La bohème 2023 Programme

Irish Independent
26 August 1897
THE CARL ROSA OPERA CO.
“LA BOHEME.”
...The Carl Rosa Company has introduced us to so many sterling
works that when they hold forth promises of any new production
we look naturally for an opera that is well worth hearing. But if the
traditions of the company are to be maintained in this respect
we are inclined to think that they had better leave such works
as “La Boheme” severely alone so far as their Dublin season
is concerned. The audience last night listened patiently to the
performance, and quite recognised whatever merit it possessed.
But it were a hard task to conceive a colder welcome to a new
work than the audience last night gave Puccini’s masterpiece.
Indeed although the curtain was rung up again at the conclusion
of more than one act, the audience remained almost cruelly
impassive, and one knew not whether to interpret their deep
silence as an indication of emotions that were far too joyous and
too deep for utterance, or of disappointment such as paralyses all
one’s energies. The fact is that Puccini’s work is not as clever as
it has been said to be... Miss Cecile Lorraine, a promising young
artist, with a very sweet and pleasant voice, made her debut
last night in the character of Mimi. She sang and acted ably:
but we could have wished to hear her in a part that gave more
opportunity for the display of her fine voice...
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