Composed by Giacomo Puccini

Libretto by Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa

Bill McMurray

Marcello

Robert Riordan

Schaunard

LOON: How would you describe your character to someone who hasn’t met him yet?

Bill: Marcello is a painter with a big personality who lives to make art. He's not only passionate about it, but life as well. He's someone who will easily stand out in a crowd. He wears his heart on his sleeve so it's ready to know what he's feeling at any given time.

Robert: Schaunard is incredibly playful. He entertains his friends with wild stories and he's the first to suggest a night out on the town or to start a dance party in the apartment. His friends may sometimes ignore him or talk over him, but he remains incredibly loyal to these friends he's chosen as family. 

LOON: How is your character similar or different from other characters you have previously sung?

Bill: Considering I just sang the Pirate King in Pirates of Penzance, they are very different. Marcello is controlled by his emotions, which don't always yield the best results for him. Though both characters are very adept at talking to people and charming them, Marcello is accustomed to getting his basic needs thru bartering and trickery.

Robert: Thankfully, Schaunard is very different from a lot of the roles I've worked on in the past. As a baritone most of the roles I get to sing tend to be a little villainous - the rude and aloof title character in Eugene Onegin, the unfaithful Count in Le nozze di Figaro, and even the Big Bad Wolf in The Three Little Pigs. Playing the bad guy has its perks, but I'm excited to play a character who's a little more wholesome in this show. 

LOON: What are some of your favorite operas, and why? Where does La Bohème fit in with your favorite works?

Bill: I love the operas of Mozart and Rossini, in particular Le nozze di Figaro and Il Barbiere di Siviglia because they really fit my voice well and also allow me to display my comedic talents.

Robert: Some of my favorite operas include another of Puccini's operas, Gianni Schicchi, Susannah by Carlisle Floyd, Eugene Onegin by Tchaikovsky, and of course La Bohème. Fun fact: I'm still early in my career, but Bohème is actually my most performed opera and with LOON's production I'll have performed three separate roles in the show; the Sergeant, the Customs Officer, and now Schaunard!

LOON: What are some of your favorite musical moments in La Bohème? What should the audience be on the lookout for?

Bill: Marcello has some great moments in the opera, including the opening scene with Rodolfo, Colline and Schaunard where you get to see how light hearted his character is. His interactions with Musetta show the love/hate relationship they have, only to be balanced with his impassioned declaration of love for her in the fourth act duet with Rodolfo.

Robert: One of my favorite musical moments from the show is in the extended director's cut when Schaunard (with all his prowess as a musician) performs his incredible rendition of Musetta's Waltz in the original key to an adoring crowd in Café Momus. Only joking! But wouldn't that be amazing? 

"Quando m'en vo'" is definitely one of my favorite moments because it feels like the theater is holding a collective breath as we're all entranced by Musetta's spell. I also enjoy Marcello, Colline, and Schaunard's reaction to Rodolfo introducing Mimi to them in Act 2. Rodolfo sings these gorgeous sweeping passages about her beauty and how she will complete their merry band, and the three guys very jokingly become so solemn and sing in Latin that they will accept her if necessary. And just like that she's part of the gang.

I also really love the line the sopranos/mezzos of the chorus sing after their children go wild when the toy seller Parpignol enters. The mothers go off calling the kids naughty and telling them they'll be sent home to bed. The way Puccini writes the music really makes it feel like one of those moments when your mom was laying into you and she wouldn't even stop to breathe let alone allow you to get a word in edgewise. 

Thank you to Bill and Robert for their thoughtful responses.

Keep an eye out for more Q & A in the weeks to come!

You don't want to miss this beautiful new production of La Bohème. Two performances only, June 14 and 16, 2024. Tickets are available now at loonopera.org or by calling 218-464-0922.

Venue Information

Marshall Performing Arts Center (MPAC)

1215 Ordean Court, Duluth, MN 55812

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MPAC is located on the UMD campus. Free summer parking is available on campus in nearby lot G.

Or call 218-464-0922

This production sponsored in part by: