ACT I
A Parisian Attic
The painter Marcello and the writer Rodolfo complain that it is too cold to work. As the friends warm themselves by burning Rodolfo’s play in the stove, a third enters, the philosopher Colline, who has been unable to pawn his books on Christmas Eve.
A fourth friend, the musician Schaunard, arrives home with firewood, food, wine, and money. The other three, intent on preparing a table for dinner, ignore Schaunard’s explanation of how he gained his earnings. Schaunard berates his friends and forbids them to eat the food; instead they will go out for dinner.
Benoît, their landlord, knocks demanding rent. The bohemians ply him with wine and trick the married man into confessing a recent sexual conquest. They feign outrage and evict him.
The friends leave for dinner, apart from Rodolfo who remains to finish writing an article.
A young neighbour knocks to ask if Rodolfo can relight her extinguished candle. On entering she collapses. Rodolfo offers wine, lights her candle and she leaves, immediately returning as she has lost her key. A draught re-extinguishes her candle, and the two search for the key in the dark until Rodolfo finds her hand. He tells her about himself and when he invites her to do the same, she replies that her name is Lucia, but that everyone calls her Mimì. She lives alone and makes artificial flowers. She loves to study light and the unfolding of real flowers.
Rodolfo’s impatient friends call up from outside. He opens a window to answer, and moonlight falls across Mimì’s face. Rodolfo kisses Mimì, and she asks if she can come with him.
ACT II
A square in The Latin Quarter
Rodolfo and Mimì wander through the Christmas Eve crowd and Rodolfo is jealous when Mimì nods at a male passerby. At Café Momus, Rodolfo introduces Mimì to his artist friends. Marcello’s ex-lover Musetta appears, accompanied by her sugar-daddy Alcindoro.
Musetta tries to get Marcello’s attention, but he ignores her – she provokes him by singing a seductive song. Musetta sends Alcindoro off to buy her a pair of new shoes, then passionately reunites with Marcello. A bill from Momus is presented to the bohemians for their meal. Musetta places the bohemians’ bill with Alcindoro’s. A marching band arrives and the bohemians, with Musetta and Mimì, hide in the crowd as Alcindoro returns to receive his bill.
ACT III
A tollgate in the outskirts of Paris
Workers and sellers wait at a tollgate at dawn. Revellers can be heard inside an adjacent tavern. Mimì, racked with coughing, arrives looking for Marcello. Marcello is brought to Mimì outside. Mimì describes Rodolfo’s jealousy and Marcello tells her that Rodolfo arrived earlier. He advises Mimì not make a scene and sends her home. Rodolfo joins Marcello outside and denounces Mimì as a flirt, before admitting that he loves her but is afraid she is dying. Mimì’s coughing reveals her hidden presence. Musetta’s laugh is heard from the tavern and Marcello returns inside. Mimì says farewell to Rodolfo. Musetta walks out on Marcello as Mimì and Rodolfo agree to postpone their separation until spring.
ACT IV
The Attic
Months later, Rodolfo and Marcello are unable to work, longing for their respective ex-lovers.
Schaunard and Colline enter with a meagre lunch. The four eat and amuse each other in horseplay.
Musetta arrives with Mimì who is desperately ill. Musetta instructs Marcello to take her earrings and sell them to buy medicine and bring a doctor. She leaves with Marcello to find a muff. Colline offers to pawn his coat and Schaunard accompanies him, so that Rodolfo and Mimì can be alone. Mimì reminisces with Rodolfo about their first meeting. The others return: Marcello tells them that a doctor will come, and Mimì gratefully warms her hands in the muff. Whilst Musetta heats up the medicine, Mimì dies quietly – Rodolfo being the last to realise.
