LA BOHÈME

History of creation

After considering the plot of "Scenes of Bohemian Life" by the French writer Henri Murger, Puccini commissioned Giacosa and Illica to write the libretto, who worked on it for over two years. While creating "Manon Lescaut", Puccini did not hesitate to take the risk of his work competing with Massenet's acclaimed opera with an identical plot. Nor did he stop at the fact that Leoncavallo, the celebrated author of "Pagliacci", had also begun work on Massinet's plot. At the time, the two composers were quite close. When Puccini shared his intention with Leoncavallo, his friend was surprised to say that he had the same idea. "Then there will be two Bohemian operas," Puccini snapped.

He worked with great enthusiasm on this opera and managed to complete "La bohème" in eight months.

The first performance of "La bohème" took place on 1 February 1896 in Turin under the conductorship of Arturo Toscanini. Immediately, in the space of only a few days, the opera was performed in many Italian theatres – in Rome, Naples, Palermo, and in Palermo the entire first act was encored.

"La bohème" was first performed in Bulgaria in 1922 by the Sofia Opera. Conductor was Maestro Georgi Atanasov and the director – N. D. Vekov.

The action takes place in Paris in 1830.

With the participation of children from DVTF "Talasumche"