Lyric Opera of Chicago kicked off the 2018/19 season with the new coproduction of Puccini’s La bohème. The company’s 64th season opened on Saturday, October 6. After a brief interruption by orchestra musicians’ strike, the season resumes this week, as the agreement has been reached between the musicians’ union and the theatre. There are two performances of La bohéme remaining in October, and six additional performances will be held in January. Tickets start at $49 and are available online or by phone at 312-827-5600.
Lyric has assembled a magnificent international cast to portray the charming group of young Bohemians navigating the ups and downs of life and love while struggling to make ends meet in 19th-century Paris.
Italian soprano Maria Agresta portrays Mimì, the seamstress whose chance encounter with the poet Rodolfo (American tenor Michael Fabiano in his Lyric debut) leads to tender love. The spectacular Australian-American soprano Danielle de Niese is Musetta, whose tempestuous romance with the painter Marcello (American baritone Zachary Nelson) rekindles at a crowded café on Christmas Eve. Romanian bass Adrian Sâmpetrean is the philosopher Colline, Puerto Rican baritone Ricardo José Rivera is the musician Schaunard, American bass-baritone Jake Gardner is the landlord Benoit and Musetta’s gentleman companion Alcindoro, and Mexican tenor Mario Rojas is the clown Parpignol.
Venezuelan-Swiss conductor Domingo Hindoyan makes his Lyric Opera debut with these performances. The English director Richard Jones staged the new coproduction, with stylized yet traditional scenery and costumes by English designer Stewart Laing (Lyric debut) and lighting by American designer Mimi Jordan Sherin.
Lyric’s chorus master Michael Black prepared 60 members of the Lyric Opera Chorus, and children’s chorus master Josephine Lee prepared 21 members of the Chicago Children’s Choir.
Remaining performance dates for La bohème are Oct. 17, 20; and Jan. 10, 13, 16, 19, 22, 25.
Estimated running time is 2 hours 20 minutes, including one 25-minute intermission.
Lyric Opera of Chicago is located at the historic Civic Opera House in the heart of downtown Chicago at 20 North Wacker Drive.
The Local Tourist’s tickets for two for the opening night performance of La bohéme courtesy of Lyric Opera of Chicago.
All images courtesy of Lyric Opera of Chicago.
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