Q&A with Pene Pati

This spring, Samoan tenor Pene Pati makes his much anticipated Lyric debut as Rodolfo in Puccini's La Bohème — a role he has performed to great acclaim on major stages from London to Berlin. In this conversation, he shares his favorite moment in the opera, what makes Puccini's music timeless, and much more. Read on and don't miss your chance to see Pene Pati onstage in the ultimate operatic love story, March 15 through April 12.

This show marks your highly anticipated Lyric debut! What excites you most about stepping onto our stage for the first time, and what are you looking forward to experiencing while you're in Chicago?

I am thrilled to make my debut in Chicago! I have heard so many wonderful things about this city, and this gorgeous theater. I am looking forward to working with a great cast, singing for a new audience, and trying some deep dish pizza!

Audiences around the world have enjoyed your portrayal of Rodolfo. What draws you back to this role time and again? Are there new insights or emotions you discover each time you perform it?

I feel so at home performing this character, and it is a role I always look forward to singing. Every time I sing the role, it takes on a different dimension as I work with a different team. I like to always have to find something new, otherwise it can become stagnant...for example, some houses ask me to become more playful as the character, or more boastful...so it is never really the same, except for the music.

At its core, La Bohème is a story of friendship and love. How do you and your fellow cast members build that sense of intimacy and connection on stage?

Quickly! (laughs) You can build a sense of intimacy and connection by trusting each other's artistic choices. Even if you don't agree, you have to trust their choice, and that informs your portrayal as well. Once you accept that, you have a closer bond.

Do you have a favorite moment — musically or dramatically — in La Bohème?

The memory recollection scene (when Mimi sings "Sono andati"). It is the only time Rodolfo and Mimi are alone on stage. The music of our first encounter, and recollection of their memories, and then it foreshadows her death. It summarizes musically their relationship. There are also so many ways you can interpret this scene...you can either be sad, happy thinking about the joyous memories...I typically act the opposite of how the soprano is interpreting the scene. If she is sad thinking about what is being lost, then I try to cheer her up, and if she is joyful, I am more sad - but trying not to show it too much.

During his lifetime, Puccini wasn't always taken seriously by critics, yet his operas have become some of the most beloved in the repertoire. What do you think makes Puccini's music and storytelling so timeless? Why do you think La Bohème still speaks to audiences today?

Puccini just knew how to hit you right in the feels. His music has this incredible way of cutting straight to the heart — no wasted notes, no unnecessary fuss, just pure emotional storytelling. He understood human nature so well, and he wrote melodies that stay with you long after the curtain comes down. That's why his operas have lasted — they're honest, they're immediate, and they make you feel something every single time.

As for La Bohème, it's timeless because it's real. We've all been young, broke, in love, and maybe a little dramatic about it. The relationships, the struggles, the laughter, the heartbreak — it all still rings true. And then you add Puccini's music on top of that? Game over.