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Ruggero is young and wealthy, with his whole life before him. Magda is beautiful, worldly and wise – surely too wise to fall in love all over again? But amid the delights of belle-époque Paris, romance can be as intoxicating as champagne – and the heart, as they say, has its own reasons. In Puccini’s opera La rondine, they’ve never sounded sweeter.

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Puccini's 'La rondine'

Barbican Centre

Ermonela Jaho stars in Puccini’s bittersweet romance, his opera La rondine, incorporating music that has not been heard this century. 

Ruggero is young and wealthy, with his whole life before him. Magda is beautiful, worldly and wise – surely too wise to fall in love all over again? But amid the delights of belle-époque Paris, romance can be as intoxicating as champagne – and the heart, as they say, has its own reasons. In Puccini’s opera La rondine, they’ve never sounded sweeter.

Inspired by Viennese operetta, La rondine is a bittersweet love story, set to some of the most romantic melodies that even Puccini ever wrote. But it’s also portrait of a world waltzing on the edge; a deeply moving study of innocence and (tender) experience. This one-off concert performance from the BBC Symphony Orchestra and Opera Rara stars Ermonela Jaho as Magda, and uses the newly restored final 1921 version of the score, incorporating music which is completely unknown today. Prepare to be seduced.

Puccini’s La rondine

Join us at the World Heart Beat Embassy Gardens’ new stunning contemporary hall as we unearth songs not heard for more than 200 years. The evening starts with a welcome drink at 7:00 PM followed by the performance at 7:30 PM and post-concert reception with the artists.

Soprano

Ellie Neate

Events

Past events

Dec 5, 2025

Puccini's 'La rondine' · BBC Symphony Orchestra

Dec 5, 2025

Puccini's 'La rondine' · Barbican Centre

Future and recently performed repertoire

Lisette in La rondine by Puccini

BBC Symphony Orchestra

About

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