ARTS&LIFE
MUSIC

A

n innovation-filled local opera scene — from a produc-
tion staged in a parking garage to one focused on a 21st 
century family — came to town in 2020 with the arrival 
of Yuval Sharon, who spent pre-school years in Israel.
The artistic director of Detroit Opera (a recent name change 
from Michigan Opera Theatre) is about to present audiences 
with another imaginative presentation by reversing the order of 
acts in Puccini’s classic opera La bohème, which expresses the 
loves, hopes and struggles of four young bohemians.
It will be presented April 2, 6 and 10 at the Detroit Opera 

House as the first mainstage production since the pandemic.
“Either people will be experiencing this opera for the first 
time or as if it was their first time because no one has heard it 
this way before,” said Sharon, who developed and directs the 
production that ends with some dewy anticipation of tomorrow. 
“We’re offering a truly democratic experience of opera because 
everyone is on the same level for this piece.”
Sharon, who divides his time as founding co-artistic direc-
tor of The Industry, an experimental opera company in Los 
Angeles, has been thinking about the changes to La bohème for 

50 | MARCH 24 • 2022 

Detroit Opera to 
present La bohème 
in reverse.

Innovative 
Innovative 
Opera
Opera

SUZANNE CHESSLER 
CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Yuval Sharon

Fred Buchalter

Aundie Marie Moore

Matthew White

Edward Parks

Brandie Inez Sutton

