The world’s most popular opera, Puccini’s heartbreaking tragedy never fails to enrapture audiences with its poignant depiction of love and loss in bohemian Paris, all set to one of opera’s most romantic scores. Some of today’s most extraordinary talents inhabit the touchstone principal roles in Franco Zeffirelli’s classic staging, a perennial Met favorite for the past 45 years.

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La Bohème

Lincoln Center

Simon Boccanegra was written in the 1850s, at a time when Giuseppe Verdi, his confidence boosted by his growing fame, decided to challenge the operatic tradition. It is a gloomy opera dominated by low voices, a baritone in the lead male role, and devoid of supporting female characters. Its 1857 world premiere was not well received: nearing the end of his life, Arrigo Boito introduced far-reaching changes to the work together with the composer and it was the altered version completed in 1881 that finally triumphed on the world’s opera stages.

Simon Boccanegra

Teatr Wielki - Polish National Opera

Falstaff is a comedy written by opera great Giuseppe Verdi near the end of his life, based on Shakespeare's famous plays "The Merry Wives of Windsor" and "Henry IV". A masterpiece brimming with unrivalled fun and life philosophy, the story centres on the greedy but lovable old knight Falstaff and his interactions with a group of lively, quick-witted women and young couples. Musically, the work was very progressive at that time, with finely crafted pieces full of excitement, including the nonet in Act 1 and Fuga Finale, featuring ten soloists and a chorus. In particular, Falstaff's show-stopping fugue finale 'Tutto nel mundo è burla' is the perfect end to the evening, and has become a regular feature at gala concerts and other events.

Ricardo José Rivera

Events

Upcoming events

Sep 25, 2026 - Apr 29, 2027

La Bohème · The Metropolitan Opera

Feb 14 - Mar 30, 2027

Simon Boccanegra · Polish National Opera

21 - 29 Apr, 2027

Falstaff · Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra

Future and recently performed repertoire

Simon Boccanegra in Simon Boccanegra by Verdi

Polish National Opera

Schaunard in La bohème by Puccini

The Metropolitan Opera

Ford in Falstaff by Verd

Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra

About

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