The New Theatre is packed to the rafters for WNO’s new La Boheme. A truly popular classic. And while I favour the company’s more adventurous programming I remain a big fan.

I relate to the starving artists in Giacosa and Illica’s libretto - their squalid garrets and late night booziness holding up a mirror to my own inadequacies. Tonight I’m the only man in the audience not wearing brightly coloured corduroy trousers - and I feel as if I’ve crawled straight out of Stephen Brimson Lewis’ sombre set.

This production, directed by Annabel Arden, matches Puccini’s explosive score with impelling on stage action. Orchestral surges of passion rendez-vous with believable gestures from Rodolfo (Alex Vicens) and Mimi (Gisella Allen). It all makes a sometimes implausible plot seem plausible, and the audience clap-o-meter threatens to overheat.

I’ve sat through productions of La Boheme where Rodolfo gesticulates wildly, like the chef in a Dolmio TV commercial. How could Mimi fall in love with that I always thought? Well, there’s no place for that here. Vicens’ threadbare Rodolfo drives the entire opera towards a thrilling conclusion.

For me, performance of the night goes to mezzo-soprano Kate Valentine, who plays Musetta with admirable whorehouse swagger. Her “Quando me'n vo'“ dazzles - as though Puccini himself turned up and switched on the Surround Sound.

At the opera’s close Rodolfo discovers the love of his life has died. Much as I relate to him this is where the similarity between us ends.

The love of my life - Mrs Macbeth - is definitely still alive. I checked. She’s been sitting next to me through the entire opera, sometimes sighing in disbelief, but mostly checking her watch. “People don’t fall in love at first sight” she says, heart-warmingly.

I don’t think she likes La Boheme as much as I, but that’s okay. Next time darling, it’s Wagner.