Thursday, March 30, 2017

Spotlight and Giveaway: The Other La Bohème

Opera is another form of musical theater, and La Bohème is especially well known because it is the inspiration for RENT. (There's even a song, "La Vie Bohème.") So we figured The Other La Bohème by Yorker Keith would be a perfect way to end our musical theme month! He even has FIVE copies to share with some lucky readers!

The Other La Bohème is literary fiction that depicts the lives and loves of four friends who pursue opera singers' careers in present-day New York City. Jennifer (soprano), Stephanie (mezzo-soprano), Henry (tenor), and John (baritone) met in music school in Manhattan, where they performed Puccini's famous opera La Bohème at their graduation concert. After graduation they banded together as a group called the Dolci Quattro, pledging to support one another in their professional pursuits. Several years later, they have landed the roles of Mimi, Musette, Marcello, and Rodolfo in the nearly forgotten opera La Bohème by Leoncavallo--known as "the other La Bohème"--which is to be produced by the New York Bel Canto Opera.

The novel begins with arias and a duet sung by Henry and Stephanie in the Café Momus. Jennifer and John come in, and they congratulate each other on their new roles. Immediately, though, the thoughts of the current state of their personal lives cool their enthusiasm.

As the story unfolds, Jennifer discovers that her fiancé, Richard, an investment banker and a fiction writer, is having an affair with another woman. Stephanie struggles to find a steady love, while perturbed by a strained relationship with her father, a billionaire hedge fund manager, who abandoned her late mother. Henry faces a pressure from his family to renounce his bohemian life for a more respectful career as he meets his new love, Christine, a poet. John receives a summons for divorce from the lawyer of his wife Michelle, a painter.

Set in the rich artistic backdrop of New York City, the Dolci Quattro's lives and loves go through ups and downs in joy and despair, while true to their pledge they give one another much-needed moral support. As the opening night nears, the Dolci Quattro make their utmost efforts to perfect their singing for the opera that will determine their future.



Yorker Keith lives in Manhattan, New York City. He loves literature, theatre, classical music, opera, and art. He holds an MFA in creative writing from The New School. His literary works have been recognized four times in the William Faulkner - William Wisdom Creative Writing Competition as a finalist or a semifinalist.

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15 comments:

Janine said...

I think Sex and the city would be a fun musical.

Unknown said...

I'd like to see a Harry Potter type musical.

traveler said...

Friends.

Aire para respirar said...

Friends, definitely

Letty Blanchard said...

It's been years since I've seen the stage production of Rent and listened to the soundtrack but I do like the song Rent and also Seasons of Love.

djnbjnon said...

Would love to see a musical of the show Big Bang Theory

diannekc said...

I think Modern Family would make a great musical.

diannekc said...

I think Modern Family would make a great musical.

Mary Preston said...

A musical episode of The Big Bang Theory would be fun.

Book Lover in Florida said...

I think a musical episode of The Gilmore Girls would be fun!

Mary Eve said...

"La Vie Bohème" & "You'll See" are great numbers.

I was a FRIENDS addict. How much fun would it be to see it as a musical?! Joey would be thrilled! 😬😍

Nancy said...

I would like to see musical episodes of Call the Midwife and How to Get Away with Murder.

Nancy
allibrary (at) aol (dot) com

Laura said...

My favorite song from Rent is Seasons Of Love!

Jennifer said...

Seasons of Love was always my favourite Rent song.

Unknown said...

My favorite song from Rent is Seasons of Love. Thanks!