Drenched in romance and filled with gorgeous music, Puccini’s La Bohème is one of the world’s most beloved operas. It literally has it all: heart-wrenching drama and frothy comedy, fast-moving action and one of the classic three-hanky endings of all time. This poignant production frames La Bohème in Paris at the outbreak of World War I, contrasting the elegance of the belle époque with the march of industrialization and war. The arias, some of the best known in all of opera, include “Mi chiamano Mimi” and “Che gelida manina.” La Bohème will be sung in Italian with English translation projected above the stage.

With these performances, Opera Pacific begins its 22nd season. Since its inception Opera Pacific has been the resident opera company of the Orange County Performing Arts Center for the entire history of the venue. 

The cast of La Bohème includes American soprano Kelly Kaduce as Mimi, Mexican born tenor Arturo Chacón-Cruz as Rodolfo, and returning to Opera Pacific in the role of Colline, Andrew Gangestad.

Kelly Kaduce began the 2006-2007 season reprising the role of Cio-Cio San inMadama Butterlfy for Boston Lyric Opera and starred in two world premiere productions. Minnesota Opera welcomed her in Ricky Ian Gordon's The Grapes of Wrath singing the role of Rosasharn, which Kaduce followed with the title role in Anna Karenina by composer David Carlson for Florida Grand Opera.  

Arturo Chacón-Cruz made his Italian debut this season with Teatro Comunale di Bologna singing Rodolfo in La Bohème, his Spanish debut as Christian in Cyrano de Bergerac with Valencia Opera opposite Plácido Domingo, his debut with Teatro di San Carlo in Naples as Rinuccio in Gianni Schicchi, his French debut with Festival de Radio France and Montpellier Opera singing Marcello di Bruges in Il Duca d’Alba, and his debut as Roméo in Roméo et Juliette with Detroit Opera.

Andrew Gangestad returns to Opera Pacific singing the role of Colline, after singing the role of Leporello in last season’s Don Giovanni and singing twice in the 2005-2006 season (Ramfis in Aïda and Angelotti in Tosca). In the 2004-05 season, he sang at the Metropolitan Opera as Colline in La Bohème, Vaudemont in I Vespri Siciliani, and Lignière in the company premiere of Cyrano de Bergérac. He also sang at Sarasota Opera as Leporello in Don Giovanni and Carnegie Hall as Hermit in Der Freischütz with Opera Orchestra of New York. The bass’s engagements for the 2005-06 season included returning to the Metropolitan Opera as Truffaldino in Ariadne auf Naxos, Count Ceprano in Rigoletto, and Lignière in Cyrano de Bergerac.

An Opera Pacific prologue on La Bohème will be held at Bowers Museum on Sunday, October 7 at 2:00 p.m. Opera Pacific’s Prologues provide an introduction to the opera for all audiences and are designed to provide information for those new to opera, as well as those who have been lifelong fans of the art form. Past Prologue speakers have included scholars, critics, artists, stage directors and conductors. Each has lent insight into the history, music and plot intricacies as intended by the composer. Presented in two parts with refreshments at intermission, Prologues also provide audience members an opportunity to ask questions in discussions with the guest speaker, and hear excerpts from the upcoming productions performed by mainstage cast members.

Celebrating its 22nd Season, Opera Pacific has established itself as one of the finest professional opera companies in the nation. Opera Pacific's mainstage productions, extensive community outreach programs, and energetic Guild Alliance combine to create a cultural resource for all of Southern California. More than 670,000 people have enjoyed Opera Pacific's productions at the Orange County Performing Arts Center, while over 575,000 young people have discovered the world of opera through the company's in-school presentations, Student Previews, and nationally recognized Opera Camps.

In addition to the "grand opera" repertory, Opera Pacific has responded to the need for strong, professional productions of classic American musical theatre and European operetta. Under the baton and dedication of John DeMain, opera is an event with the honest communication of the stories and musical values of the works, combined with exciting singers, and major opera house scale productions.

Tickets for La Bohème will go on sale September 1 and are priced from $27 to $191 and are available by calling 1-800-34-OPERA , online at www.operapacific.org, or by visiting the Orange County Performing Arts Center Box Office at 600 Town Center Drive in Costa Mesa. For information, go to www.operapacific.org. For groups, call (714) 830-6361