Set Designer

Rodolfo is a struggling poet burning his manuscripts to keep out the winter chill. Mimi is a fellow tenant with big dreams and a deadly illness. A chance meeting has them falling in love, but when you’re at the bottom of Parisian society, every day could be your last. 

Puccini’s blockbuster opera returns to our stage starring Janai Brugger as the sweet but suffering Mimi and Oreste Cosimo as the lovestruck Rodolfo, with Gihoon Kim and Erica Petrocelli as the on-again-off-again lovers Marcello and Musetta.

Resident Conductor Lina González-Granados leads Puccini’s transcendent score, awash in lavish Romanticism and gorgeous melodies. Director Brenna Corner helms a timeless production from Herbert Ross that the LA Times calls a “warm, nostalgic evocation of Paris in Puccini’s time.”

La Bohème

The Music Center

Experience the timeless allure of Puccini's La Bohème, presented by the Lyric Opera of Chicago. This enduring masterpiece captures the essence of young love in 19th-century Paris, brought to life through the poignant arias of characters like the passionate poet Rodolfo, the delicate seamstress Mimì, and the spirited Musetta. The production features the remarkable talents of sopranos Ailyn Pérez and Gabriella Reyes, alongside tenor Pene Pati in his Lyric debut and baritone Will Liverman. Under the expert direction of conductor Jordan de Souza, the performance promises to be a memorable addition to Lyric Opera's storied tradition of La Bohème renditions. The opera is sung in Italian with projected English titles, ensuring an immersive experience for all attendees. The production also includes innovative accessibility features such as audio-described performances and the SoundShirt, which allows wearers to feel the music through touch sensations. With a running time of 2 hours and 20 minutes, including one intermission, this new-to-Chicago production is set to captivate audiences with its beauty, sensitivity, and universal themes of romance and heartbreak.

Set Designer

Gerard Howland

Events

Upcoming events

Nov 22 - Dec 14, 2025

La Bohème · LA Opera

Past events

Nov 22 - Dec 14, 2025

La Bohème · LA Opera

Mar 15 - Apr 12, 2025

La Bohème · Lyric Opera of Chicago

About

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