Puccini
La Boheme
La Bohème,"Puccini","La bohème (1896) portrays the lives of young bohemians in Paris, focusing on the tender but tragic love between poet Rodolfo and seamstress Mimì. Based on Henri Murger’s stories, the opera premiered in Turin under Toscanini. Though initially overshadowed by a rival version, Puccini’s soon dominated, becoming one of the most beloved operas for its emotional immediacy and melodic richness."
First Performance:
La Bohème,"Puccini","Premiered 1 February 1896 at Teatro Regio, Turin, conducted by Toscanini. Critics lukewarm, public receptive; its reputation grew rapidly and it soon became a cornerstone of the repertoire."
Historical setting:
La Bohème,"Puccini","Composed in the 1890s, La Bohème reflects Europe’s interest in realism and the romanticisation of artistic poverty. Based on Murger’s stories of 1830s Paris, it captures the era’s bohemian mythos and the rise of verismo‑inflected emotional immediacy."