Husband and wife team Charles Castronovo Ekaterina Siurina return to The Royal Opera to perform the lovers Mimì and Rodolfo in Puccini’s La bohème
Husband and wife, American tenor Charles Castronovo and Russian soprano Ekaterina Siurina, perform together in three performances of Richard Jones’s production of Puccini’s La bohème this January at the Royal Opera House. The pair return to The Royal Opera for the second revival of the production following a last-minute appearance as Mimì and Rodolfo here in the 2017/18 Season.
Charles Castronovo saved a performance of La bohème in July 2018 (starring Ekaterina Siurina as Mimì), when he stepped in mid-show to sing the role of Rodolfo, after Brazilian tenor Atalla Ayan developed vocal difficulties during Act II. During the interval, Charles, who has previously sung the role for The Royal Opera in John Copley’s production, volunteered to replace Atalla for the final two acts of the performance. Charles sang the role at the side of the stage, while Atalla walked the role on stage.
Ekaterina Siurina said:
‘It was a great pleasure to sing alongside my husband at the Royal Opera House in 2018. Charles was in the audience that evening, and we were incredibly grateful he agreed to quickly step in and sing the second half of the performance from the side of the stage. I can’t wait to share the stage with him this January.’
Charles added:
‘I am so pleased I was able to step in to cover Atalla Ayan as Rodolfo last Season. This time, I look forward to rehearsing and sharing the stage with my talented wife, singing Rodolfo alongside her Mimì in La bohème’
Puccini’s opera of love, bohemian life and death in 19th-century Paris contains some
of his most beautiful arias, duets and ensembles. It has received more than 600 performances at the Royal Opera House since it received its Covent Garden premiere in 1897.
La bohème features set and costume designs by Stewart Laing that evoke both the poverty of the bohemians’ attic home and the splendour of Paris’s shopping arcades and cafés on Christmas Eve. The lighting design is by Mimi Jordan Sherin, and movement direction is by Sarah Fahie.
La bohème opens at the Royal Opera House on 10 January 2020, with subsequent performances on 14, 17, 20, 23, 29 and 31 January and 3, 5, 7, 11 and 13 February 2020.
Charles Castronovo and Ekaterina Siurina perform together as Rodolfo and Mimì on 31 January and 3 and 5 February.