The Czech monks suspended sympathy for the poor consumptive heroine on stage, to coif Champagne and rhapsodise about La Boheme.
In the Prague State Opera House bar at the interval during Puccini’s masterpiece.
We’d met over Pilsener and goulash at the Strahov Monastery days before.
No stuffiness here in the Czech capital then nor in Giacomo Puccini’s homeland of Tuscany.
Where the great composer is being celebrated at the 71st iteration of his own festival.
At the Gran Teatro in Torre del Lago Puccini in the commune of Viareggio on the shores of Lake Massaciuccoli.
The people’s theatre
Opera in Italy and Central Europe is very much for the people.
As we found in churches with the locals on folding chairs in Venice and Rome.
So wear your penguin suits and cocktail dresses if you will but you’ll be in the minority.
This year’s festival is a feast for the senses as you would expect.
Nights at the opera
With La Boheme, A Gala with Anna Netrebko, Tosca, Turandot, Madama Butterfly, Manon Lescaut.
A site specific Suor Angelica in the sculpture park, chamber concerts, dance, and a tribute to Ennio Morricone.
So if you’ve got a spare 17 evenings, or even a portion of that, you can channel Puccini.
Right here where he lived and composed.
In what he called ‘the peace of my soul’ his villa.
Flyinair to Casa Puccini
It is now a museum managed by the Simonetta Puccini Foundation.
And the village has carried its most famous resident’s name since 1938.
Now Torre del Lago Puccini is easily accessible.
Just 15km from the Galileo Galilei Airport in Pisa, close enough really for you to hear any Fat Lady sing.
We found a round trip from our nearest airport Edinburgh with Ryanair but it’ll doubtless apply to you too, from £92.
And if you want to show off just how bohemian you are then you can Rhapsodise about La Boheme on board.