Puccini’s great crowd-pleaser La bohème is more than familiar to audiences all over the world, but this tale of poverty-stricken love and death remains a compelling watch, whether you are seeing it for the first time (and it’s always a good first opera for newcomers) or the twentieth. James Conway’s production for English Touring Opera may be a little restrained on banter, but hits all the emotional high notes, is compellingly played and superbly sung.

Bring your handkerchief: you will need it!

Click here to read my full review on Bachtrack.