Rodolfo suggests remaining at home with Mimì, but she decides to accompany him to the Cafe Momus. They realize that they have fallen in love. He answers and turns to see Mimì bathed in moonlight (duet, Rodolfo and Mimì: O soave fanciulla – “Oh lovely girl”). Impatiently, the waiting friends call Rodolfo. The girl says her name is Mimì ( Sì, mi chiamano Mimì – “Yes, they call me Mimì”), and describes her simple life as an embroiderer. He takes her cold hand ( Che gelida manina – “What a cold little hand”) and tells her of his life as a poet, then asks her to tell him more about her life. Rodolfo, eager to spend time with the girl, to whom he is already attracted, finds the key and pockets it, feigning innocence. Her candle goes out in the draught and Rodolfo’s candle goes out too the pair stumble in the dark. But as she turns to leave, she realizes that she has lost her key. After a few minutes, she says that she is better and must go. She is briefly overcome with faintness, and Rodolfo helps her to a chair and offers her a glass of wine. Her candle has blown out, and she has no matches she asks Rodolfo to light it. It is a girl who lives in another room in the building. Marcello, Schaunard and Colline go out, but Rodolfo remains alone for a moment in order to finish an article he is writing, promising to join his friends soon. The rent money is divided for their evening out in the Quartier Latin. In his drunkenness, he begins to boast of his amorous adventures, but when he also reveals that he is married, they thrust him from the room-without the rent payment-in comic moral indignation. The friends are interrupted by Benoît, the landlord, who arrives to collect the rent. Schaunard interrupts, telling them that they must save the food for the days ahead: tonight they will all celebrate his good fortune by dining at Cafe Momus, and he will pay. The others hardly listen to his tale as they set up the table to eat and drink. In a Latin Quarter garret on Christmas Eve, Rodolfo, a poet, and Marcello, a painter, burn pages from Rodolfos latest manuscript to stay warm. He explains the source of his riches: a job with an eccentric English gentleman, who ordered him to play his violin to a parrot until it died. La Bohme, the passionate and timeless story of love among impoverished young artists in Paris, can stake its claim as the worlds most popular opera. Schaunard, the musician of the group, arrives with food, wine and cigars. Colline, the philosopher, enters shivering and disgruntled at not having been able to pawn some books.

In order to keep warm, they burn the manuscript of Rodolfo’s drama. Marcello is painting while Rodolfo gazes out of the window. Rodolfo’s garret – set design for act 1 of La bohème for the world premiere performance.

La boheme opera story