A cast of international opera stars are heading to a Hampshire arts centre.

The Black Cat Opera Company bring their touring production of Puccini’s tragicomic masterpiece, La Bohème, to The Lights in Andover on June 20 and 21.

Combining irresistible joie de vivre with heart-wrenching pathos, this classic opera is performed by a first-rate professional cast and guarantees an evening to remember.

La Bohème introduces us to a group of lively, penniless Bohemians who style themselves ‘The Four Musketeers’: poet Rodolfo (Konstantinos Latsos), painter Marcello (Pauls Putnins), musician Schaunard (Seán Boylan), and philosopher Colline (Matthew Tomko). While Marcello enjoys a passionate affair with the beautiful and spirited Musetta (Raphaela Papadakis), Rodolfo finds love quite unexpectedly when a neighbour, Mimi (Lynsey Docherty), knocks and asks him to light her candle. As Mimi is revealed to be gravely ill, a tale emerges of ill-fated love which will move even the hardest of hearts.

“We are thrilled to present this wonderful international cast, in Fred Broom’s witty and insightful production of one of the world’s best loved operas. It is a privilege to bring artists of this calibre to Andover, and we hope this will be the first of many visits to The Lights.” – Peter Ford, Artistic Director.

The Black Cat Opera Company is a professional touring opera company based in the South of England. Since their first production in 2014, they have gone from strength to strength, most recently performing Mozart’s Così fan Tutte to a sold-out 1250-strong crowd at the opening night of the internationally renowned Birgitta Festival, Tallinn, alongside the Estonian National Symphony Orchestra.

La Bohème will be sung in Italian with English surtitles. Tickets are priced at £20, concessions £19, and are available from The Lights box office on 01264 368368 and at www.thelights.org.uk. Details of other performances at www.blackcatopera.co.uk. This production is sponsored by Aviation Logistics Network (www.aln.aero).