In 1863, when the young Georges Bizet, 25 years old, newly crowned with his recent Prix de Rome, composed this work, which premiered at the Thรฉรขtre-Lyrique in Paris, we were in the midst of the Orientalist movement: The Pearl Fishers consequently met the public’s expectations in the environment of the Second Empire.
Throughout this picturesque love drama, Bizet, encouraged by his contemporaries Gounod, Berlioz, and Saint-Saรซns, showcases all the facets of his talent still under development and demonstrates the breadth of his melodic and instrumental qualities. He offers a foretelling testament of his forthcoming genius that would be glorified in his celebrated Carmen.
It is the Orchestre Philharmonique de Nice, conducted for the occasion by Giuseppe Finzi and strengthened by the voices of the Chลur de lโOpรฉra de Nice, that will bring out all its aspects.
As for the plot, it unfolds on the island of Ceylon (present-day Sri Lanka). As every year, a community of fishermen returns to settle on the same beach for the ritual fishing. One of them, Zurga, is chosen as the leader. He welcomes his friend Nadir, who returns to his people after a long journey. They are bound by an old vow: both enamored with Leila, a young priestess, they have sworn to renounce this love to preserve their friendship.
But when, as in every traditional opera, passions and betrayals inevitably lead to tragedyโฆ
Regarding the cast, Leila will be portrayed by soprano Gabrielle Philiponet while Julien Dran (tenor) will play the role of Nadir, Alexandre Duhamel (baritone) that of Zurga, and Philippe Kahn (bass) that of Nourabad.
