Utah Opera Opens Season with Puccini's LA BOHEME

Utah Opera's 40th anniversary season opens in October 2017 with Puccini's beloved "La bohème," the first opera produced by the company in January 1978 during its inaugural season. This production will be performed five times at the Janet Quinney Lawson Capitol Theatre on October 7, 9, 11, 13 at 7:30 PM and October 15 at 2 PM. Tickets, priced from $21-$103, are available for purchase through www.utahopera.org or by calling (801) 533-6683.

"La bohème" was last performed by the company in October 2010, and the 2017 production will mark its seventh appearance on the Utah Opera stage. Puccini's classic opera depicts struggling young bohemian artists navigating love, life, and death in turn-of-the-century Paris.

"The characters, music and story create a perfect metaphor for youthful hope and vitality for a fledgling organization, and its premiere production to an enthusiastic community," said Artistic Director Christopher McBeth. "Even with the obligatory tragic ending, every time I come to Puccini's masterpiece, I am filled with optimism for the future."

Soprano Jennifer Black makes her Utah Opera debut in the role of Mimì. The cast also includes baritone Michael Adams, one of Opera News' "25 Rising Stars," who sings Marcello, a role he debuted in 2016 at the Grand Théâtre de Genève; Scott Quinn, who recently debuted with Seattle and San Francisco operas, as Rodolfo, a role he has sung with Minnesota Opera; and Celena Shafer, a native Utahn and favorite of Utah Opera and Utah Symphony audiences alike, as Musetta.

Long-time Utah Opera guest conductor Robert Tweten returns after his most recent appearance leading the orchestra in October 2016's "Carmen." Directing the production is Kathleen Clawson, who made her Utah Opera mainstage directorial debut in October 2015 with "Tosca" and has also directed productions for The Santa Fe Opera and Dayton Opera.

The performance will last approximately two hours and 30 minutes with one intermission.