Photo Credit:  Todd Rosenberg and Stefany Phillips (Lyric Opera, Chicago)

Yesterday, the 64th season of the Lyric Opera of Chicago opened with a new co-production of Puccini’s “La Bohème”. It will run thru October 20 and return for 6 performances Jan. 10th-25th.

According to an official press release from The Silverman Group, “Lyric has assembled a magnificent international cast to portray the charming group of young Bohemians navigating the ups and downs of life and love while struggling to make ends meet in 19th-century Paris.”

Maria Agresta portrays Mimì, Danielle de Niese is Musetta, Zachary Nelson is painter Marcello  and Adrian Sâmpetrean is the philosopher Colline. Musician Schaunard, landlord Benoit/Musetta’s gentleman companion Alcindoro and clown Parpignol are played by Ricardo José Rivera, Jake Gardner and Mario Rojas respectively.

“Venezuelan-Swiss conductor Domingo Hindoyan makes his Lyric Opera debut with these performances. The English director Richard Jones staged the new co-production, with stylized yet traditional scenery and costumes by English designer Stewart Laing (Lyric debut) and lighting by American designer Mimi Jordan Sherin.  Lyric’s chorus master Michael Black prepared 60 members of the Lyric Opera Chorus and and children’s chorus master Josephine Lee prepared 21 members of the Chicago Children’s Choir,” the press release concluded.

Welcome to Chicago!