Chapter CXLII: Act IV: "A vast plain on the borders of the territory of New Orleans

The country is bare and undulating, the horizon is far distant, the sky is overcast. Night falls." Thus the libretto. The score is a long, sad duet between _Des Grieux_ and _Manon_. _Manon_ dies of exhaustion. _Des Grieux_ falls senseless upon her body.

LA BOHÈME

THE BOHEMIANS

Opera in four acts by Puccini; words by Giuseppe Giacosa and
Luigi Illica, founded on Henri Murger's book, _La Vie de
Bohème_. Produced, Teatro Reggio, Turin, February 1, 1896.
Manchester, England, in English, as "The Bohemians," April
22, 1897. Covent Garden, London, in English, October 2,
1897; in Italian, July 1, 1899. San Francisco, March, 1898,
and Wallack's Theatre, New York, May 16, 1898, by a
second-rate travelling organization, which called itself The
Milan Royal Italian Opera Company of La Scala; American
Theatre, New York, in English, by Henry W. Savage's Castle
Square Opera Company, November 20, 1898; Metropolitan Opera
House, New York, in Italian, December 18, 1901.

CHARACTERS

RUDOLPH, a poet _Tenor_
MARCEL, a painter _Baritone_
COLLINE, a philosopher _Bass_
SCHAUNARD, a musician _Baritone_
BENOIT, a landlord _Bass_
ALCINDORO, a state councillor and
follower of _Musetta_ _Bass_
PARPIGNOL, an itinerant toy vender _Tenor_
CUSTOM-HOUSE SERGEANT _Bass_
MUSETTA, a grisette _Soprano_
MIMI, a maker of embroidery _Soprano_

Students, work girls, citizens, shopkeepers, street venders,
soldiers, waiters, boys, girls, etc.

_Time_--About 1830.

_Place_--Latin Quarter, Paris.

"La Bohème" is considered by many Puccini's finest score. There is little to choose, however, between it, "Tosca," and "Madama Butterfly." Each deals successfully with its subject. It chances that, as "La Bohème" is laid in the Quartier Latin, the students' quarter of Paris, where gayety and pathos touch elbows, it laughs as well as weeps. Authors and composers who can tear passion to tatters are more numerous than those who have the light touch of high comedy. The latter, a distinguished gift, confers distinction upon many passages in the score of "La Bohème," which anon sparkles with merriment, anon is eloquent of love, anon is stressed by despair.