Fondazione Arena celebrates Puccini's centenary with the special project "La Bohème". The international cast of the 19th and 27th July has been revelead with Vittorio Grigolo, Juliana Grigoryan, Luca Micheletti, Eleonora Bellocci, Alexander Vinogradov, Fabio Previati and Daniel Oren as the conductor. The new production will be directed by Alfonso Signorini with Set Design by Guillermo Nova.

The latest initiative in the works for the 101st Opera Festival was presented at the Biblioteca Nazionale Braidense in Milan today, where Puccini's handwritten score and very first manuscripts were displayed in the Sala Maria Teresa

Hailed as the “perfect opera” by conductors, directors, and singers, and etched into the collective hearts of audiences since its triumphant premiere in Turin in 1896 (conducted by a young Toscanini), La Bohème is celebrated for its unparalleled blend of emotion and humour, love, friendship, and vitality. Featuring some of the most exquisite melodies and iconic arias ever composed, this masterpiece makes a return to the Arena di Verona after a thirteen-year hiatus as part of a special initiative at the 2024 Opera Festival to commemorate the 100-year anniversary of the death of its creator, Giacomo Puccini. 

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The Fondazione Arena takes the helm in presenting a fresh interpretation of Puccini's masterpiece on what are guaranteed to be two unforgettable evenings (19 and 27 July). Directing the performance is Alfonso Signorini, a journalist, writer, showman, lecturer, and an enduring connoisseur and promoter of art and music, who embarks on his first venture into the unique spaces of La Scala's Amphitheatre. Guillermo Nova steps into the shoes of set designer for this special occasion. Together, they will bring to life a rendition of La Bohème where transparent set design is used to faithfully portray Puccini's narrative. At the same time, it provides a means to capture otherwise hidden intricacies in the lives of the characters and the vibrant backdrop of Paris, allowing realism and intimacy to take centre stage. 

The Fondazione Arena di Verona Orchestra and Chorus, directed by Roberto Gabbiani, will be under the confident and charismatic guidance of Maestro Daniel Oren. Taking the spotlight on stage for both evenings will be a cast that seamlessly blends seasoned opera stars with young emerging talents making their Arena debut: tenor Vittorio Grigolo takes on the role of the poet Rodolfo, while baritone Luca Micheletti plays the painter and Marcello, both in love with Mimì, portrayed by the Armenian soprano Juliana Grigoryan, and Musetta, brought to life by Eleonora Bellocci—both gracing the Festival stage for the first time. The cast is completed by Alexander Vinogradov (the philosopher Colline), Fabio Previati (the musician Schaunard), Nicolò Ceriani (the tenant Benoit), Salvatore Salvaggio (Alcindoro), and Riccardo Rados (Parpignol). Alongside several mimes and extras bringing life to the streets of the Quartier Latino in Paris, the participation of A.LI.VE. Children's Choir, under the direction of Paolo Facincani, will form an integral part of the production. 

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The presentation took place today in the Sala Maria Teresa at the Biblioteca Nazionale Braidense (Pinacoteca di Brera). During this special event, the Archivio Storico Ricordi generously provided access to a trove of priceless documents. Among these were showcased Puccini's original handwritten score and sketches from the very first performance of the opera at La Scala in 1897, supervised by the composer himself. Much like all of Puccini's works, the gestation of La Bohème was a long and tortuous process, marked by debates, second thoughts, and a notable clash with his peer Leoncavallo, who was also composing music for the opera. Following the initial acclaim garnered with Manon Lescaut (1893), Puccini, guided by librettists Giacosa and Illica, drew upon Henri Murger's novel Scènes de la vie de bohème. As a result, he was able to distil the essence of his melodious creativity, skill in orchestration, and his unwavering sense of theatricality. The opera itself was inspired by the memories of his challenging years as a student in Milan, where, like his roommate Pietro Mascagni, another future accomplished composer, he shared numerous dreams and aspirations, yet very few comforts. La Bohème chronicles the lives and adventures of four destitute artist friends, depicting the discovery of love and the inevitable end of youth, all set against the backdrop of a Paris never more enchanting and vibrant than on Christmas Eve. 

Ranked as the eleventh most frequently performed production in the Amphitheatre, La Bohème graced the stage between 1938 and 2011 for an impressive 78 performances. Featuring iconic performers like Di Stefano, Tebaldi, Lugo, Scotto, Bastianini, Pavarotti, Vinco, La Scola, Cedolins, and Alvarez, it has definitely earned it place among the ranks of Puccini's most popular operas at the Arena. Joining the list are Madama Butterfly, and the 101st Festival's “top ten”, including the upcoming performance of Tosca in August. Naturally, Turandot, the first Arena opera of 2024, will debut on 8 June, paying tribute to the enduring legacy of Italy's most beloved and performed composers, alongside Verdi. 

"We are delighted to bring La Bohème back to the Arena, not just in commemoration of the 100-year anniversary of Puccini's death, but also because it is one of the most beautiful productions to exist and deserves a wide audience”, comments Cecilia Gasdia, General Manager of the Fondazione Arena. “It is an opera I know well and which is particularly dear to me, as both a performer, and General Manager. Puccini really poured his whole heart into this, as well as his art, and you can feel how much this opera is defined by friendship, love, fun, adventure and sorrow. In a word: truth. The goal of this new production is to showcase the opera in all its facets, entrusted to an outstanding ensemble of artists”.

“Who is Mimi? What kind of life does this young woman lead, residing just a few metres from Rodolfo and unexpectedly entering his life? We designed a completely transparent stage, enabling various actions, including those traditionally hidden, to unfold”, states Alfonso Signorini, who has used these insights as a starting point for his work. “The viewer's gaze has the freedom to shift between Rodolfo and his friends' attic to Mimi's, capturing everyday moments in her life. In the second act, an entirely transparent platform spans the entire stage, depicting the mid-19th-century world meticulously. From costumes to intricate details, the stage is a faithful representation, forming a genuine tableau vivant that transcends seasons”.

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19 July  at 9.15 pm

27 July at 9.15pm

La Bohème

by Giacomo Puccini
An opera in four acts. 
Libretto by Giuseppe Giacosa and Luigi Illica

NEW PRODUCTION
Special initiative to commemorate the 100-year anniversary of Puccini's death

A.Li.Ve. Children’s Choir
Director Paolo Facincani

Fondazione Arena di Verona’s Orchestra, Choir and Technicians
Choirmaster: Roberto Gabbiani
Stage Director: Michele Olcese