Abstract
<jats:p>The purpose of the study is to identify and characterize the peculiarities of the artistic content and musical dramaturgy of the opera “La Bohème” by the Italian composer Ruggero Leoncavallo, which serves as an interesting example of the verist interpretation of Henri Murger’s novel “Scenes from the Life of Bohemia”, a work adapted multiple times by representatives of various arts. The article traces the principles of verist aesthetics, which determined the choice of subjects, characters of the personages, and the dramaturgical structure of works from the late 19th to the first third of the 20th century, which also found its unique refraction in Leoncavallo’s “La Bohème”. The history of the opera’s creation and its stage fate are examined; the content of the work is interpreted, and its musical means of expression are characterized. The scientific novelty of the research lies in the fact that a detailed analysis of the material from R. Leoncavallo’s opera “La Bohème” is presented for the first time in Russian art criticism; the peculiarities of interpreting Murger’s famous novel in the opera genre are shown, which significantly enriches the scientific field. As a result of the study, it was established that R. Leoncavallo, unlike G. Verdi with his dramatic psychologism and R. Wagner with his monumentality, chooses the path of direct impact on the listener. His work is presented in an understandable language, reflecting the feelings of ordinary people – representatives of the Parisian bohemia. The musical fabric of the opera is rich in vocal melodies conveying the joy and lightness of bohemian life, but also with tragic motifs foreshadowing loss and suffering. The orchestra masterfully conveys these contrasts, using a rich palette of instruments and refined harmonic colors. The composer actively uses string instruments, especially violins, to create lyrical and passionate melodies. Woodwind instruments add lightness and grace to the orchestral sound. Leoncavallo pays special attention to the harp, which contributes to creating a lyrical flavor and emphasizes the romantic nature of the events. R. Leoncavallo’s opera is of significant interest both to specialists studying art and to connoisseurs wishing to broaden their experience in musical theater. It contains serious dramatic potential, making it very attractive for stage production. However, the success of this opera depends more than that of other operas on the quality of performance. In the case of a rather formal approach to interpretation, the opera loses its integrity, its merits immediately turn into shortcomings and become obvious even to a simple music lover.</jats:p>