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The Royal Opera's music director Sir Antonio Pappano and stage director, Richard Jones are leading preparations for the first new Covent Garden staging of Puccini's La Bohème in over 40 years.

Follow Maestro Pappano as it all takes shape – as he works with singers, discussing the particular challenges of operating at the very highest level of operatic performance and expectation - and giving candid insights into the often perilous journey to an opening night.

His on and off stage teams, include the young cast who are acutely aware that the production they are replacing opened with singers like Placido Domingo and Sir Thomas Allen. There are also stage directors, set-builders, movement directors and Maestro Pappano's trusted repetiteur.

But at the heart of it, in the weeks leading up to opening night and as the curtain rises, is the Music director himself, combining the orchestral brilliance of Puccini's score and the dazzling qualities of the singers on stage to produce what they all hope will be a worthy addition to the Royal Opera House's Puccini tradition.

Producer: Tom Alban.

First broadcast on ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Radio 4 in September 2017.