Two works new to Chicago, a popular tenor in a long-awaited Mozart role, and Italian favorites are on tap in Lyric Opera’s 2018-19 season. The company’s 64th season, announced Tuesday morning at the Lyric Opera House, continues the trend of the Anthony Freud era, balancing a trio of rarities with box office-bait repertory. With some exceptions, the 2018-19 lineup is even less reliant on star names than recent seasons, with two virtually unknown artists cast in title roles.

Puccini’s evergreen La bohème will open the season October 6 in a new Richard Jones-Stewart Laing production (returning for two weeks in January). Maria Agresta (Liu in this season’s Turandot) will sing the doomed Mimi with Michael Fabiano making his company debut as Rodolfo. Danielle de Niese is Musetta with Zachary Nelson as Marcello. Domingo Hindoyan conducts.