Azerbaijan’s State Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre will stage the opera "La Bohème" by Italian composer Giacomo Puccini on June 11.

The theater management has invited leading soloist of the National Opera of Ukraine, Honored Artist of Ukraine, laureate of international competitions Olga Nagornaya (Mimi) and leading soloist of the National Academic Bolshoi Opera and Ballet Theater of the Republic of Belarus, Honored Artist of Belarus, and winner of the international vocal competitions Vladimir Gromov (Marseille).

Azerbaijan will be represented by the leading and talented soloists of the Opera and Ballet Theater, People's Artist of Azerbaijan Ali Asgarov (Alcindoro), honored artists Farid Aliyev (Rodolfo), Inara Babayeva (Musetta) and many others.

The performance will be conducted by people's artist of Azerbaijan, Professor Javanshir Jafarov.

The libretto "La Bohème" is based on Henri Murger`s novel, a collection of vignettes portraying young bohemians living in the Latin Quarter of Paris in the 1840s.

The world premiere performance of La Bohème was held in Turin on 1 February 1896. Since then, the play has become part of the standard Italian opera repertory and is one of the most frequently performed operas worldwide.

The storyline is about Marcello and poet Rodolfo, who are trying to keep warm by burning pages from Rodolfo's latest drama. Young philosopher Colline arrives, shivering and penniless, after failing to pawn some books. But it's not all bad - Schaunard, a musician, has just got a job, and turns up armed with wine, food and cigars.