Breathtaking New Production Of La Bohème To Warm Hearts Across New Zealand Mid-Year

Audiences will be swept away to the heart of Paris this winter as New Zealand Opera presents a captivating 3-city tour of Puccini’s timeless tragi-romance, La bohème.

This new production promises a deeply emotional exploration of love, art, and humanity, brought to life by a sensational cast and creative team of international and Kiwi talent.

Headlining the stellar ensemble in his highly anticipated New Zealand debut, renowned South Korean tenor Ji-Min Park (La Traviata, La bohème, Don Pasquale), will portray the passionate poet Rodolfo, a role that has garnered Park rave reviews worldwide. Joining him is the welcome return of Australian-Italian soprano Elena Perroni – praised for her emotionally resonant Gilda in NZ Opera’s 2024 Rigoletto – as the beloved heroine Mimì. The iconic arias sung by these two characters include the instantly recognisable and profoundly moving "Che gelida manina" (Your little hand is frozen) and "Mi chiamano Mimì," (My name is Mimi) two of the most famous songs in all of opera.

Created by international director Bruno Ravella, this new staging will remain true to the bohemian spirit of Puccini’s enduring classic.

“I’m absolutely thrilled to be directing a brand-new Bohème for New Zealand Opera,” says director Bruno Ravella.

“It’s a joy to reunite with Brad Cohen after working together at West Australian Opera, and I can’t wait to dive into this production with such a fantastic cast and three incredible choruses in Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch.

I’ve set this production in 1947, right after the war. The shadow of death is lifting, and a new, raw energy pulses through Paris as artists return and the era of modernism takes hold. It’s a time of bold simplicity—function over ornament— which has driven our design choices. We’re creating a stripped-back, striking world that lets the heart of the story shine.

That said, these characters are artists, dreamers who see the world through their artistic lens. So even in this minimalist world, I’m using theatricality and visual poetry to elevate the emotional high points, whether joyous or heart-wrenching. Expect passion. Expect beauty. Expect to feel everything.”

A powerhouse contingent of Antipodean performers join Park and Perroni, including New Zealand favourite, soprano Emma Pearson (Le comte Ory, Lucia di Lammermoor, La traviata) dazzling in her role debut as Musetta, showcasing her vibrant stage presence and vocal agility. Australian baritone Samuel Dundas (Eucalyptus, La bohème, Tannhäuser) brings humour and depth to the role of Marcello, with New Zealand-born Samoan baritone and 2016 Lexus Song Quest winner Benson Wilson (Carmen, La bohème, Così fan tutte) returning home from London to make his NZ Opera principal debut in the role of Schaunard.

US-based New Zealand baritone Hadleigh Adams (Wozzeck, Everest, Partenope) also makes his principal role debut with NZ Opera in the role of Colline and popular Kiwi baritone Robert Tucker (Mansfield Park, The Unruly Tourists, Eight Songs for a Mad King) plays the roles of Benoît/Alcindoro. New Zealand tenor Chris McRae delights in the character role of Papignol.

New Zealand Opera Tumu Whakarae General Director Brad Cohen conducts the Auckland Philharmonia for the Tāmaki Makaurau performances, while acclaimed Greek conductor Dionysis Grammenos takes the podium with Orchestra Wellington and the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra in Te Whanganui-a-Tara and Ōtautahi. Joining forces in each city, the country’s finest voices come together as The Freemasons Foundation NZ Opera Chorus to deliver Puccini’s rousing choruses and on-stage drama.

Since its 1896 premiere, Puccini’s La bohème has become a cornerstone of the operatic repertoire, cemented on “greatest opera” lists around the world. With its timeless themes of ‘truth, beauty, freedom, love’, the opera’s influence reaches far beyond the stage — inspiring works like the hit musical Rent and Baz Luhrmann’s Moulin Rouge.

In 2025, NZ Opera brings La bohème to life in this poignant and visually striking new production. Featuring some of the most beautiful and emotionally resonant music ever composed for the stage, this beloved Puccini masterpiece is a must-see event for opera lovers and newcomers alike this winter.

Tickets are on sale for strictly limited seasons at the Kiri Te Kanawa Theatre Auckland, St James Theatre Wellington, and the Isaac Theatre Royal Christchurch.

About Director Bruno Ravella

Bruno Ravella is an international opera director based in London, UK. Born in Casablanca of Italian and Polish parents, he was educated mainly in France, and made London his home as soon as he graduated.

Bruno has just directed Guillaume Tell at the Opera de Lausanne, opening the 24/25 season. Salome at Irish National Opera in March 2024 saw Bruno return to Dublin after the revival of his Der Rosenkavalier. Salome will be revived at the Teatro Massimo in Palermo in the 24/25 season. Just before that, Polifemo by Porpora received a fantastic public response at the Opera National du Rhin. This was the first production of the piece in France, and has just been revived in Lille in the autumn of 2024. This followed Ariadne auf Naxos in Garsington Opera, his 3rd Strauss opera at Garsington, after Der Rosenkavalier and Intermezzo. Der Rosenkavalier was presented by Irish National Opera in March 2023 and was seen at Santa Fe Opera this summer. He returned to Ireland last autumn, directing Donizetti’s Zoraida di Granata (1822) opening the season at the Wexford Festival Opera, before directing the 1824 version for the Donizetti Opera Festival in Bergamo this last autumn.

About Conductor Brad Cohen

Brad grew up in Sydney before studying at Oxford University, the Royal College of Music, and the Royal Northern College of Music. In the decades since, he has led orchestras including the London Philharmonic, the Philharmonia, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestre Philharmonique de Monte Carlo, Stuttgarter Philharmoniker, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Stavanger Symphony Orchestra, Het Gelders Orkest, and the BBC National Orchestra of Wales.

Brad has conducted a wide-ranging repertoire at opera companies including English National Opera, New York City Opera, and Opera Australia. Brad was appointed General Director of NZ Opera in 2023.

About Conductor Dionysis Grammenos

The young Greek conductor Dionysis Grammenos first established himself internationally as a clarinettist, winning a place on the ECHO Rising Stars programme in 2013/14 which led to performances with many major orchestras and in some of the most prestigious venues worldwide. In 2016 he received a Conducting Fellowship at Aspen Music Festival and since this time has conducted widely across the world both in the concert hall and opera pit, including a very last-minute jump-in at the Megaron Athens when he was invited to conduct the London Philharmonic Orchestra in a performance of Brahms 4, receiving a standing ovation and huge acclaim from both players and audience alike. In July 2024, he will make his USA debut with the Houston Symphony Orchestra. He is praised regularly for his innate and instinctive musicianship, the clarity and efficiency of his conducting and his proficiency for shaping the sound of the orchestra. His performances are profoundly expressive, rich in colour and emotion, and he has been described by Die Welt as 'one of the most promising stars of tomorrow'.

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