ROCKHAMPTON'S Lisa Bricknell says she is more excited than nervous about taking to the stage tonight for Opera Queensland's production of La bohème.

She and her partner Dale Trott are part of the local chorus that was chosen for Giacomo Puccini's timeless opera, which will be performed at the Pilbeam Theatre at 7.30pm.

Rockhampton was one of eight regional centres chosen for the world-first Project Puccini.

It allows adults and children to sing and act alongside OperaQ's principal artists and Queensland Symphony Orchestra musicians.

The local artists have been rehearsing for the past 10 weeks to fine-tune the lyrics they will deliver in Italian.

Lisa, who has long been involved with musical theatre, said the different language added another dimension to the performance.

"I think this is the most challenging thing I've had to do," she said. 

"It requires focus on really good classical singing and the Italian certainly makes it complex.

"It's been a totally different experience to anything I've ever done, but it's been a lot of fun."

The 45-year-old has been a member of the Rockhampton Musical Union Choir since moving to the city in 1994.

She has played a variety of roles and said the biggest production she was involved in was the rock musical Sherwoodstock, which was performed in Brisbane in 1990.

Lisa said she could not wait for tonight's performance.

"I'm excited more than nervous, because there are a lot of us involved.

It is not a case of any one individual being exposed.

"It has been very much a team effort to get the chorus working together.

"This is a brilliant opportunity to participate in an opera, a real opera done the way it is meant to be done."

Tickets are still available. Cost is adults $56, pensioners $52, children $29. Bookings on 4927 4111.