Following her portrayal of Lady Macbeth in June, Anna Netrebko will also make her role debut as Mimì in Puccini’s La bohème at the Hungarian State Opera on 27 and 30 December. One of the world’s most sought-after sopranos, she will appear with Gergely Boncsér in Kálmán Nádasdy’s classic production. The ensembles of the Hungarian State Opera will be conducted by principal conductor Martin Rajna. Tickets for the performances go on sale on 9 June 2026 at 10:00, with pre-sales opening on 8 June at 10:00.
Renowned for her exceptional voice and magnetic stage presence, Anna Netrebko made her debut as Puccini’s heroine exactly twenty years ago, in 2006, at the Mariinsky Theatre in St Petersburg, the starting point of her career, under the baton of her discoverer, Valery Gergiev. Later that same year she debuted as Mimì at the Metropolitan Opera in New York. Over the past two decades she has portrayed the role at many of the world’s leading opera houses, including the Bavarian State Opera, the Vienna State Opera, London’s Royal Opera House Covent Garden, La Scala in Milan, and most recently the Opéra de Monte-Carlo in 2024.
The world-famous soprano will appear in the Hungarian State Opera’s treasured 1937 production by Kálmán Nádasdy. The costumes by Gusztáv Oláh and sets by Tivadar Márk have enchanted audiences for almost ninety years, bringing vividly to life the atmosphere of nineteenth-century Paris, where the tragic love story of Rodolfo, the poet, and Mimì, the seamstress, unfolds among a lively circle of young bohemians.
In this historically remarkable theatrical setting, Netrebko’s partner will be Gergely Boncsér, Chamber Singer of the Hungarian State Opera, who has performed his signature role dozens of times over the past decade. Also appearing is Sándor Köpeczi, who returns to the role of Colline in Budapest after five years. Last year he also made his Metropolitan Opera debut in the role, having previously portrayed the young philosopher in London, Munich and Dresden. Csaba Sándor (Marcello) and Azat Malik (Schaunard) have both been regular performers in the Hungarian State Opera’s La bohème productions in recent years, as has Chamber Singer Rita Rácz, who has sung the spirited Musetta on numerous occasions over the last decade. A particular highlight of the performances is the return of Kossuth Prize-winning artist, master artist and eternal member of the Opera House Dénes Gulyás, who will once again appear as the landlord Benoît following his 2025 performances.
Puccini’s lyrical score performed by the Hungarian State Opera Orchestra, Chorus (chorus director: Gábor Csiki), and Children’s Chorus (chorus director: Nikolett Hajzer) will be conducted by principal conductor Martin Rajna. From autumn, Rajna will also serve as music director of the Luxembourg Philharmonic Orchestra. He first conducted La bohème at the Opera House in 2025 and, following the June performances of Macbeth, will once again collaborate with Anna Netrebko.
Pre-sales for the performances of La bohème on 27 and 30 December 2026 opens at 10:00 on 8 June 2026 via the OperaApp. General ticket sales begin at 10:00 on 9 June 2026 through the Hungarian State Opera’s official website, as well as in person at the Opera House box offices and the Simándy customer service centre.
Photo by Vladimir Shirokov
