Arizona Opera is bringing its first full-scale production of the 2024/25 Season to the stage later this month with one of the genre’s most beloved classics, featuring a stunning production and an extraordinary cast. Giacomo Puccini’s beloved masterpiece, “La Bohème,” will be performed in late January in Phoenix and early February in Tucson, transporting audiences to the streets of 19th-century Paris for one of the world’s most timeless and moving love stories.

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The poet and the seamstress

“La Bohème” is set in the vibrant Latin Quarter and tells the story of a romance that ignites between the poet Rodolfo and the beautiful but frail seamstress Mimì. With its exquisite melodies and stirring emotions, “La Bohème” has captivated audiences worldwide for more than a century, yet its story is just as relevant today. It spawned a modern retelling of the classic with RENT, composer Jonathan Larsen’s ode to this opera favorite.

This production, created by internationally acclaimed designer Peter Dean Beck, will feature soprano Caitlin Gotimer, a 2023 Operalia finalist and Arizona Opera favorite in the role of Mimì, following her most recent company accolades as Juliette in last season’s production of “Roméo & Juliette.” Tenor SeokJong Baek, who made his Arizona Opera debut as Cavaradossi in “Tosca” in the 2022/23 Season, returns as Rodolfo, coming off a spectacular Metropolitan Opera debut season as both Ismaele (“Nabucco”) and Calaf (“Turandot”). Earlier this month, Baek was tapped to sing the role of Radamès in the Met’s new production of “Aida” to support an ailing colleague.

Baritone Benjamin Taylor will make his Arizona Opera debut as the poet Marcello, with soprano Emma Marhefka joining the company for the first time as Musetta. Peter Barber, Yichen Xue, and Gordon Hawkins round out the stellar cast as Colline, Schaunard, and Benoît / Alcindoro, respectively. Conductor Steven Osgood and stage director Mo Zhou are leading the production, both making their eagerly anticipated Arizona Opera debuts.

Performance dates for La Bohème:

Phoenix: Saturday, January 25, 2025 at 7:30 p.m. — Symphony Hall

Phoenix: Sunday, January 26, 2025 at 2 p.m. — Symphony Hall

Tucson: Saturday, February 1, 2025 at 2 p.m. – The Linda Ronstadt Music Hall

Please note: New Tucson performance timing!

While performances are filling quickly, there are still excellent orchestra seats available from just $40 in Phoenix and $30 in Tucson.

“We are thrilled to bring such a treasured classic to the stage as our first Main Stage production of the 2024/25 Season,” says Joseph Specter, president and general director of Arizona Opera. “‘La Bohème’ is truly one of the most beloved works in the canon, welcoming both opera fans as well as those new to the genre with open arms to experience a masterpiece that has been enjoyed for generations.”

More Arizona Opera Main Stage Season events

The Main Stage Season will continue throughout the year at Symphony Hall in Phoenix and The Linda Ronstadt Music Hall in Tucson. It continues with a new and innovative World Premiere production of Verdi’s immortal masterpiece “Aida” in April, as part of the Marlu Allan and Scott Stallard Family Series, and extends into the fall with the exciting company premiere of “Zorro” in September/October, presented as part of the McDougall RED Series.

The 2024/25 Season reflects Arizona Opera’s ongoing dedication to both new works and classics from the canon, and its extensive education and community outreach efforts are designed to reach beyond the boundaries of the concert hall to connect more fully with the community, including over 40,000 school children throughout the state every year.

More information on “La Bohème” and the entire 2024/25 Season may be found on Arizona Opera’s website azopera.org or by contacting the Box Office at 602.266.7464 (Phoenix), 520.293.4336 (Tucson), or at boxoffice@azopera.org.