Thomson Smillie

'A lyric comedy unlike any other,' wrote Verdi about his last opera. That the last work of a composer who was notorious for his preference for tragic and gloomy subjects should be a brilliant human comedy, remains one of the wonders of music. Thomas Smillie's detailed and illuminating musical analysis explains the challenges and risks of the undertaking in this fascinating introduction.

Puccini's La Bohème is one of the most beloved and enduring operas of all time. The poignant story of Mimì and Rodolfo is told in music of tender beauty, resulting in an opera that readily appeals to our emotions and senses. Thomson Smillie outlines the background to the opera, explaining how painstakingly the composer worked to achieve this effect. An absorbing introduction both for those approaching La Bohème for the first time and for those wanting to know a bit more than just the big arias.