Organization

Singer

Tenor

Piotr Beczała

Rodolfo

Soprano

Anna Netrebko

Mimi

Baritone

Massimo Cavalletti

Marcello

Nino Machaidze

Musetta

Alessio Arduini

Schaunard

Bass

Carlo Colombara

Colline

Davide Fersini

Benoît

Conductor

Daniele Gatti

Stage director

Damiano Michieletto

Costume designer

Carla Teti

Set designer

Paulo Fantin

Peter Kálmán

Alcindoro

Paul Schweinester

Parpignol

Stephen Foster

Salzburger Festspiele

Others

Salzburger Festspiele und Theater Kinderchor

Orchestra

Wiener Philharmoniker

Konzertvereinigung Wiener Staatsopernchor

Italian

La Bohème

Salzburg

Austria

Großes Festspielhaus

For the first time in its long history, the Salzburg Festival performs Giacomo Puccini’s La Bohème in the Great Festival Hall, offering a unique and rare music highlight.

Anna Netrebko wins acclaim yet again in the lead role, giving a “deeply melancholic reading of Mimi”, according to the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung. “Netrebko’s lush voice, perfect intonation, masterful control and passionate interpretations are always a treat,” writes the San Francisco Chronicle. Completing the dream couple she has Piotr Beczala at her side, whose rock-solid tenor voice keeps you with him at every turn. “Empathetic” according to Die Presse, “a heroically elegant partner for the soprano” wrote the Süddeutsche Zeitung. The protagonists are supported by a cheeky Nino Machaidze as Musetta and a strong male ensemble headed up by a resourceful Alessio Arduini, who won acclaim for his “concise baritone” (Die Welt). Daniele Gatti conducting the Vienna Philharmonic ensured “shimmering transparency of sound ... and Italian style” (Süddeutsche Zeitung) and “reveals the orchestral sound, bringing the tone colours to full glow” wrote the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung enthusiastically. “Under his baton, members of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra delivered a masterful interpretation of Puccini’s rich score,” was the verdict of the San Francisco Chronicle.

The promising Italian director Damiano Michieletto achieves a great Salzburg debut with his modern, anti-consumerist reinterpretation of Puccini’s gem. The striking staging gives a moving impression of the loneliness of characters in the Paris artistic world of today. Accentuated by Paolo Fantin’s surrealistic scenery, this production cannot fail to affect its audience.

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