La Bohme

Northern Ireland Opera and Diva Opera present La Bohme at the Carlisle Memorial, on 16 May 2026 at 7pm.Giacomo Puccinis most famous opera, La Bohme , tells the poignant story of four struggling young artists living in Paris in the late 19th century. Rodolfo, a poet, falls deeply in love with Mim, a gentle seamstress, while his friend Marcello, a painter, navigates a stormy on-again, off-again relationship with the vivacious Musetta. Rodolfo and Mim share a brief period of happiness, but their love is overshadowed by hardship. Fearing that their poverty will worsen Mims tuberculosis, Rodolfo convinces himself that they must part. Months later, when Mim becomes gravely ill, she returns to the garret where Rodolfo and his friends live. The two lovers reminisce tenderly about their first meeting and their love, but their reunion comes too late. Mim dies peacefully, leaving Rodolfo heartbroken and inconsolable.Starring Mary McCabe as Mim and Robyn Lyn Evans as Rodolfo with Tereza Gevorgyan and Jean-Kristof Bouton as Musetta and Marcello, this chamber opera production will be performed with the NI Opera Chorus and a Steinway grand piano. The performance will be in Italian with English surtitles and Diva Opera's beautifully staged production will be set in 1890s Paris.The La Bohme ticket is 62.50 plus booking fee and includes access to the interval reception with drinks and canaps.You can also book an 'All Events' Ticket at 82.50 plus booking fee, which includes La Bohme plus our 'Morning Melodies' concert on 13 May from 11 to midday and our Skills Talk with Diva Opera's Costume and Wigs Team on Friday 15 May from 11 to midday.About NI Opera
As Northern Irelands national opera company, we are the only professional company in the country producing full scale work on stage and which celebrates and platforms Northern Irish artists, for audiences from their local communities and beyond. We contrast this with nimble smaller scale high quality opera productions which we tour to communities across the country where there is low/no classical music provision. From teenagers experiencing their first opera, to those with a lifelong love of the artform; our critically acclaimed produced work engages audiences in a unique opera experience rooted in a country with a rich history of music.
We are building a community of local and international singers, musicians and creatives and supporting them to develop their craft and progress their professional pathways. Our approach instils generosity as well as aspiration and collaboration as we draw on, invest in and contribute back to our local communities. We capture imaginations and provide the space and tools for people to explore their creative skills and potential. Every person who participates with us, whether as a member of our Northern Ireland Chorus Development Programme, a participant on a creative workshop or Skills Expo session, is given the personalised support which will enable the most impactful outcomes. NI Opera was one of five international opera companies nominated for Equal Opportunity and Impact at the International Opera Awards 2024About Diva Opera
Britains foremost chamber opera company was founded by Anne Marabini Young and Bryan Evans thirty years ago, to take opera out of the confines of traditional theatre and bring it to unique settings. Since its inception, the company has earned an unrivalled reputation within the operatic world and beyond. Giving around 40 performances of full operas and concerts annually, they are now ambassadors for chamber opera internationally. Highlights for the company include a performance of La Cenerentola at La Fenice Opera House in Venice, The party scene from Die Fledermaus at the Royal Albert Hall, with Jos Carreras and Dame Kiri Te Kanawa as special guests and performances at the Tokyo International Forum for the prestigious French music festival La Folle Journe. This year they will tour throughout the UK, Channel Islands, France and South Africa with new productions of La Cenerentola and La Bohme.