​​In the fall of 2015, Emanuel-Cristian Caraman founded South Bend Lyric Opera as a short-term endeavor and an additional offering to the rich tradition of arts in South Bend. Our very first production, Puccini’s La Bohème, was such a tremendous success we were inspired to keep moving forward. This was a shared undertaking from the start with contributions from an incredibly committed team of colleagues, friends, and opera enthusiasts who volunteered their time and talents to lay the foundation for South Bend’s own professional opera company.