BWW Blog: Amanda Kingston On LA BOHEME at Opera In The Heights

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It has been one hundred and twenty years since the premiere of Giacomo Puccini's LA BOHEME, a romantic look at a group of starving artists and friends. But it's more relevant than ever in 2016 because artists are still as hungry, broke, and starry-eyed as they were in 1896.

Opera in the Heights stages the Puccini classic that has inspired a generation of "bohemians" (including Jonathan Larson, creator of RENT) from November 11 through 19. Below, Soprano Amanda Kingston, who portrays seamstress Mimi, writes about her personal connection to the romantic tragedy.

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In sitting down to write a blog entry about my time thus far working on LA BOHEME at OH!, I was overwhelmed by trying to decide what to say. There are so many things that I could talk about regarding this titan of an opera; the characters, the libretto, the music, the parallels to our current societal norms, and on and on. So, I thought I would write about something I had a unique perspective on: how LA BOHEME has touched my own life experience.

I had the honor of singing and speaking at the Town Hall Meeting that OH! held in August to bolster up support for the coming season. There, I spoke a little bit about how BOHEME had been the show that made me literally fall in love with opera. I grew up with Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey being the central divas in my world, so when I had to write a paper about a piece of classical music for my high school music theory class, I groaned and picked out "Si. Mi chiamano Mimì," from LA BOHEME. I picked it because LA BOHEME was the basis for RENT, the Jonathan Larson musical that I knew inside and out. Little did I know when I sat down and listened to the first act of LA BOHEME, that not only did it follow the same story line as the musical, but that I would be in tears by the end of the act. The music made me feel the emotions of the characters in a much more visceral way than I ever had before. There was so much nuance and color in every sound, both vocal and orchestral, that even though I had no background in Italian, I was absorbed in the music and the story. It inspired me to go see my first opera in my hometown of Madison, Wisconsin, shortly there after.

That being said, Mimì became a lofty role allotted to only the greatest of singers in my mind. When I received an offer to perform the role a few years ago, I was ecstatic, but almost too afraid to take it on because it would mean taking her off the pedestal that I had built. In working on it, it has proven to be one of the most fulfilling and interesting roles that I have ever worked on. Every time that I have the opportunity to sing through the score, I notice a new detail in the libretto and/or music that makes her a more real person. Whether I notice that the time in between phrases is just the perfect length to sneak in a labored breath or that Mimì seems to use more poetic language in the first act after hearing Rodolfo speak about his life as a poet, Puccini continues to surprise me.

I am also very excited to work on this excellent show with a company that means so much to me. Opera in the Heights was one of the very first companies to give me a leading role and a chance to grow and develop as an artist. I truly appreciate the place that it occupies in the Houston art scene and the opportunities that it affords to emerging artists. It is an important part of a city full of surprises.

As Anthony Bourdain said when he visited Houston recently, he expected to find a very specific stereotype, but actually this "Houston, Texas, is something far more culturally rich, diverse, and welcoming than might be preconceived" (Houck, Eater). Opera in the Heights very much fits into that idea. Everyone knows about the great work being done at Houston Grand Opera, but Opera in the Heights is a hidden gem within this large city that certainly enriches the lives of the residents that do know about it.

In working on LA BOHEME with OH!, it has been a wonderful experience so far. My colleagues are all well prepared and thoughtful in their processes, which has really allowed us to build the show together. Conductor Eiki Isomura and Director Lynda McKnight have been so open to working with everyone's ideas that the show is very much a collaboration (guided by their visions, of course). I think that that is very true to the nature of the show. It is after all about a collective of artists that live and work together to build a beautiful existence full of art and idealism. I can only imagine that with all of the experience and creativity that exists between the artistic staff, cast and crew of BOHEME, that the show will only continue to move forward and become a vibrant example of the living art form that opera is. I can honestly say that I have been inspired and uplifted by this group of people. I sincerely hope that our BOHEME might incite some of the same love of this amazing art form that it sparked in me when I heard it for the first time.

LA BOHEME opening night is 7:30 p.m. November 11. Performances to continue through November 19. Opera in the Heights, 1703 Heights Blvd. For more information, please call 713-861-5303 or visit operaintheheights.org/la-boheme.

LA BOHEME will have three 15 minute intermissions. Approximate run time is 2 hours and 45 minutes.

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