After receiving rave reviews at Kilburn’s Cock Tavern, Opera Up Close has transferred its production of La Boheme to the Soho Theatre in Central London. With a new English libretto by Robin Norton-Hale, this show is contemporary and relevant while leaving Puccini’s sublime music untouched.

The Soho Theatre has a great vibe. Everyone sits on long benches that are surprisingly comfortable. Andrew Charity, musical director, plays piano (replacing the orchestra) with great gusto and an intimate knowledge of the score. The cast are strong and work well as a team. The biggest roles are quadruple cast, I saw Elinor Jane Moran as the frail Mimi: she has a sweet tone and sings well throughout, but is a very meek stage presence until the final heart-wrenching scene.

I really enjoyed watching the boisterous boys mucking around as the poor suffering students (no money for food, but they can afford a Mac laptop?). Philip Lee is an exceptionally strong actor and singer as Rodolfo and Nicolas Dwyer provides good support as a leather-clad Marcello.

This is a thoroughly modern yet comprehensive version of La Boheme; in many ways more believable than with the conventional Puccini staging. As expected, the vocal talent is not as impressive as you’d find at a renowned opera house, but these young performers are well on their way to the major London theatres, and it is a pleasure to support them on their journey there.

La Boheme continues until 20 February, book tickets here.

There are so many opera masterpieces on in London this month. The English National Opera (ENO) is performing La Boheme by Puccini (my favourite opera composer) and The Royal Opera House (ROH) is currently showing Rigoletto by the magnificent Verdi (a composer who many argue is superior to all who came before or after him).

Both theatres have tempting ticket offers, La Boheme tickets are available for as little as £21, and the ROH have Rigoletto tickets for a staggering £8; there are also other student and young person discounts.

The ENO always has a diverse programme. This season they are offering up some real classics including Handel’s Radamisto Mozart’s Don Giovanni and of course Puccini’s La Boheme.

Unlike some operas La Boheme is not difficult to follow, the narrative told through many familiar melodies. Above all it is a great love story and a great opera for beginners!

There is nothing quite like sitting in London’s Royal Opera House, it is one of the great wonders of our city. Rigoletto features Israeli-born conductor Dan Ettinger, making his debut at The ROH. The production is quite dark and moody, and takes place in the shadows of a giant reversible set. The singing is the highlight for me, and I left thinking it perhaps the most impressive display of vocal talent I have ever seen on this stage.

If these grand operas don’t appeal to you, there are plenty of other wonderful, smaller-scale productions happening all over the city. One to look out for is at The King’s Head Theatre in Islington, where Rossini’s The Barber of Seville is currently being performed. And in North London the Hampstead Garden Opera are putting on a production of Mozart’s ever-popular Magic Flute.

Experience something different this month and book tickets to an opera, you are spoilt for choice.

• La Boheme (ENO) continues until 27 Jan. Book here
• Rigoletto (ROH) continues until 6 Nov. Book here
• Don Giovani (ENO) runs 6 Nov- 3 Dec. Book here
• Radamisto (ENO) continues until 4 Nov. Book here
• Barber of Seville (King’s Head Theatre) continues until 14 Nov. Book here
• The Magic Flute (Hamstead Garden Opera) runs 4-14 Nov. Book here