The appealing legend about the talented and noble inhabitants of the Latin Quarter of Paris inspired Henri Murger’s Scènes de la vie de bohème and made its author famous throughout Europe. Puccini’s opera is based on Murger’s novel whose characters have once and for all chosen art, creation and love…

La bohème is a popular opera, a staple of the repertoire of opera houses all over the world. It is an example of verismo, which brings forward psychological feelings of the characters and scenes of everyday life. The lyrical and sentimental music of the opera often acquires a dramatic shade.

The premiere performance of the opera took place on February 1, 1896 at the Teatro Regio in Turin, conducted by Arturo Toscanini. At the Epiphany Festival at Novaya Opera La bohème will be conducted by Italian-born maestro Fabio Mastrangelo, a connoisseur of Italian style.

“There are no favourable conditions for an artist. Life is an unfavourable condition in itself. Any creative work means struggling, fighting, breaking into pieces the happiest of lives. However cruel it may sound, unfavourable conditions are perhaps the most favourable…” (Marina Tsvetaeva)

Fabio Mastrangelo:

La bohème is youth, love and joy. It is lightness and sadness. In short, La bohème is life as interpreted by Puccini. Its music is fabulous and arias are unforgettable. You cannot ruin it.

Profession: Conductor
For me conducting is synonymous to responsibility before the composer, the audience and musicians. Respecting music and what each composer tried to convey through notes is much more important than any conductor’s attempt to interpret or to implement his own ideas.