"La Bohème is perhaps Puccini's most nearly perfect opera." — Hughes, Famous Puccini Operas. It has long been one of the world's most beloved musical works — an instantly enchanting blend of charm, warmth, gaiety, and pathos, brought to vibrant life by Puccini's sparkling, lighthearted score. La Bohème, based on Henri Murger's novel Scènes de la Vie de Bohème, was first performed at the Teatro Regio, Turin, in 1896. It soon became a staple of the operatic repertoire and has remained so ever since. Grove's Dictionary of Music and Musicians notes that "Puccini's music reflects the alternate gaiety and pathos of Murger's novel with a truth and sincerity to which no name but that of genius can be applied." Now musicians, opera enthusiasts, and all music lovers can enjoy the full score of this wonderful masterpiece in a sturdy, attractive volume. Reprinted complete and unabridged from an authoritative Italian edition, with English translations of the lists of characters and instruments and a new table of contents, this edition offers an inexpensive, high-quality score ideal for reading and study. It is a valuable aid to the full enjoyment of a unique and lasting musical landmark.