With its Parisian 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. Richard Jones' beloved staging returns, spotlighting the modernism of Paris on the cusp of monumental change and the intimate lives of the city’s Bohemian dreamers. Featuring soaring duets and poignant laments, Puccini’s breathtaking score is sung here by two brilliant casts, with conductor Lorenzo Passerini making his debut with The Royal Opera and Christopher Willis.

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. The opera’s beautiful score includes highlights ‘Sì, mi chiamano Mimì’ (Yes, they call me Mimì) and Musetta’s ‘Quando m’en vo’ (When I go along) – and Puccini himself wept at the music of the poignant final scene.