“Addio, fedele amico mio,” the young philosopher Colline sings in his Act IV aria, Vecchia zimarra, senti, as he farewells his trusty coat before pawning it to buy medicine for the dying Mimì.

It’s a role bass David Parkin has sung many times in the 14 years since Gale Edwards’ production of Puccini’s La bohème first premiered, and one gets the sense that he is truly sad to be saying goodbye to the coat which, like all of Julie Lynch’s characterful costumes, is being given its final outing as part of Opera Australia’s 2025 Winter season.

David Parkin, Olivia Cranwell, Kang Wang and Shane Lowrencev in OA’s La bohème 2025. Photo © Keith Saunders

Parkin won’t be the only one shedding a tear either. This time last year, Opera Australia Chorus member Katherine Wiles revealed that her Act II ‘gold prostitute’ costume is her favourite.

Her colleague, Clifford Plumpton will surely mourn the Dalí-esque photographer Edwards invited him to create when she first staged the production in 2011, and which Plumpton has performed over 200 times.

And Benjamin Rasheed is sure to miss his scene-stealing turn as Parpignol, who distributes contraband under the guise...