Kicking off the season of song at Chicago’s Lyric Opera House, La Bohème opens Saturday, Oct. 6. The beloved Italian work by Puccini is one of the most frequently performed operas worldwide, telling the romantic tale of a lovestruck seamstress and poet who meet in Paris’ Latin Quarter and who pursue a tragic romance spurred on by their friends Marcello, an artist; his sometimes-girlfriend Musetta; philosopher-in-training Colline; and Schaunard, a musician.

Italian soprano Maria Agresta leads the cast in the role of Mimi, the seamstress, joined by American tenor Michael Fabiano as the poet Rodolfo. Other cast includes American baritone Zachary Nelson, Emmy Award-winning Australian soprano Danielle de Niese as Musetta, and Romanian bass Adrian Sâmpetrean as Colline. The show marks the debut of Venezuelan conductor Domingo Hindoyan at Lyric. Richard Jones directs, and both set and costume designs are created by Tony Award-winning Scottish theater director and set designer Stewart Laing. Mimi Jordan Sherin serves as lighting designer.

Also this season, Lyric presents Idomeneo, Siegfried, Il Trovatore, Cendrillon, Elektra, La Traviata, Ariodante, West Side Story and An American Dream. Other performances include Anna Netrebko in Recital, and the Renee Fleming 25^th Anniversary Concert & Gala. La Bohème will run for 11 performances. Lyric Opera House is located at 20 N. Wacker Drive.