Tonight Georges Bizet’s The Pearlfishers begins a new season at the Sydney Opera House. The fiery tale of friendship, love and jealousy is retold by master story-teller Australian playwright and director Michael Gow. In this captivating rendition, he draws on the dangers of the pearl fishing industry and the historic ‘exotic orient’ stereotypes. He teams up again with Robert Kemp, Set & Costume Designer, whose dazzling silken costumes and eye-popping sets recreate the vibrant, colourful past of colonial Ceylon.
The Opera Australia Chorus perform in The Pearlfishers.
An easy to follow opera, The Pearlfishers tells of two childhood friends who vow to forgo pursuing the beautiful priestess they both fell for rather than risk their friendship. Yet when temptation becomes too great, jealousy causes rash decisions which threaten not just the lives of the forbidden lovers, but also their whole village.
You’ll enjoy The Pearlfishers for its famous friendship duet ‘Au fond du temple sait’ between Nadir, the hunter, and Zurga, the town leader. Another well-loved song is the classic aria by Nadir ‘Je crois entendre encore’ where he sings of secretly watching Léïla and hearing her beautiful voice in prayer.
Pavol Breslik (Nadir) and José Carbó (Zurga) in Opera Australia’s new production of The Pearlfishers.
Guillaume Tourniaire conducts Bizet’s passionate score with Ekaterina Siurina and Stacey Alleume as Léïla; Pavol Breslik and Nikhil Navkal as Nadir; and José Carbó and Christopher Hillier as Zurga.
The Pearlfishers is on at the Sydney Opera House from 15th January – 12th March, tickets are on sale now and available through Opera Australia.
WHERE: Joan Sutherland Theatre, Sydney Opera House
WHEN: 15th January – 12th March
TICKETS: Opera Australia Box Office (02) 9318 8200 www.opera.org.au
PRICE: Adult from $79, Student from $50
Running time: 2 hours 15 minutes (with one internval)
Performed in Italian with English surtitles
For more info click here.
Join the conversation: #operaaustralia #thepearfishers @sydoperahouse @operaaustralia
Ekatherina Siurina (Léïla) and José Carbó (Zurga) in Opera Australia’s new production of The Pearlfishers.
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