NEW NATIONAL THEATRE TOKYO’S OPERA “LA BOHÈME” TO BE AVAILABLE FOR VIDEO ON DEMAND (PAY TO VIEW)

Set in 19th-century Paris, La Bohème depicts the pure love of the poet Rodolfo and the seamstress Mimì, and the impoverished yet free spirit of young artists with dreams of future success. This romantic story is interwoven with dulcet melodies typical of Puccini. The stage design is a realistic reproduction of Paris at the time, a major feat by director Aguni Jun, who has a deep knowledge of Italian opera and has directed many productions in Japan. The psychological characterisations carefully woven throughout each act are deeply evocative and have been a much-loved and popular production of the NNTT since 2003. 

Mimì will be sung by Alessandra Marianelli, an Italian soprano who has appeared in various European opera houses. Alongside her, American tenor Stephen Costello will return to the stage of Opera Palace as Rodolfo after his house debut in 2019 for Madama Butterfly. Young Italian soprano Valentina Mastrangelo will make her NNTT debut as Musetta, and Sudo Shingo, who overwhelms the audience with his large-scale expression in both singing and acting, will be Musetta’s lover, Marcello, Komada Toshiaki will be her Bohemian companion Schaunard, and Francesco Leone from Italy will appear as Colline. The Artistic Director of Opera Ono Kazushi will be on the podium to lead this Puccini’s eternal masterpiece. 

Through this paid streaming, we hope the NNTT will become a meeting point with a wider audience. 

La Bohème (From the performance in 2020 ©Terashi Masahiko)

La Bohème (From the performance in 2020 ©Terashi Masahiko)

La Bohème (From the performance in 2020 ©Terashi Masahiko)

Details of the streaming 

VIDEO ON DEMAND (VOD) 
Available to Watch: 16 July – 12 August 2023 
Sung in Italian with English and Japanese subtitles 
Performed at Opera Palace, New National Theatre Tokyo 

Buy Tickets: https://ticket.pia.jp/piasp/inbound/operalaboheme23eng.jsp 

Cast and Creative Team 
Conductor: ONO Kazushi 
Production: AGUNI Jun 
 
Mimì: Alessandra MARIANELLI 
Rodolfo: Stephen COSTELLO 
Marcello: SUDO Shingo 
Musetta: Valentina MASTRANGELO 
Schaunard: KOMADA Toshiaki 
Colline: Francesco LEONE 
Benoit: SHIKANO Yoshiyuki 

Alcindoro: HARE Masahiko 
 

Chorus: New National Theatre Chorus 
Children Chorus: TOKYO FM Boys Choir 
Orchestra: Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra