Opera Australia, who call the iconic sails of the Sydney Opera House home, is set to light up The Events Centre, Caloundra with a dazzling ’70s-inspired production of La Bohème on 2 August, as part of its national tour.
In a celebration of love, loss, and youthful ambition, this reimagined version of Puccini’s masterpiece, directed by the award-winning Dean Bryant, transports audiences to 1970s Paris, where a group of struggling bohemians chase dreams, romance, and meaning on society’s fringe. With unforgettable arias and a soaring score, La Bohème remains one of the world’s most beloved operas, even inspiring the movie Moulin Rouge! and the musical RENT.
La Bohème is a story that transcends time and place, which makes it enticing for opera fans and easily accessible for newcomers, providing a wonderful opportunity to showcase the beauty of opera to audiences outside the capital cities.
Director Dean Bryant said the story of young creatives finding their way resonates strongly with regional communities.
“This is a story about a group of young artists dealing with all the huge things in life for the first time. Growing up in regional Australia, I had the same passion and urgency to be heard, to fall in love, to live, so it’s particularly exciting for me to be taking this production, set in Paris in the 1970s, across the country”, Bryant said.
The Sunshine Coast performance is one of five Queensland stops on Opera Australia’s extensive regional tour, which also visits Cairns, Rockhampton and Mackay
Led by conductor Simon Bruckard, the production boasts a cast of brilliant singers and musicians, breathing fresh life into one of the world’s most loved operas including sopranos Danita Weatherstone and Maia Andrews sharing the role of Mimì, tenors John Longmuir and Nick Kirkup as Rodolfo, sopranos Cathy-Di Zhang and Sarah Prestwidge as Musetta and baritones Andrew Williams and Benjamin Del Borrello as Marcello.
La Bohème will be performed at The Events Centre, 20 Minchinton St, Caloundra on Saturday 2 August at 7pm. Tickets from $35
