Stage Director

Set Designer

Their relationship goes through ups and downs as they share the joys and challenges of an artist's life with their friends Marcello, Musetta, Schaunard and Colline. But tragic circumstances and the poverty of the times put their love to the test. A timeless story of love, loss and the pursuit of beauty.

La Bohème

Vienna State Opera

With its enchanting setting and spellbinding score, the world’s most popular opera is as timeless as it is heartbreaking. Franco Zeffirelli’s picture-perfect production brings 19th-century Paris to the Met stage as Puccini’s young friends and lovers navigate the joy and struggle of bohemian life. Sopranos Juliana Grigoryan, Angel Blue, and Aleksandra Kurzak trade off as the feeble seamstress Mimì, opposite tenors Freddie De Tommaso, Stephen Costello, Adam Smith, and Long Long as the ardent poet Rodolfo.

EPSG:4326

Lincoln Center

“One of the most lavish and intricate [productions] in the company’s repertoire” (The New York Times), Franco Zeffirelli’s glittering take on Puccini’s final masterpiece returns to the stage with three extraordinary casts bringing the rousing score to life. Sopranos Angela Meade, Anna Pirozzi, and Liudmyla Monastyrska star in the title role of the vengeful princess, whose frozen heart is thawed by the courageous prince Calàf, portrayed by tenors Michael Fabiano, Brian Jagde, and Roberto Alagna.

Turandot

Bohemia

Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts

Franco Zeffirelli’s dazzling vision of mythic China retakes the stage, with soprano Elena Pankratova making her Met debut as the legendary—and lethal—title princess, opposite tenor SeokJong Baek as the valiant prince who puts his life on the line to win her love. Later in the spring, a pair of audience favorites, soprano Christine Goerke and tenor Roberto Alagna, assume the starring roles. Sopranos Gabriella Reyes, Aleksandra Kurzak, and Olga Kulchynska alternate as Liù, with basses Vitalij Kowaljow, Peixin Chen, and Soloman Howard as Timur. Maestro Oksana Lyniv makes her Met debut leading Puccini’s rousing score, sharing conducting duties with Marco Armiliato.

Puccini’s timeless tragedy returns with three dynamic duos as the bohemian lovers. Sopranos Federica Lombardi, Anita Hartig, and Elena Stikhina alternate as the heartbreaking seamstress Mimì, and tenors Matthew Polenzani, Stephen Costello, and Joseph Calleja share the role of the love-struck poet Rodolfo. Sopranos Olga Kulchynska, Heidi Stober, and Kristina Mkhitaryan and baritones Adam Plachetka and Alexey Markov are the tempestuous lovers Musetta and Marcello, and maestros Carlo Rizzi and Marco Armiliato take the podium to oversee Franco Zeffirelli’s magnificent production.

Music Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin conducts Puccini’s timeless tragedy for the first time at the Met, leading soprano Eleonora Buratto and tenor Stephen Costello as the bohemian lovers Mimì and Rodolfo, and soprano Kristina Mkhitaryan and baritone Davide Luciano as the on-again-off-again Musetta and Marcello. Later in the run, James Gaffigan takes the podium to conduct a second exceptional cast in Franco Zeffirelli’s beloved staging, with sopranos Susanna Phillips and Latonia Moore, tenor Charles Castronovo, and baritone Quinn Kelsey.

Ukrainian soprano Liudmyla Monastyrska stars in the title role of the legendary cold-hearted princess—seen live in cinemas on May 7. Tenor Yonghoon Lee is the bold prince determined to win Turandot’s love, alongside soprano Ermonela Jaho as the devoted servant Liù legendary bass Ferruccio Furlanetto as the blind king Timur. Marco Armiliato conducts Puccini’s stirring score.

Amidst golden pyramids and imposing scenery, Franco Zeffirelli's luxurious and fantastic Egypt is back at the Arena with Aida. In this majestic production, a legend is back for seven performances for the 2026 Festival.

Aida Ed. Franco Zeffirelli

Arena di Verona

Giacomo Puccini's Turandot blows out a hundred candles. It’s time to celebrate its first century of life with the fairytale setting born from the imagination of Franco Zeffirelli: a record-breaking Arena production, with costumes created by the Oscar-winning designer, Emi Wada.

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.

Stage Director, Set Designer

Franco Zeffirelli

Events

Upcoming events

Jul 30 - Sep 10, 2026

Aida Ed. Franco Zeffirelli · Fondazione Arena di Verona

Aug 7 - Sep 11, 2026

Turandot · Fondazione Arena di Verona

Sep 25, 2026 - Apr 29, 2027

La Bohème · The Metropolitan Opera

6 - 13 Dec, 2026

La Bohème · Wiener Staatsoper

Past events

15 - 25 Dec, 2025

La Bohème · Wiener Staatsoper

Oct 21, 2025 - May 2, 2026

La Bohème · The Metropolitan Opera

About

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