LA BOHÈME

BY GIACOMO PUCCINI

It is one of the most beloved and frequently performed operas in the world’s lyric repertoire. Premiered on February 1, 1896, at the Teatro Regio in Turin under the baton of the young Arturo Toscanini, the work was met with great enthusiasm and established Puccini as one of the greatest composers of his time.

Along with Madama Butterfly and Tosca, La Bohème holds a special place in the hearts of audiences for its moving humanity and the intensity of its emotions. The libretto, written by Giuseppe Giacosa and Luigi Illica, is based on Scènes de la vie de bohème, a collection of stories by Henri Murger depicting the vicissitudes of young artists and dreamers in 19th-century Paris. In this context, Puccini found the ideal material to create a work rich in realistic detail, imbued with lyricism and emotion. The music of La Bohème combines tenderness and passion, featuring memorable melodies such as the aria “Che gelida manina” and the love duet “O soave fanciulla.”

Set in Paris around 1830, the opera portrays the precarious and tumultuous loves of the “bohemians” Rodolfo and Mimi, Marcello and Musetta. The tenderness of the young seamstress Mimi brings light and warmth to the poet Rodolfo. They live their love so passionately that they share it with their friends. Their relationship adds a melodramatic element, in contrast to the love story between Marcello and Musetta, which is much more humorous.

• Musical Director: Martin Mázik 
  Stage Director: Aquilès Machado 
  Artistic Director: Luis Miguel Lainz 
  Scenography: Alfredo Troisi