Young love…nothing is more all-consuming, turbulent, passionate, and heartbreaking.

The first opera San Diego Opera produced, this beloved masterwork follows the lives of a group of struggling artists, including the poet Rodolfo and the seamstress Mimì, as they navigate love, friendship, and hardship in 19th-century Paris. Full of some of the greatest melodies and arias Puccini ever composed, the production is inspired by San Diego Opera’s acclaimed 2020 drive-in La bohème centered in Rodolfo’s memory of an unforgettable romance.

These performances feature thrilling debuts and the exciting return of many SDO favorites. With Kathleen O’Mara as Mimì (Nov. 1 & 3), Sarah Tucker as Mimì (Nov. 2),  Joshua Blue as Rodolfo (Nov. 1 & 3), César Delgado as Rodolfo (Nov. 2), Latonia Moore as Musetta, Leroy Davis as Marcello, Harold Wilson as Colline, and Søren Pedersen as Schaunard.

Lidiya Yankovskaya will also make her first appearance with San Diego Opera, conducting the San Diego Symphony Orchestra. She has conducted more than 40 world premieres, including 17 operas. Keturah Stickann – a visionary director whose work has appeared with opera companies around the world – will reprise her role as director of La bohème after having directed San Diego Opera’s innovative drive-in production in 2020.

LANGUAGE – Sung in Italian with English and Spanish text projected above the stage

Pre-Opera Talk: The pre-opera talk begins at 6:40 pm before the 7:30 pm Friday and Saturday evening performances. The Sunday matinee pre-opera talk begins at 1:10 pm before the 2:00 pm curtain.

Mainstage Post-Opera Talk-Back: Stay after the Saturday and Sunday performances for a Talk-Back. Once the curtain falls, there will be a 10-minute break, then join us in the front of the Dress Circle section where you can ask questions of the stars and cast (subject to availability), and find out what really happened onstage and backstage during the performance!