State Opera of South Australia will transport you to the River Seine in Paris with its performance Bohème on the Beach next March. For one-night only, you can enjoy Puccini’s La Bohème on Glenelg Beach. In 2019, the State Opera of South Australia’s outdoor spectacular Carmen in the Square was a critical and popular success. Bohème on the Beach is sure to be too.
Bohème on the Beach will see Puccini’s famous love story performed in a spectacular under the stars. If you’re unfamiliar with the opera, La Bohème tells the story of a group of friends and their highs, lows, loves and losses. It is also a love at first sight love story between Rodolfo and Mimi, set against the backdrop of Rodolfo and his friends living in poverty in 1930s Paris, along with their struggles and victories.
You may be asking yourself “what’s the French link in an Italian opera?” That’s a great question! While Puccini may be the one who wrote the opera La Bohème, the story actually came from a French novelist Henri Murger’s Scènes de la vie de bohème. What’s more, as mentioned above, it is set in 1930s Paris.
Bohème on the Beach cast
Bohème on the Beach will feature an all-Australian cast directed by State Opera Artistic Director, Stuart Maunder AM. Cathy-Di Zhang, rising star soprano will take the role of fated young lover Mimi. Rosario La Spina as her love Rodolfo. Desiree Frahn will be Musetta, the sexy songstress and romantic interest of Marcello (Samuel Dundas), and their bohemian friends Jeremy Tatchell, Pelham Andrews and Douglas McNicol.
The State Opera Ensemble and Adelaide Symphony Orchestra conducted by Simon Bruckard, will round out the performance of one of opera’s most romantic scores.
Of the performance, Maunder said:
“[Mimi and Rodolfo] fall dazzlingly in love, blind to any possibility that there could be a less than happy ending to their story. La bohème has everything you can ask for in an opera. High voltage romance and the kind of young love that storytelling was built for; some of the greatest music ever composed – all sweeping romantic lines and delicious melodies, and a weepy ending that will have you reaching for your Kleenex. All wrapped up in a tight two hours. Pair that with an Instagram-worthy setting and the end of an Adelaide summer, and you have an unforgettable experience”.
Tickets to Bohème on the Beach are already on sale so buy yours soon to ensure you don’t miss out.
FOOD & DRINKS
To enjoy the full sensory experience, bars and food offerings will be available at Bohème on the Beach. You can also pre-order a Savour the Moment charcuterie grazing box for 2 from Les Deux Coqs, and a half bottle of Piper Heidsieck Champagne to share ($95). Also available for pre-order is Sweet Kisses dessert box for 2, which includes a petit-four dessert selection and two Curatif Amaretto Sours to share ($75).
KEY INFO FOR BOHÈME ON THE BEACH
WHAT: Bohème on the Beach
WHERE: Glenelg Beach
WHEN: 26 March 2022
HOW MUCH: Ticket prices start at $30 for general admission tickets and go up to $160 for Premium tickets. Children under 16 years of age enter free.
- Premium; $160;
- A Reserve; $130;
- B Reserve: $100;
- C Reserve: $60,
- Under 30s: $30, and
- Children under 16: FREE
Corporate and Platinum packages are available via State Opera
HOW: Buy tickets via this link:
https://stateopera.com.au/productions/boheme-on-the-beach-2022/
DURATION: 2h 30m (including 15 min interval)
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Have you ever seen La Bohème?
If you’re interested in events like these and others with French links, be sure to check out our article about what’s on in November and also sign up below to receive notifications of new articles as they’re published.
