plastic flowers which have no smell |
| offers her some wine which she accepts. It is after a | | | | while she adores all that be romantic such as poetry |
| sip of wine that this lovely lady from across the hall | | | | yet in all it is not in her words or what she describes |
| feels it would be best if she went back to her place | | | | but the way she and Rodolfo seem to be |
| yet it is as she is about to leave that she realizes she | | | | understanding each other that creates a moment of |
| has lost her key in Rodolfo’s room. She then | | | | incredible harmony. As the one which is shared by |
| worried informs Rodolfo about her key yet just as she | | | | those whose desires are mutual to find themselves in |
| does the light from her candle blows out which | | | | relationship of adoration. Mimi in this aria makes us feel |
| prompts her host to do likewise as to make the mood | | | | the simplicity of a woman of few if any pretenses |
| more romantic. | | | | while allowing us to sense the love inside of her; for |
| Rodolfo and his endearing guest begin to look for the | | | | not only life but the one whom she has also stirred up |
| key while she mentions she is inopportune to hear him | | | | emotions in. Mimi and Rodolfo in their introductions |
| say nothing could be further from the truth yet as they | | | | become enamored, as is clearly the case in both their |
| continue to search in the dark the key is found. | | | | arias which conclude with their voices joining in a |
| Rodolfo however hides it from its owner as he | | | | declaration of what they feel as they take their exit. |
| pretends to look further for what he already has in his | | | | This in my opinion is one of the most uplifting arias in |
| pocket. It being after a few minutes that Rodolfo | | | | opera as Mimi reveals herself in a manner that we can |
| declares that there is no point to looking in the dark but | | | | see is sincere whilst remaining humble and modest in a |
| fortunately it is a night moon which makes him take | | | | loving way. |