An introduction to La bohème

First performed on February 1, 1896, Puccini’s romantic opera is one of the best known in the repertoire. The story follows Bohemian writer Rodolfo and seamstress Mimì’s whirlwind romance, as both struggle with life as impoverished Parisians.

Read La bohème’s synopsis

As well as being one of the best-loved operas to date, the archetypal love story between Mimì and Rodolfo is one of the most famous. Find out more about one of opera’s greatest love stories, and many more, in our guide.

French novelist Murger, wrote the semi-biographical work Scènes de la vie de bohème (Scenes from bohemian life), having experienced life as a poor writer living in Paris. The character Rodolphe (Rodolfo in the opera), is based on Murger himself, while Mimì was inspired on the author’s mistress, Lucile Louvet. Depictions of Bohemian life were common in the nineteenth century. Although the original meaning referred to Romani travellers, the term was soon romanticised to describe the non-traditional lifestyle of aspiring artists and creatives.

In the late 1800s Puccini was in the process of composing his next big opera after Manon Lescaut. Although he had decided on giving Giovanni Verga’s novel La Lupa operatic treatment, he soon abandoned the project in favour of Murger’s novel.

Composer Ruggero Leoncavallo (of Pagliacci fame) had already begun working on his adaptation of Scènes, something that Puccini was well aware of, having already seen Leoncavallo’s libretto. The two composers publicly rowed over who should get to write their Bohème. In the end, both composers staged their works (although Puccini finished a year earlier), deciding that the public would judge their favourite; the rest is history.

Inspired by Brassaï’s photographs of 1930s Paris and Parisians, Jonathan Miller’s production provides a visual feast with a classic, timeless feel to it.

Soprano Nadine Benjamin who has played both Mimi and Musetta in ENO productions says about La bohème

“We [did] some research into who were the characters around at the time,’ Benjamin explains. ‘So, for instance, Musetta’s character is based on Josephine Baker (French dancer, singer, and actor in the 1920s).

“We also thought about the other artists around at the time like poet Langston Hughes, and people who had forced migration and voluntary migration. What did that look like and how did they evolve? Why were they there? What was their purpose? And, also, what was it like as a woman at that time?”

ENO’s La bohème is a beautiful production that has proved popular with audiences, there is no better way to experience Puccini’s magnum opus than this.