On 4 June, the Latvian National Opera will premiere a new production of Giacomo Puccini’s La Bohème, opening this year’s Riga Opera Festival.

The production’s Music Director is Arvo Volmer, Chief Conductor of the Estonian National Opera, with Kaspars Ādamsons conducting. The staging is created by director LAURA together with her creative team. French set, video and lighting designer Fabien Lédé will be working at the LNOB for the first time. Costume designer Fyodor Podgorny, internationally recognised as part of the fashion design duo FYODOR GOLAN, will also make his LNOB debut with this production. The choreographer is Elza Leimane.

The roles in the new production will be performed by Inna Kločko or Inga Šļubovska-Kancēviča as Mimì, Dmytro Popov, Raimonds Bramanis or Artjoms Safronovs as Rodolfo, Dana Bramane or Katrīna Paula Felsberga as Musetta, Jānis Apeinis or Rinalds Kandalincevs as Marcello, Rihards Millers or Daniils Pogoriless as Schaunard, and Rihards Mačanovskis or Edgars Ošleja as Colline, among others. The production features the Chorus and Orchestra of the Latvian National Opera, dancers of the Latvian National Ballet, and the Riga Cathedral Boys’ Choir.

“It is important to remind ourselves that art may be beautiful and inspiring. That is why I invited artists with vivid individuality and a strong creative signature to join the team. This is the first time we are working together in this constellation, and gradually, from different colours and energies, a unified world with its own distinctive identity has emerged — one that differs from many other productions of La Bohème. I have always been interested in beauty: elegance, refinement, atmosphere, and the attraction between people. That is why our La Bohème will be a celebration of life, despite the tragedy that is present throughout,” says director LAURA.

La bohème – a romantic and tragic tale of youth, unfulfilled dreams and love that inspires hope – is one of Giacomo Puccini’s most well-known and beloved operas. It received its world premiere in 1896 at the Teatro Regio in Turin and has since become one of the most frequently performed operas in the world. The story follows four young artists – poet Rodolfo, musician Schaunard, painter Marcello and philosopher Colline, who all lead humble yet passionate lives. Mimì and Musetta help them to see the beauty of the world. 

La Bohème was first staged at the Latvian National Opera in 1922. This new production will be the sixth staging of the opera at our opera house.

This season, La Bohème will also be performed on 5 and 17 June. Further performances will take place on 21 and 22 October.

Tickets are available at the LNOB Box Office and online.