Following November’s well-received production of “Hansel and Gretel,” Regina Opera is preparing a fully-staged production of Puccini’s “La Bohème,” one of the most poignant love stories ever written. It’s a tender vignette of youth, romance and grief among the impoverished artists of mid-19th century Paris. In the opera, the poet Rodolfo falls in love with Mimi, a seamstress, but their love is overshadowed by her grave illness. Puccini’s music vividly brings their joys and sorrows to life.

“It is lovely to revisit ’La Bohème’ again,” stage director Linda Lehr told this paper. “Each time I direct it, I find something new. It is one of those works that, while shining a light on a specific time, place and group of people, also has a timeless quality that continually engages new audiences.”