"Donde Lieta "
to the home she happily left...
To the home she happily
left when you declared your love,
Mimi returns, alone to the lonely nest.
She returns once again to make her flowers.
Adieu, let’s not be bitter.
Listen, listen. The few things that I’ve left around…
In my box is a small band of gold and the prayer book.
Wrap them all in an apron and I will send the concierge…
Look, under the pillow there is a pink bonnet.
If you want, keep it as a memento of our love.
Adieu, let’s not be bitter.
Puccini's La Bohème (The Bohemians) is set in the Latin Quarter of Paris in the 1840s – Rodolfo is a poet, who lives with his artist friends including the painter, Marcello. They live hand to mouth, striving to make ends meet. Rodolfo has fallen in love a neighbour, Mimi, a quiet girl who works as an embroiderer. Intially joyfully in love, their relationship has grown distant and by Act 3 Mimi learns the true reason why Rodolfo has been acting very unkindly towards her. Her persistent cough and his dire financial straits have convinced Rodolfo that she would be better off without him. The two lovers agree that it would be best for them to separate once the warmer months of spring arrive. In this aria, Mimi bids Rodolfo a fond but tearful farewell.