La Boheme reaches its 200th performance
Gale Edwards’ enduring and much-loved production of La Bohème will celebrate its 200th performance when it returns to the Sydney Opera House this summer.
The cast of Opera Australia’s 2020 production of La Boheme at the Sydney Opera House. Photo Credit: Prudence Upton
Puccini’s inspiring story of love persevering throughout life’s hardships has been moving audiences for generations and remains as relevant in today’s post-pandemic society as it did when it premiered in 1896.
Edwards’ reimagining of Puccini’s opera transports audiences to 1930s Berlin with the help of visually stunning sets designed by OAM-recipient Brian Thompson and dazzling costumes by Helpmann Award-winner Julie Lynch.
Audiences, both new to opera and those who have already fallen in love with this stunning production, will enjoy performances by this season’s all-star cast. Those with tickets dated March 9th will be attending the 200th performance.
South Korean soprano Karah Son will reprise her highly acclaimed Mimì from 2020 when she impressed with her “intense, expressive emotion and full, rich, rounded tone” as described by The Plus Ones. Sharing the role of Mimì are Australian sopranos Danita Weatherstone and Rebecca Gulinello, who will both make their role debuts after both recently playing Micaëla in Carmen on Cockatoo Island.
Peruvian tenor Iván Ayón Rivas will make his Australian debut as the lovesick poet Rodolfo, following his performance in the same role with the Teatro Massimo Bellini, Catania, in 2022. Brazilian tenor Atalla Ayan will then make his Opera Australia role debut after appearing with the Company in 2018 as the Duke of Mantua in Rigoletto.
OA favourite Julie Lea Goodwin will reprise her Musetta, her performance “guaranteed to become an indelible memory for everyone lucky enough to experience it” – Australian Arts Review. Fellow OA principal Esther Song will follow, making her role debut as Musetta, both playing opposite Haotian Qi who will reprise his role as Marcello.
OA Young Artist Alexander Sefton will make his role debut as Schaunard, followed by Shane Lowrencev reprising the role alongside Richard Anderson, Andrew Moran, Clifford Plumpton, Malcolm Ede and Benjamin Rasheed.
Acclaimed Italian maestro Michelangelo Mazza will conduct the Opera Australia Orchestra through Puccini’s heartbreaking score, followed by OA Head of Music Tahu Matheson.
