Boheme On The Beach review

State Opera’s seasoned cast and the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra were a recipe for, not only success, but an extra special evening.

Boheme on the Beach stars Sam Dundas and Max Junge. Picture: Naomi Jellicoe

La Boheme

State Opera of SA

Adelaide Symphony Orchestra

Glenelg Beach

March 26

As the sun sinks slowly in the west, State Opera and the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra bring Puccini’s view of love and loss to Glenelg.

The immense construction of scaffolding and video screens, a technical triumph in itself is but the shell containing a precious pearl.

Boheme on the Beach stars Sam Dundas and Max Junge. Picture: Naomi Jellicoe

Director Stuart Maunder has a seasoned cast at his disposal and conductor Simon Bruckard has the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra under his hands. This is a sure recipe for success.

What makes it extra special is the very practical way Maunder has made a very traditional La Boheme work on a stage with no curtain.

Mimi has died. The curtain should fall and the singers can get off stage with out the resurrection of the heroine.

Maunder brings in the huge crowd from the Cafe Momus for their curtain call and the principals disappear behind them.

The four scenes, full of arias so familiar that they are almost cliches, have an ebb and flow under Bruckard’s sensitive control.

The cast, bar two, are familiar and indeed well loved in Adelaide opera circles.

Cathy-Di Zhang in Pinchgut Opera's production of Rameau's Platee, gave a brilliant performance as Mimi. Picture: Brett Boardman

The Mimi, Cathy-Di Zhang is a revelation. Her slight, slender frame produces a lustrous and compelling sound. The physical rapport with her Rudolfo reinforces her frailty.

Rosario La Spina brings his familiar fine tenor to the role, refreshing the well known arias. Samuel Dundas, above with Max Junge, and Desiree Frahn are a superb contrasts as the other lovers, her Musetta sparkles as his Marcello glowers.

Bravo to everybody, especially Stage Management for an evening in which neither Puccini nor the audience were short changed. There were fireworks.