I spoke yesterday about Teresa Stratas’ childhood asthma, but the real medical miracle of the cast of this Boheme is the Rodolfo, José Carreras.

In 1987, five years after this production, Carreras was diagnosed with acute leukemia and given a one-in-ten chance of survival. Over four years he made as close to a full recovery as one could possibly hope from such a condition. In 1990, his fellow tenors Plácido Domingo and Luciano Pavarotti agreed to a concert to benefit Carreras’ foundation for cancer research … and the Three Tenors were born.

Act IV

Back in their garret, separated from their sweethearts, Rodolfo and Marcello lament their loneliness (“O Mimì, piu non torni”).

Colline and Schaunard bring a meager meal.

To lighten their spirits, the four stage a dance which turns into a mock duel.

At the height of the hilarity, Musetta bursts in to tell them Mimì is outside, too weak to come any further.

As Rodolfo runs to her aid, Musetta relates how Mimì begged to be taken to her lover to die. The poor girls is made as comfortable as possible; Musetta asks Marcello to sell her earrings for medicine, and Colline goes off to pawn his overcoat, which for so long has kept him warm (“Vecchia zimarra”)

Alone, Mimì and Rodolfo recall their first meeting and their happy days together (“Sono andati?”), but she is seized with violent coughing.

When the others return, Musetta gives Mimì a muff to warm her hands, and prays for her life. Rodolfo lowers the blinds to soften the light. One at a time, the Bohemians see that Mimì is dead. When Rodolfo realizes it, he throws himself despairingly on her body, repeatedly calling her name.

Final ovations and credits.

Technorati tags: Giacomo Puccini, La Boheme, Jose Carreras, Teresa Stratas, Renata Scotto, James Morris, Richard Stilwell, Allan Monk, Franco Zeffirelli, James Levine, Metropolitan Opera