On July 20, the Puccini Opera Festival is set to open “La Bohème” in a production by Alfonso Signorini.

The production will see Hui He star in the lead role, making her highly anticipated role debut as Mimì. The role comes after Hui He made her first appearance in the demanding title role of ‘Turandot.”

In a press statement, she stated, “Mimí is special for me because it is a role I have always dreamed of: ‘La Bohème’ was the first opera I heard in my life. I didn’t know Italian and I didn’t understand what they were singing, but my tears came to my eyes for this extraordinary music.”

The soprano will be joined by Jean-Francois Borras, Ivana Canovic, and Nikola Mijailovic. Maestro Mārtinš Ozolinš conducts.

Later performances of the work will be led by Angela Gheorghiu, who brings her signature role to the festival on August 3 and 10, 2019.