The New National Theatre, Tokyo, (NNTT) is opening its 2012 opera season with a classic by Italian composer Giacomo Puccini.
The Puccini piece, "La Boheme," is especially popular with Japanese opera fans and this time around it will be directed by Jun Aguni and conducted by Germany's Constantin Trinks.
The piece is set in Paris in the 1830s and centers on the love story of poet Rodolfo (Ji Min Park), and seamstress Mimi Veronica Cangemi). It will be both Cangemi and Park's first performances at the NNTT. Cangemi is an Argentinian soprano and has performed on some of the most celebrated stages in the world. Park is a tenor who hails from South Korea.
"La Boheme" will be staged at the New National Theatre, Tokyo, in Shibuya-ku on Jan. 22, 24, 27 and 29. Performances start at 3 p.m., except on Jan. 27 when they will start at 6:30 p.m. Tickets cost ¥3,150-¥21,000. For more information, call the NNTT Box Office at (03) 5352-9999 or visit www.nntt.jac.go.jp/opera.