Toronto, Ontario – The Canadian Opera Company continues its 2004/05 season with perhaps the world’s most famous opera, Puccini’s La Bohème. Puccini’s glorious music sets the stage for this quintessential tale of young love and heartbreaking loss. Conducting will be shared by David T. Heusel, in his North American debut, and COC favourite Derek Bate. Canadian Robert McQueen returns to the company in his COC mainstage directing debut. Due to sold-out runs of this production in 2000, the COC has added two performances to accommodate the demand for tickets to this enormously popular opera. La Bohème runs at Toronto’s Hummingbird Centre for the Performing Arts, January 23 at 2 p.m., 26 at 7:30 p.m., 29 at 7:30 p.m., February 1 at 7:30 p.m., 4 at 7:30 p.m., 6 at 2 p.m., 10 at 7:30 p.m. and 12 at 7:30 p.m. La Bohème is sung in Italian with English SURTITLES^TM.

Set in the raucous streets of Paris’ Latin Quarter in the 1830s, La Bohème is a celebration of the strength of friendship and the power of love. At the heart of the tale is a group of poor but passionate young bohemian artists eager to embrace all that life has to offer. When the poet Rodolfo falls deeply in love with the gravely ill seamstress Mimì, their intense affair is made all the more heartbreaking because of its unavoidably tragic end.

Turkish tenors Bülent Külekçi, in his North American debut, and Bülent Bezduz, in his Canadian debut, alternate in the role of the ardent Rodolfo. Greek soprano Elena Kelessidi, praised for performances across Europe and the United States since debuting in 1996 at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden as opera’s important new discovery, makes her Canadian debut as the delicate Mimì. Rodolfo’s friend, long-suffering painter Marcello, is sung by Italian baritone Gabriele Viviani in his North American debut. Marcello’s spirited girlfriend Musetta is performed by COC Ensemble Studio graduate mezzo-soprano Krisztina Szabó, who appeared in the role of Offred’s Double to critical acclaim in The Handmaid’s Tale this fall and was recently seen as Nancy in the Ensemble Studio production of Albert Herring. Fellow bohemians, Schaunard the musician and the philosopher Colline are sung by COC Ensemble baritone Peter McGillivray, recently seen as both Sid and the Vicar in Albert Herring, and Ensemble bass Robert Gleadow, respectively. Bass Cornelis Opthof begins his 45th season with the COC singing Benoît, the bohemian’s blustering landlord, and Alcindoro, Musetta’s elderly admirer. COC Ensemble tenor Victor Micallef, praised for his recent performance in the title role in Albert Herring, sings Parpignol, the toy-seller. COC favourites, baritone Bruce Shaef and bass Christopher Cameron complete the cast as the Customs House Sergeant and the Customs Officer, respectively.

Although a success with audiences at its premiere in 1896, critically La Bohème was given a cool reception and deemed unlikely to figure prominently in the history of opera. Within six months it was Puccini’s most popular work and has come to be regarded as one of the top 10 operas in the world.

La Bohème is the COC’s most performed opera and has been mounted on the mainstage 13 times.

The sets for the COC’s production were designed by Wolfram Skalicki with costumes by Amrei Skalicki. Stephen Ross creates the romantic Parisian lighting design.

Single tickets for La Bohème went on sale November 15, 2004 and may be purchased by calling 416-872-2262, online at www.coc.ca or in person at the Hummingbird Centre Box Office or Ticketmaster outlets. Ticket prices for all performances range from $40 to $175. Tickets for those who are 17 years of age or under, accompanied by and sitting next to an adult, are priced from $18 to $50. Starting January 15, 2005 at 10 a.m., $18 and $29 tickets are available for patrons between the ages of 18 and 29 through the 18to29: Opera for a New Age program presented by TD Bank Financial Group.