Opera North has embarked on a mission to woo newcomers by targeting La Boheme at the musical theatre audience who might possibly be tempted to try an evening at the opera. If you love West Side Story, Les Mis or Phantom, then the tuneful Boheme by Puccini and set in the 1950’s is but a short step further at Leeds Grand.

Two marvellous young casts include the young South-Korean tenor Ji-Min Park as Rudolfo, in black leather flying jacket and blue jeans, looked the typical young Bohemian. Park’s explosion of grief in the final moments as Rudolfo sings off the word ‘Mimi’ will break your heart. Rudolfo’s “Che gelida manina” was beautifully phrased with a climatic sustained, ringing high C. The chemistry between Park’s Rudolfo and Anita Watson as Mimi seemed real enough. Watson has a lovely creamy quality, the tone was steady, and her high notes beautifully floated. Her farewell was tender and poignant.

Duncan Rock as the volatile painter Marcello sang with elegance, igniting the flames of jealousy with Sky Ingram’s Musetta. The gifted Venezuelan conductor Ilyrich Rivas sense of pace and dynamic contrasts were immaculate and he achieved perfect balance with the singers.

Geoffrey Mogridge