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Venue

Joan Sutherland Theatre, Sydney Opera House
Bennelong Point, Sydney

Language

Sung in Italian with English surtitles.

Running time

Approximately 2 hours and 15 minutes, including one interval.

Please note

This production contains partial nudity.

Production Partner

Gilbert + Tobin logo

On a freezing Christmas Eve, love sparks. Two hands meet in the dark and four friends’ lives change forever.

Experience the romance of the original bohemian love story.

When Mimì meets Rodolfo, it’s love at first touch. They head out to bustling Café Momus, where the feisty Musetta and Marcello rekindle their relationship. But even the deepest love can’t warm a freezing winter. The Bohemians have some growing up to do.

Some emotions are too big for words alone, and for that, we have music. La Bohème exposes your soul to the feelings that only music can express. The music soars with the ecstasy of love, crackles with the pain of jealousy and cries with the agony of loss.

This touching tale is set among the fishnets and fairy lights of 1930s Berlin.

Stellar sopranos Karah Son, Danita Weatherstone and Rebecca Gulinello sing the role of Mimì. Iván Ayón Rivas and Atalla Ayan sing as the poet, Rodolfo. Julie Lea Goodwin and Esther Song sing the iconically blonde Musetta, while Haotian Qi croons as her Marcello. Michelangelo Mazza and Tahu Matheson conduct.

Cast & Creative

Conductor
Michelangelo Mazza (12 Jan–8 Feb)
Tahu Matheson (11 Feb–11 Mar)
Director
Revival Director
Set Designer
Costume Designer
Lighting Designer
Mimì
Karah Son (12 Jan–8 Feb)
Danita Weatherstone (11 Feb–25 Feb)
Rodolfo
Iván Ayón Rivas (12 Jan–8 Feb)
Atalla Ayan (11 Feb–11 Mar)
Musetta
Julie Lea Goodwin (12 Jan–8 Feb)
Esther Song (11 Feb–11 Mar)
Marcello
Schaunard
Alexander Sefton (12 Jan–8 Feb)
Shane Lowrencev (11 Feb–11 Mar)
Colline
Benoit/Alcindoro
Officer
Sergeant
Parpignol

Opera Australia Chorus
Opera Australia Children’s Chorus
Opera Australia Orchestra

La Boheme

Cheat Sheet: La Bohème

Everything you need to know about one of the world's most popular operas.

What happens in the story? Who was the composer? What should I expect from the music? Here’s everything you need to know…

Read the cheat sheet

La Bohème: The Costumes

Facts about La Bohème's beautiful costumes

Take one look at Julie Lynch’s costume designs for La Bohème, and it’s clear the designer is a details person.

See the designs
RENT musical

La Bohème in pop culture

Does the story sound familiar? Movies, pop music and Broadway musicals have all drawn inspiration from the original Bohemian love story. Here are just a few of La Bohème’s most memorable appearances in pop culture from recent decades.

Find out more

 

Overture Dining at the Sydney Opera House

Enjoy dinner before the opera

Overture Dining at Sydney Opera House

Allow us to make your dinner reservation for you: at Overture Dining in the Northern Foyer of the Joan Sutherland Theatre. You’ll be served a three-course menu for just $97.

See the menu

La Bohème at Sydney Opera House (2020)

Photograph: Prudence Upton

La Bohème at Sydney Opera House (2020)

Photograph: Prudence Upton

La Bohème at Sydney Opera House (2020)

Photograph: Prudence Upton

La Bohème at Sydney Opera House (2020)

Photograph: Prudence Upton

La Bohème at Sydney Opera House (2020)

Photograph: Prudence Upton

Synopsis

ACT I

It is Christmas Eve. Rodolfo, a poet, and Marcello, a painter, are freezing in their studio. Marcello is painting The Crossing of the Red Sea. Colline, a philosopher, arrives as the fire Rodolfo has lit with one of his manuscripts, flickers and dies. Schaunard brings reinforcements – food, wine and fuel for the fire, bought with unexpected money from his earnings as a musician.

A knock at the door and Benoit, the landlord, arrives demanding the rent. The four Bohemians ply him with wine and then bundle him off. Marcello, Colline and Schaunard go off to join the celebrations at the Café Momus. Promising to join them soon, Rodolfo settles down to finish an article he is writing.

There is another knock. This time it is a neighbour, Mimì – a beautiful young seamstress, holding her key and an unlit candle. She begs a light and Rodolfo obliges. Mimì departs and drops her key. Together they search for the key, and their hands touch. They tell each other about themselves and Rodolfo passionately declares his love. The new lovers then set off into the night to join the others.

ACT II

The square in which the Café Momus is situated is the Bohemians’ favourite haunt, bustling with shoppers and hawkers. Rodolfo buys his new love a bonnet.

At the café, Marcello’s old flame, Musetta, appears with a new admirer, Alcindoro. To attract Marcello’s attention, Musetta bursts into her famous waltz song. Marcello responds and Musetta, pretending that her shoe is pinching, dispatches Alcindoro to a cobbler. She joins in the revelry with Marcello and his friends. When they depart they leave a reminder for the hapless Alcindoro on his return – a huge bill!

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