The Global Media Site for Entertainment.
Menu
Gale Edwards’ enduring and much-loved production of La Bohème will celebrate its 200th performance when it returns to the Sydney Opera House this Summer. Puccini’s inspiring story of love persevering throughout life’s hardships has been moving audiences for generations and remains as relevant in today’s post pandemic society as it did when it premiered in 1896.
Gale Edwards’ reimagining of Puccini’s opera transports audiences to 1930s Berlin with the help of visually stunning sets designed by OAM-recipient Brian Thompson and dazzling costumes by Helpmann Award-winner Julie Lynch.
Audiences, both new to opera and those who have already fallen in love with this stunning production, will enjoy performances by this season’s all-star cast.
South Korean soprano Karah Son will reprise her highly acclaimed Mimì from 2020 when she impressed with her “intense, expressive emotion and full, rich, rounded tone” as described by The Plus Ones. Sharing the role of Mimì are Australian sopranos Danita Weatherstone and Rebecca Gulinello who will both make their role debuts, after both recently playing Micaëla in Carmen on Cockatoo Island.
Peruvian tenor Iván Ayón Rivas will make his Australian debut as the lovesick poet Rodolfo, following his performance in the same role with the Teatro Massimo Bellini, Catania, in 2022. Brazilian tenor Atalla Ayan will then make his Opera Australia role debut after appearing with the Company in 2018 as the Duke of Mantua in Rigoletto.
OA favourite Julie Lea Goodwin will reprise her Musetta, her performance “guaranteed to become an indelible memory for everyone lucky enough to experience it” – Australian Arts Review. Fellow OA principal Esther Song will follow, making her role debut as Musetta, both playing opposite Haotian Qi who will reprise his role as Marcello.
OA Young Artist Alexander Sefton will make his role debut as Schaunard, followed by Shane Lowrencev reprising the role, alongside Richard Anderson, Andrew Moran, Clifford Plumpton, Malcolm Ede and Benjamin Rasheed.
Acclaimed Italian maestro Michelangelo Mazza will conduct the Opera Australia Orchestra through Puccini’s heartbreaking score, followed by OA Head of Music Tahu Matheson.
On a freezing Christmas Eve, love sparks. Two hands meet in the dark and four friends’ lives change forever.
Experience the romance of the original bohemian love story.
When Mimì meets Rodolfo, it’s love at first touch. They head out to bustling Café Momus, where the feisty Musetta and Marcello rekindle their relationship. But even the deepest love can’t warm a freezing winter. The Bohemians have some growing up to do.
Some emotions are too big for words alone, and for that, we have music.
La Bohème exposes your soul to the feelings that only music can express. The music soars with the ecstasy of love, crackles with the pain of jealousy and cries with the agony of loss.
This touching tale is set among the fishnets and fairy lights of 1930s Berlin.
Between the ideals of love and art, and the cruel realities of cold winters, bitter jealousies and empty pockets, two sets of lovers are trying to find their way.
By the time the curtain falls, you’ll know the answer to an eternal question:
Is love enough?
La Bohème runs from 12th January – 11th March 2023
Accessibility At The Smith Center Series: Part One
James “Fitz” FitzSimmons Interview: The Boys In The Band On Netflix
Michelle is a musician and composer from the UK. She has performed across the UK and Europe and is passionate about arts education and opportunities for women and girls.
Read Full Profile
© 2021 TheatreArtLife. All rights reserved.
Thank you so much for reading, but you have now reached your free article limit for this month.
Our contributors are currently writing more articles for you to enjoy.
To keep reading, all you have to do is become a subscriber and then you can read unlimited articles anytime.
Your investment will help us continue to ignite connections across the globe in live entertainment and build this community for industry professionals.
