1. Great Moments In Opera, “Che Gelida Manina”
From Puccini’s “La Boheme”
Posted on November 28, 2010 by Opera Records
“Che Gelida Manina” being an aria which I would love to sing to my
Joannuszk Slisznuszka, for it is one that impresses upon romance. As it
expresses the hopes of one man to delight the lady with whom he wishes to
share more than an evening.
In the first act of Puccini’s opera “La Boheme”, we find Alfredo trying to write
an article which he does not feel up to and it is just as he gives up on
attempting which he no longer has any will to do that he hears a woman
knocking on his door. She is the seamstress from across the hall, who goes by
the name of Mimi. It is upon entrance that Rodolfo and Mimi fall in love and it
is after a fainting spell by Mimi and having shared a glass of wine that Mimi
decides that perhaps she had better go yet is detained when she looses her key
in Rodolfo’s apartment.
Rodolfo and Mimi, naturally go about looking for Mimi’s key in Rodolfo’s dark
apartment. The key in fact having been lost by Mimi on purpose which
Rodolfo, in all truth has already found but none the less pretends to be looking
for. It however is after looking for what one already has found yet pretends not
to have while the other does not let on that she knows that her key rests in the
pocket of her host, that Rodolfo suddenly grabs Mimi’s hand. This being much
to Mimi’s shock, who had not expected such a sudden burst of affection and it
is with the words “Che Gelida Manina” (what a cold hand) that Rodolfo begins
to express his sentiments which he can no longer control for the simple but
lovely; Mimi.
Mimi, at first is slightly shy about having her hand held by Rodolfo yet does
not attempt to take her hand away as she is enchanted by the man she came to
visit. Rodolfo continues as Mimi looks with affection in to his eyes, with the

2. tender words “let me warm your hand” as both suddenly find themselves
under the spell of the evening and the desires brought on by their own feelings
for each other.
Rodolfo sensing his moment continues “what good is looking in the dark but
fortunately it is a night of moon”. This being the instant in which both realize
there is no point in looking any further for a key when what they have found is
so much more precious than anything they could ever hope to find in that
room. Rodolfo then seeing how Mimi is looking upon him with longing to
equal his own takes the opportunity to introduce himself by saying “aspetti
signorina, le diro con due parole chi son” (I will tell you, young lady who I am
in two words) with a voice which seems to raise itself with passion to the very
stars which are above them.
Rodolfo making clear his wishes that Mimi and he become well acquainted as
he continues with all the riches of his affections “I am poet, what do I do, I
write and how I live, I live. In poverty I carry on but in my dreams I am great
man, and write rhymes of love with castles in the air. I have the soul of a
millionaire”. Rodolfo at this point capturing all the imagination and fantasy of
what romantic opera is at its grandest, in what could be considered the
inspiration of idealism filled with yearning to make those in the audience
realize that this is the strength of Puccini.