Puccini's La Boheme in Martinelli Luce Showroom

The Martinelli Luce showroom in Via S. Lucia 9 in Lucca hosted Puccini's La Boheme on Friday 26 February, in collaboration with the Associazione La Boheme Lucca. The tenor Vladimir Reutov (Rodolfo), the baritone Mattia Campetti (Marcello) and the soprano Michelle Buscemi (Musetta), accompanied on the piano by Flavio Fiorini and with the narrating voice of Tiziana Criscuoli, together with the soprano and president of the association Silvana Froli, who played Mimì. It was an evocative and unusual performance, not only because it took place surrounded by many design lamps, but also because of the use of the scores of La Bohème and the sketches and paintings made by Elio Martinelli, who was a set designer even before becoming an entrepreneur. Finally, period accessories belonging to Emiliana Martinelli's grandmother, who managed a boutique in the centre of Lucca in the early decades of the 20th century, were used. "We wanted to give a sign of rebirth to culture and music, which have been suffering for a year due to the pandemic," comments Froli. "That is why we chose to tell the story of the joy of starting again from an environment full of light, which we hope will be a good omen for a return 'to see the stars again', bearing in mind the famous romance at the beginning of Bohème: 'What good is it to seek? These are the words of Silvana Froli commenting on the initiative in question.