ACT I
A garret shared by the four Bohemians. Christmas Eve
ACT II
The Café Momus in the Latin Quarter that same evening
Intermission (twenty minutes)
ACT III
The Barrière d’enfer, a toll gate near the edge of the city.
Later in the winter
Intermission (twenty minutes)
ACT IV
The garret. The following spring
ACT I
It is Christmas Eve in the attic apartment shared by four Bohemians. Rodolfo, a poet and Marcello, a painter, are at home, burning Rodolfo’s manuscript in order to stay warm. Colline, a philosopher, enters with some books he unsuccessfully tried to pawn. Soon Schaunard, a musician, comes in bringing food, money and fuel he earned playing for an eccentric Englishman. As the friends are celebrating, Benoit, the landlord, comes for the rent. The friends give Benoit wine, and he begins to brag about women he has been with other than his wife. Feigning outrage at his infidelity, they throw Benoit out of the attic without giving him any money for rent. Everyone but Rodolfo, who must write an article, leaves for the Café Momus. As soon as he is alone, Mimi knocks on the door asking for help because her candle has gone out. Collapsing from a fit of coughing, Mimi, after recovering, realizes that she has dropped her key. Then after Rodolfo lights Mimi’s candle a breeze extinguishes both candles. Mimi and Rodolfo both search for the key in the dark. Rodolfo finds the key, but he puts it in his pocket so he can spend more time with Mimi. Rodolfo’s friends call him from the street, and the first act ends with Mimi and Rodolfo having fallen in love almost at first sight.
ACT II
That same evening, Mimi and Rodolfo walk through a joyous Christmas Eve crowd to the Café Momus where they join Rodolfo’s friends. Musetta, who used to be Marcello’s lover, enters with a wealthy old man, Alcindoro de Mittoneaux. Musetta sings a waltz in order to attract Marcello’s attention and make him jealous. Musetta, in a ploy to get rid of Alcindoro, then pretends that her shoe is hurting her and insists that Alcindoro go to the cobbler to get her a new pair. Before Alcindoro returns, the friends hurriedly leave the café.
ACT III
At dawn later that winter, Mimi, who is now very frail, makes her way to a toll gate near the edge of the city. She is looking for Marcello. Marcello asks Mimi to join him, Musetta, and Rodolfo inside the tavern. Mimi explains that she is afraid she can no longer be Rodolfo’s lover because he is so jealous. Rodolfo confides to Marcello that he wants to leave Mimi for a variety of reasons. He finally confesses that he is scared because she is so ill. Mimi, who has been hiding but listening to the conversation, coughs and Rodolfo discovers her. They agree, regretfully, to end their affair. The sad farewell duet of Mimi and Rodolfo becomes a quartet as Musetta and Marcello continue their bickering.
ACT IV
That spring, back in the Bohemians’ apartment, Rodolfo and Marcello sing about how they miss Mimi and Musetta, from whom they have parted. Schaunard tries to cheer everyone up by pretending to have champagne. Musetta comes in and tells them that Mimi is dying. Mimi is brought to the attic because she wishes to die near Rodolfo. Rodolfo helps Mimi to a cot and tries to warm her hands. Musetta sends Marcello to sell her earrings for medicine. Colline leaves to sell his coat for food. Musetta leaves to get a muff for Mimi, so that Rodolfo and Mimi are left alone. They reminisce about their past and how much they love each other. Their friends return. Mimi falls asleep and then quietly passes away.
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