Leoncavallo's «La bohème» at the Teatro Regio in Turin

Ruggero Leoncavallo's "La bohème" was staged for the first time at the Teatro Regio in Turin from 27 October to 22 November 2026, as part of the Festival Verismo.¹

The opera was composed by Leoncavallo in the same years as the more famous "Bohème" of the same name by Giacomo Puccini, which premiered at the Regio in 1896 under the direction of Arturo Toscanini: both composers drew the story from Henri Murger's "Scènes de la vie de bohème", but while Puccini turned it into a love story centred on Mimì and Rodolfo, Leoncavallo remained more faithful to the novel's choral structure, giving space to the whole community of young artists and to the relationship between Marcello and Musette.¹³ The last Turin staging of Leoncavallo's opera dated back to 1905, at the Teatro Vittorio Emanuele, conducted by Tullio Serafin.¹

Musical director Andrea Battistoni conducted the Teatro Regio Orchestra and Chorus, while the staging — his debut at the Regio — is signed by Francesco Micheli; sets by Davide Signorini, costumes by Giada Masi, lighting by Gianni Bertoli.¹² The 2026 Festival Verismo brought together four titles by Mascagni and Leoncavallo: "Cavalleria rusticana", "Pagliacci", "La bohème" and "Iris".¹

Related articles: Teatro Regio

Sources

1. Per la prima volta al Regio di Torino 'l'altra' Bohème — ANSA Piemonte, 23 October 2026
2. Per la prima volta al teatro Regio l’altra Bohème di Ruggero Leoncavallo — Il Torinese, 25 October 2026
3. Al Regio debutta l'altra Bohème: il capolavoro dimenticato di Leoncavallo racconta una generazione in cerca di libertà — TorinoOggi, 26 October 2026