The creative team – comprising director and stage designer Matthew Ferraro, costume designer Mila van Daag and musical director Clemens Fieguth – officially began rehearsals for La Bohème today.

The ensemble has just over four weeks until the summer break to prepare the famous scenes, arias and choral pieces that audiences expect from La Bohème.

“The musical rehearsals will be intense,” says Clemens Fieguth. “With the principal roles triple cast, each performer has only a third of the total rehearsal time.”

Puccini also gives the singers a certain freedom in his masterpiece, allowing them to grow into their roles and truly inhabit them vocally. "In Puccini’s compositions, the singers are carried and pushed forward by the music of the orchestra. It is the human voice and the deeply moving melodies that create a sense of closeness with the audience, evoke profound emotions and speak directly to the heart,” says Fieguth, who admits that La Bohème once moved him to tears during a conducting lesson.

A total of 221 costumes are needed for La Bohème. Mila van Daag designed them in close collaboration with Matthew Ferraro. For instance, the lively Musetta wears a special costume hidden beneath a bright red faux fur coat. In contrast, Mimì’s costumes provide a visual counterpoint. She is shy and reserved, as reflected in her simple skirts and collared sweaters, which draw inspiration from 1930s and 1940s fashion. Over 40 costumes were created for the large chorus ensemble, who in Act II represent a colourful city crowd enjoying a Sunday outing at an amusement park. The costumes of the market vendors are particularly elaborate and extravagant—from the fruit seller to the bookseller, coat merchant, hat vendor, and toy seller. Another 60 costumes were made for the children’s chorus, in addition to eight waiter costumes for Café Momus and 14 soldier uniforms for a parade. In Act III, the festive Sunday attire is contrasted once again. Following the exuberant hustle and bustle comes grey Monday, when everyone returns to work in their everyday clothes.

From 28 July 2025 rehearsals will be on the Domstufen in the stage setting for this year. This is when everything will come together to create a magnificent work of art, which will premiere on 8 August 2025.