"La Bohème," one of the most beloved and frequently performed operas in the world, will be presented by Brigham Young University's School of Music Oct. 22-30 at 7:30 p.m. in the de Jong Concert Hall.

Performances will be every night except Sunday and Monday, Oct. 24-25.

Tickets are $14 with $4 off with student or faculty ID. For tickets, call the Fine Arts Ticket Office at (801) 378-4322 or visit performances.byu.edu.

Written by Giacomo Puccini and directed by School of Music faculty member and opera program director Lawrence Vincent, the opera centers on a poet, a painter, a musician and a philosopher and the loves of their lives.

The opera takes place in Paris in the early 1800s and is filled with romance, friendship and tragedy. It is ultimately a story about a circle of Bohemian friends strong enough to survive anything, even poverty and death, according to Vincent.

"Unlike most musical theater, opera and operetta, which have static moments where the drama is temporarily suspended in favor of a song or aria, Puccini weaves in 'La Bohème' a virtually seamless musical and dramatic tapestry," Vincent said.

"Because this opera condenses many of the events we have experienced or will experience in our own lives, it is easy to sympathize with its characters," he said.

"La Bohème" is double cast with Raymey Walther and Carl Pantle as Rodolfo the poet; Hyrum Weibell and Nathan Pacheco as Marcello the painter; Marc Reynolds and Nicholas Stetitch as Colline the philosopher; Matthew Scott and John Holloway as Schaunard the musician; Nadia Bikhazi Englund and Sara Thomas as Mimi; and Candice Johnson and Simone Hardisty as Musette.

Members of the Utah Children's Choir will also participate as part of the cast.

The production team includes director Lawrence Vincent, conductor Kory Katseanes, dramaturg Marilyn Reid, stage manager Heidi D. Reed, costume designers Emilee McVey and John Titensor, lighting designer Bruce Duerden and scenic designer John Uibel.