La Bohème in Full Score

By Giacomo Puccini

"La Bohème is perhaps Puccini's most nearly perfect opera." — Hughes, Famous Puccini Operas.
It has long been one of the world's most beloved musical works — an instantly enchanting blend of charm, warmth, gaiety, and pathos, brought to vibrant life by Puccini's sparkling, lighthearted score. La Bohème, based on Henri Murger's novel Scènes de la Vie de Bohème, was first performed at the Teatro Regio, Turin, in 1896. It soon became a staple of the operatic repertoire and has remained so ever since. Grove's Dictionary of Music and Musicians notes that "Puccini's music reflects the alternate gaiety and pathos of Murger's novel with a truth and sincerity to which no name but that of genius can be applied."
Now musicians, opera enthusiasts, and all music lovers can enjoy the full score of this wonderful masterpiece in a sturdy, attractive volume. Reprinted complete and unabridged from an authoritative Italian edition, with English translations of the lists of characters and instruments and a new table of contents, this edition offers an inexpensive, high-quality score ideal for reading and study. It is a valuable aid to the full enjoyment of a unique and lasting musical landmark.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Dover Publications
• Release date: Jul 2, 2013
• ISBN: 9780486172446

Book preview

La Bohème

IN FULL SCORE

___________________

GIACOMO

PUCCINI

___________________

DOVER PUBLICATIONS, INC.

NEW YORK

This Dover edition, first published in 1987, is a republication

of the edition originally published by G. Ricordi, Milan, n.d.

A detailed table of contents and translations of the lists of characters and

instruments have been added.

Manufactured in the United States of America

Dover Publications, Inc.

31 East 2nd Street,

Mineola, N.Y. 11501

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Puccini, Giacomo, 1858–1924.

La Bohème : in full score.

Opera in 4 acts.

Italian words.

Based on: Scenes de la vie de Bohème / Henri Murger.

Reprint. Originally published: Milano : G. Ricordi, 1920?

1. Operas—Scores.    I. Giacosa, Giuseppe, 1847–1906.

II. Illica, Luigi, 1857–1919.    III. Murger, Henri,

1822-1861. Scènes de la vie de Bohème.    IV. Title.

M1500.P97B5    1987        87-751777

International Standard Book Number

ISBN-13: 978-0-486-25477-7

ISBN-10: 0-486-25477-1

Manufactured in the United States by Courier Corporation

25477110

www.doverpublications.com

Contents

ACT ONE — In a garret

Questo Mar Rosso (Marcello)

Nei cieli bigi (Rodolfo)

Già dell’Apocalisse (Colline)

Pensier profondo! (Colline)

Legna! Sigari! Bordò! (Rodolfo, Marcello, Colline)

Si può? (Benoit)

Dica: quant’anni ha (Marcello)

Quest’uomo ha moglie (Marcello)

Chi è là!? (Rodolfo)

Che gelida manina (Rodolfo)

Mi chiamano Mimì (Mimì)

Ehi! Rodolfo! (Schaunard)

O soave fanciulla (Rodolfo)

ACT TWO — In the Latin Quarter

Aranci, datteri! (Street Vendors)

Questa è Mimì (Rodolfo)

Oh! Musetta! (Rodolfo, Schaunard, Colline)

Quando me’n vo’ (Musetta)

Gioventù mia (Marcello)

Caro! (Rodolfo, Colline)—La Retirata

ACT THREE — The Barrière d’Enfer

Ohè, là! le guardie! (Sweepers)

Chi nel ber trovò il piacer (Chorus Members)

Sa dirmi, scusi (Mimì)

O buon Marcello, aiuto! (Mimì)

Marcello, finalmente! (Rodolfo)

Chè?! Mimì! Tu qui? (Rodolfo)

Addio, senza rancor! (Mimì)

Addio, dolce svegliare (Mimì)

ACT FOUR — In the garret

O Mimì, tu più non torni (Rodolfo)

Eccoci.—Ebben?—Del pan? (Schaunard, Rodolfo, Marcello)

Gavotta! (Colline)

Musetta! (Marcello)

Vecchia zimarra, senti (Colline)

Sono andati? (Mimì)

Madonna benedetta (Musetta)

La Bohème

Opera in Four Acts

Based on Henri Murger’s novel Scènes de la vie de Bohème

Libretto by Giuseppe Giacosa and Luigi Illica

CHARACTERS