Behind-the-scenes peek at La Boheme

Anna Pierard, speaking at Meet the Family, a function at Blyth Performing Arts Centre, Iona College, Havelock North, to announce that La Boheme will be the opera to be produced by Festival Opera in the Napier Municipal Theatre, Napier, over Art Deco Weekend 2016.

If you're curious about what goes on behind the scenes then head along to a special opera experience.

This Saturday all are invited to a behind-the-scenes opera experience followed by an elegant cocktail evening as Festival Opera welcomes in the new season.

In the morning the company will be holding a free behind-the-scenes peek at their upcoming Art Deco opera, La Boheme by Puccini.

Festival Opera creative director Anna Pierard said they had the idea as a way to give people an idea what to expect.

Ms Pierard said the opera, considered to be Puccini's masterpiece, was widely believed to be the best "first" opera for the uninitiated.

She said the La Boheme story moved very quickly, so the behind-the-scenes experience would allow the "uninitiated" to become more absorbed and get a sense of the story before seeing it in its full glory during Art Deco Weekend.

"Behind the scenes is always quite interesting to see the person behind the character, and to see how the artist can be standing there and react to what the director says."

As well as the Festival Opera group, there are some new faces involved in the upcoming season including international opera singers.

Ms Pierard said: "Entry is free but we know this event will be popular - you will need to book as places are limited."

Things will get a bit more elegant in the evening with the cocktail event From Europe With Love.

"This exclusive event promises glitz and glamour accompanied by our opera stars singing some of their favourite music from Europe," Ms Pierard said.

It would be a unique opportunity to hear these artists in an intimate setting accompanied by their "polished young PPV colleagues".

Project Prima Volta (PPV) is Festival Opera's mentoring programme for young people, which promotes social inclusion through music, in this case, opera.

- The La Boheme dress rehearsal will go from 11am - 1pm, at 93 Tannery Rd. Guests are asked to follow the signs, and bring their own chair.

- The cocktail event starts at 7pm at the Art Deco Masonic Hotel. For more information, or to buy tickets, head to eventfinda.co.nz/2016/from-europe-with-love/napier.