With its Christmas setting, tender exploration of first love and both humorous and heartbreaking celebration of friendship, La bohème captivates audiences time and time again, making it the perfect choice for your first visit to the opera.
Principal Guest Conductor Designate Speranza Scappucci, leads her first Covent Garden stage production. Richard Jones’ beloved staging returns, starring Olga Kulchynska as Mimì, Pene Pati and Stefan Pop as Rodolfo, Mikhail Timoshenko as Marcello and Amina Edris and Simona Mihai as Musetta.
PUCCINI’S MUCH-LOVED LA BOHÈME
La bohème received its world premiere at Turin’s Teatro Regio in 1896 and its Covent Garden debut the following year. Composer Giacomo Puccini was inspired by Henri Murger’s 1851 episodic novel, Scènes de la vie de bohème (‘Scenes of the bohemian life’). The libretto was written by playwright Luigi Illica and poet Giuseppe Giacosa. It is currently one of the best-loved operas worldwide, and the opera most performed at the Royal Opera House.
A TIMELESS LOVE STORY
With its soaring love duets, intimate arias and spectacular chorus scenes, Puccini’s timeless Parisian tale has enduring appeal to audiences throughout the ages. Puccini’s beautiful score includes highlights such as ‘Sì, mi chiamano Mimì’ (Yes, they call me Mimì) and ‘Quando m’en vo’ (When I go along), Puccini himself wept at the music of the poignant final scenes.
