Puccini: La bohème
La bohème (1893-5) is a four act opera by Giacomo Puccini, set in Paris around 1830 to an Italian libretto by Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa and first performed at the Teatro Regio di Torino in Italy on 1 February 1896, conducted by Arturo Toscanini.
The opera is based on Henri Murger's novel Scènes de la vie de bohème (1851) which portrays young bohemians living in Paris' Quartier latin in the 1840s.
A 1921 illustration by Joseph Hémard from
Henri Murger's novel Scènes de la vie de bohème
La bohème quickly became popular throughout Italy and beyond. Its first performance outside of Italy was on 16 June 1896 at Teatro Colón, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
A selection of articles about Puccini: La bohème
Ensemble. Compellingly Realistic - Ron Bierman was in the audience for Giocomo Puccini's 'La bohème' in San Diego
Classical music news - Ben Glassberg - British conductor Ben Glassberg will become Music Director of Volksoper Wien in January 2024
Ensemble. A Backwards Bohème - Adam J Sacks reports from Opera Philadelphia
CD Spotlight. Irish Coffee - Giuseppe Pennisi listens to Puccini's 'La bohème' from Irish National Opera. 'The excellent Italian diction of all the singers, both the protagonists and those in secondary roles, is remarkable.'
Ensemble. Conceived for TV - Giuseppe Pennisi experiences Teatro dell'Opera di Roma's 'La bohème'
Ensemble. The Orchestra is the Winner - Giuseppe Pennisi reviews 'La bohème' in Rome
Ensemble. Fit for Streaming? - Giuseppe Pennisi investigates various current and recent opera productions
Ensemble. Bohème dated 1896 - Giuseppe Pennisi reviews Puccini, broadcast from Teatro Regio Torino in Italy
Ensemble. Horns and Headlights? - Ron Bierman reports on San Diego Opera's 'La bohème' from a parking lot in San Diego
Ensemble. A Nuanced, Idiomatic Portrayal - San Diego Opera's first drive-in opera - 'La bohème', appreciated by Maria Nockin
Ensemble. Three Operas in Three Different Styles - Anett Fodor reports from Miskolc on La bohème, The Golden Dragon, Duke Bluebeard's Castle and a symphonic work by Scriabin
CD Spotlight. Appealing Work - Music for euphonium, heard by the late Howard Smith. '... it's the lyrical selections that reveal Frey at his finest.'
Ensemble. Plus and Minus - Songs and arias from Jennifer Davis and Caroline Dowdle at the Buxton Festival, heard by Mike Wheeler
Ensemble. Daily Puccini - Malcolm Miller enjoys an opera lollipop recital in the city of the composer's birth
Ensemble. Richness of the Score - Puccini's 'La bohème' in Rome, heard by Giuseppe Pennisi
Ensemble. Pure Joy - Puccini's 'La bohème' in high definition from New York Metropolitan Opera, heard by Maria Nockin
Ensemble. A Fine Film - San Francisco Opera's 2008 film of Puccini's 'La bohème', reviewed by Maria Nockin
Ensemble. Far from Traditional - Puccini operas in Rome, reviewed by Giuseppe Pennisi
Ensemble. Passionate Tones - La bohème in HD from The Met, appreciated by Maria Nockin
Ensemble. Beautifully Coordinated - Candace Evans' new production of Puccini's La bohème, reviewed by Maria Nockin
DVD Spotlight. Gallic to Teutonic - Opera Australia's 'La bohème', reviewed by Howard Smith. '... Park is suitably distraught ...'
Ensemble. First Class - San Francisco Opera's film of Puccini's 'La bohème', seen by Maria Nockin
Ensemble. Blended Voices - La bohème at Los Angeles Opera, reviewed by Maria Nockin
Ensemble. Santa Fe, The City Different - Maria Nockin enjoys the summer opera fare in North America's oldest capital city
Ensemble. Asian Aid - Giuseppe Pennisi was at the 2011 Puccini Festival
Ensemble. A Conductor's Opera - A new production of Puccini's 'La bohème' at Rome's Teatro dell'Opera, reviewed by Giuseppe Pennisi
Ensemble. Dramatically Potent - Robert Hugill was at Chelsea Opera Group's performance of Puccini's 'Manon Lescaut'
Ensemble. Very Welcome - Robert Hugill experiences Stephen Oliver's 'Euridice'
Ensemble. Opera in the Arena - Rebecca Schmid listens to Renée Fleming and the Berlin Philharmonic
Ensemble. White Hot Intensity - Renée Fleming and the Russian National Orchestra at the Festival of the Arts Boca 2010, reviewed by Lawrence Budmen
Ensemble. A Bouquet of Bohèmes - Maria Nockin reviews one opera at two different venues
Ensemble. Robust Voices - Susan Hampton visits Boston for Puccini's 'La bohème'
Arts and the Colour of Politics - Béla Hartmann muses on growing social equality and democratization
Ensemble. Truly Enjoyable - Maria Nockin was at Los Angeles Opera's 'La Traviata'
Ensemble. Student Life and Love - Puccini's 'La bohème' from Kentish Opera, enjoyed by Pippa Hare
Ensemble. Operatic Passions - Francesco Cilea's 'Adriana Lecouvreur', reviewed by Robert Hugill
Ensemble. Amazing Clarity - Greer Grimsley sings Scarpia in 'Tosca' from San Diego, experienced by Maria Nockin
Ensemble. Magical eloquence - The first night of Palm Beach Opera's revival of Bellini's 'Norma' provides a night to remember for Lawrence Budmen
Ensemble. Glorious Melody - British Youth Opera's 'La Rondine', reviewed by Robert Hugill
Ensemble. Inner Strength - Puccini's 'La bohème' at New Zealand Opera, reviewed by Howard Smith
An Authentic Voice - Laura Kennelly visits Cleveland Ohio's latest opera company
CD Spotlight. Substantially Admirable - Vocal music by Puccini, reviewed by Howard Smith. '... more than sufficient ... to recommend unstintingly ...'
Ensemble. An Auspicious Beginning - The first performance of a brand new opera company, marked by Maria Nockin
Artful Phrasing - 'La bohème' at Los Angeles Opera, reviewed by Maria Nockin
Ensemble. A Wonderful Experience - Two productions at Santa Fe Opera, reviewed by Maria Nockin
Ensemble. Expansive Romanticism - 'Madama Butterfly' from Long Island, reviewed by Maria Nockin
Ensemble. Infectious Verve - Puccini's 'La bohème' in New Hampshire, reviewed by Maria Nockin
Ensemble. Important Revelations - A gala concert presented by Arizona Opera, reviewed by Maria Nockin