For their summer festival opera this year, part of the Lehrer Vocal Institute Series, the Music Academy will present a new production of Giacomo Puccini‘s “La Bohème (1896),” with a libretto by Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa, based on “Scènes de la vie de bohème (1851)” by Henri Murger.

Daniela Candillari will conduct the Festival Orchestra, Mo Zhou directs the stage action, and the all-fellow cast includes Angela Lamar (Mimì), Kylie Kreucher (Musetta), Luke Norvell (Rodolfo), Navasard Hakobyan (Marcello), Alex Granito (Schaunard), Jared Werlein (Benoit, Alcindoro), and Peter Barber (Colline).

The production also features an appearance by members of the SING! children’s choir.

Without changing a note of the score, the Music Academy production will transform the setting and milieu to a considerable degree. As they describe it:

“The time: 2011. The place: Brooklyn, New York. This is the setting for this unique vision of Puccini’s most famous opera. A time of restless energy, and a spirit of protest that led to Occupy Wall St. It’s a ‘La bohème’ unlike any you’ve ever seen.”

There are few phenomena in the history of music less mysterious than the enduring popularity of Puccini’s operas, especially “La bohème.” With a single modulation, he can take our breath away, make our hearts sink or soar, make us weep or laugh for joy. There is nobody quite like him.

“La bohème” will be performed twice: at 7:30 p.m. Friday, July 14 and 2:30 p.m. Sunday, July 16; both performances in the Granada Theater, 1214 State St.

Tickets to “La bohème” start at $55 / Loge Seats $100 (ages 7-17 admitted free; $10 Community Access tickets as available.

Tickets can be purchased at the Granada Ticket office, 1214 State St., or by phone, 805-899-2222.

Tickets to all Summer Festival events are available in person from the Summer Festival Ticket Office, the Carsey Ticket Office (10 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays, June 5-Aug. 4), by phone, 805-969-8787, or online at www.musicacademy.org.