Why did Puccini decide to compose an opera based on bohemian life?

Giacomo Puccini did not initially set out to compose an opera based on bohemian life. Although the subject matter came to his attention around 1891, he was not immediately committed to the project. His collaborator, Luigi Illica, was a strong advocate for the theme, and Puccini eventually agreed to have him develop the scenario by early 1893.1

Puccini’s resolve to complete the work was significantly strengthened by professional rivalry. Upon learning that Ruggero Leoncavallo—a major competitor—was making substantial progress on his own version of La Bohème, Puccini became determined to finish his own adaptation of Henri Murger’s novel, Scènes de la vie de bohème.21

Despite initial hesitation from his collaborator Giuseppe Giacosa, who initially considered the subject unworthy, the team eventually united to produce the opera. The resulting work, which premiered in 1896, became a massive success and marked Puccini’s emergence as a mature composer.1