In a prelude to Emerald City Opera’s presentation of “La BohÃme” Aug. 6 and 8 in the Steamboat Springs High School auditorium, the opera company is making itself available to answer all your wildest opera questions.

“La BohÃme” principle singers LeRoy Lehr and David Malis of the Metropolitan Opera, James Taylor of the New York City Opera, Kara Shay Thompson of the Chicago Opera Theater, Dominique Moralez of Florida Grand Opera, Ashraf Sewailam of the Cairo Opera and Keri Rusthoi, founder of the Emerald City Opera, will host an informal panel they are calling an “opera encounter” Sunday at Cottonwood Grill. The informational afternoon gathering is free and open to the public.

During the opera encounter, Malis will give a brief summary of “La BohÃme,” then open the discussion for questions. It is a chance to get up close and personal with an internationally acclaimed cast of opera singers and maybe even learn about the joys and pitfalls of life as an opera singer.

And if the opera encounter tickles your imagination, tickets for “La BohÃme” are on sale at the Emerald City Opera box office, Off the Beaten Path Bookstore or at http://www.EmeraldCityOpera.org.