Vancouver opera: La Bohème
Puccini’s masterpiece transports us to the heart of 1830s bohemian life in Paris, where love blossoms amidst dreams, hardships, and the unyielding pursuit of artistic freedom
Date/Time: May 2 2026
Vancouver, Queen Elizabeth Theatre | Event calendar650 Hamilton St
Tickets
Cost: $25.00
Find tickets: here
Composed by Giacomo Puccini
Libretto by Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa
Premiered 1896 in Turin
Sung in Italian with English Projected Titles
The 2025–2026 season closes with one of opera’s most enduring love stories, set in the world’s most romantic city, rendered with the most vibrant characters and melodies.
La Bohème has remained one of the most beloved and frequently performed operas worldwide since its 1896 premiere, due in large part to captivating pieces like "Quando m’en vo", a.k.a. “Musetta’s Waltz”, and perhaps the most famous duet in opera, "O soave fanciulla", sung on that moonlit moment when Mimì and Rodolfo fall in love.
In a bustling community of artists, students, philosophers, and Quartier Latin café denizens, the deep connection between the young poet Rodolfo and the seamstress Mimì is eventually tested by the bittersweet passage of time and the emotional toll of illness and poverty.
VO Music Director Emeritus Jonathan Darlington returns to conduct some of the most romantic and iconic music in opera history, while Pacific Opera Victoria Artistic Director Brenna Corner crosses the Salish Sea to direct a stunning international cast. Whether you’re discovering it for the first time or returning to a beloved classic, La Bohème speaks passionately to the soul, reminding us to cherish the fragility and fleeting beauty of life and love.
Date Sat, Apr 25 2026 Time 7:30PM
Date Sun, Apr 26 2026 Time 2:00PM
Date Thu, Apr 30 2026 Time 7:30PM
Date Sat, May 2 2026 Time 7:30PM
Date Sun, May 3 2026 Time 2:00PM
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