The Pearl Fishers

The Pearl Fishers
By Georges Bizet. Produced by State Opera of Queensland and South Australia. Directed by Michael Gow. Conducted by Graham Abbott. Festival Theatre, Adelaide. May 12 – 19, 2018.

This new production of The Pearl Fishers is full of colour, exotic locations and beautiful music. The story is set in a village somewhere in Ceylon around 1860, at the beginning of the pearl fishing season.

Under Michael Gow’s direction the narrative is clearly told in a straightforward and unfussy way that held my attention at all times.

The villagers are getting ready to welcome a priestess, Leila (Desiree Frahn) whose beautiful voice and prayers will keep their divers safe.  They are also involved in electing their leader and have chosen Zurga (Grant Doyle) as their ‘King’. During their festivities Nadir (Andrew Goodwin), an old friend of Zurga’s arrives. The two men have previously been in love with the same woman who turns out to be Leila, the priestess with the beautiful voice. The rest of the story revolves around the relationships between these main characters.

The four main singers are well matched and produce outstanding performances, showing off both their singing and acting skills. Goodwin as Nadir, with his clear light tenor voice is the perfect match for Frahn and their duets are a delight, capturing both the joy of their reunion and their fear of discovery. Doyle’s deeper voice matches well with Goodwin in the famous “In the Depths of the Temple” duets.  Pelham Andrews as the profiteer Nourabad is also excellent.

The State Opera Chorus is wonderful as always, producing a rich sound that expresses the hopes and fears of the villagers. Their costumes, designed by Robert Kemp, provide the colour and “exoticism” that had been one of the sources of inspiration for Bizet when he wrote this opera. The set works perfectly, with ancient Hindu temples that are full of cracks where the weeds and weather have wrought their influence. And the lightning and thunder sound and light effects are spectacular.

The Adelaide Symphony Orchestra is fabulous and under the baton of Graham Abbott, the music soared and sung without overwhelming the singers.

This production of The Pearl Fishers is a beauty. 

Sally Putnam

Photographer: Bernard Hull

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