Mimì *slides* into Rodolfo's DMs | REACTION | Aria Explained: La Bohème

[@slagan100]

I love that you played three versions of the aria. It's my favorite thing to do, listen to versions back to back. I agree with you that Mirella Freni is the best. When I think of Mimi I think of Mirella Freni. (When I think of Tosca I think of Maria Callas). Maria Callas was the voice that got me hooked on opera but Mirella Freni is up there in my list of favorites.

[@operaanna]

Yes, i agree 100%!! It really is so cool to hear them back to back.

[@milycome]

Wow !! Love this A - B comparison of the same aria sung by two different great singers. More of these videos - even with possibly a three or four singer comparison of the same aria. WAY TO GO ANNA. Always add comments of course. Much appreciated.

[@pauladesjardins8705]

Maria Callas “telegraphed” that feeling of barrenness about Mimi’s life in that aria. I was only sixteen when I had this thought. There was no precedent for this thought in my experience. True. Eerie

[@operaanna]

She was truly amazing

[@alanalan-tc8no]

I have three favorite women in opera: Madame Butterfly, Mimì and Tosca. With them my three favorite voices, who for me are those roles par excellence: Tebaldi, Freni and Callas. I live in Modena, the city that in 1935 gave birth to two of the most beautiful voices in the world, Mirella Freni and Luciano Pavarotti. Funny thing is that in the city we call them milk brothers having had the same wet nurse. Some say, laughing, it's all thanks to the nurse's milk. Your videos are beautiful. Never thought of making videos on the Rigoletto quartet or "Ebben ne andrò lontana" from "la Wally" (another aria that I love immensely)? Keep it up you are great!

[@operaanna]

Thanks so much! Love your little tidbits- I love those two so much, I love that they had that shared history! I'm going to start adding in ensembles to this series, and I can't decide what to start with (2nd act finale Figaro, Rigoletto quartet, Giovanni finale...) Great suggestions!

[@johnblair9096]

Perhaps consider analyzing Musetta’s waltz? Your reviews are both fun and informative. Thanks 👏

[@operaanna]

Thanks! It's definitely on my list of soprano arias to get to!

[@ganson560]

Love love love hearing the comparisons of the singers!

[@operaanna]

new series in the works i think...

[@gualtiermalde645]

I am a young student of opera singing from Brazil, our language greatly facilitates the learning of singing in Italian, thank you very much for your analysis I wish you the best on your journey 😊

[@operaanna]

Thank you! I wish you the best of luck on yours and also ...great name 😏

[@gualtiermalde645]

@@operaanna Thank you very much

[@gualtiermalde645]

Signor nè principe.. Haha

[@atizaries5512]

Maria Callas didn't like verismo She used to say , she only sang those parts because her audience wanted to hear her inthose roles She also said in an interview : " Puccini is not good for voice

[@ChristopherPettersen]

My random midnight thought is that Mimi is the patronizing name her customers call her. It's a pet form of the name Maria. So I can just see rich women calling her this in a patronizing this like "Get this done by thursday, Mimi" etc.

[@operaanna]

Interesting! Do you think she honestly doesn't know in this case? When she says 'e perche, non so'?

[@ChristopherPettersen]

@@operaanna I’d say so! I think it probably comes from her naive innocence.

[@operaanna]

@@ChristopherPettersen That's a great interpretation, I've never heard anyone explain that convincingly.

[@jelenadojcinovic5717]

A coach told me once that "ma i fior ch'io faccio ahime, non hanno odore" ("but the flowers that I make, alas, they don't have a smell") has a double meaning. Of course she means the embroidered flowers, but she could (maybe subconciously) mean the "flowers" of tuberculosis that are growing inside of her. Very sad & dark, but interesting.

[@operaanna]

That's so interesting!! I never thought of it like that, definitely one way to see it. It's interesting for the singer to play around with how much Mimi knows at the beginning herself. Is it just a small cough that she thinks will go away soon or does she know she's basically on her deathbed?

[@natalienarito9683]

Such a great a video! And yes, please do a video on Che gelida manina!

[@operaanna]

Coming right up! 🤩

[@jnieuwerf]

Great Video! Did you know that this aria was played on an old gramophone in the jungle in the movie Fitzcarraldo.

[@operaanna]

ooOHhhhH i think i need to do a new Opera in Movies

[@ludovico6890]

@@operaanna You could also do an opera in literature.

[@AlysVictoriaWalkerTinson]

So interesting 👏🏻

[@operaanna]

Thanks Alison!!

[@atizaries5512]

There is Callas ...and others.....

[@doughaslehurst5108]

At the time this opera is set some pretty girls from the countryside would make their way to Paris to seek a wealthy man.

[@ludovico6890]

I must make two confessions here: 1)I never liked La Bohème much and 2)I suspect Mimi (just like Violetta) died of a venereal disease. I'm so cynical.

[@operaanna]

WHAT?! omg i find it so beautiful. I've listened to it twice in the past few days. Everyone says she dies of consumption, but I definitely think there's a case to be made for what you say... :P

[@ludovico6890]

@@operaanna It has beautiful arias, it's very sweet, but I guess I find it too sentimental.