The Pearlfishers

Bizet’s beautiful music, amazingly pure voices and stunning lighting on an imaginative set make the very tenuous plot of The Pearlfishers almost credible. But then, it’s the music and voices that it’s all about!

Based on a much drafted story line by librettists Eugene Cormon and Michel Carre, and set in Ceylon, to whence neither had travelled, the opera tells the tale of Nadir and Zurga, who renounce their love for once-glimpsed Leila, swear their loyalty to each other, then, years later see Leila again as she, a virgin priestess, blesses the pearl fishing fleet. Complications arise and conflagration occurs – but all does end relatively happily.

The opera is most famous for the beautiful duet, Au fond du temple saint (In the depths of the temple) and this is a breath-taking moment of the production. As they sing of their first sight of Leila, and their vow to renounce her and remain friends forever, the voices of baritone Andrew Jones (Zurga) and tenor Henry Choo (Nadir) rise and beguile the audience with harmony and passion. Standing together on the stark, sea-blue stage with Leila, distanced by the effect of cunningly lit scrim but highlighted on a rock behind them, all attention is focused on the music, their voices and the intensity of the moment.  It is sensitive direction that allows the senses and emotions of the audience to be concentrated on the beauty of the music and the depth and passion of the sensual duet.

As Leila, soprano Nicole Carr, winner of the Herald –Sun Aria in 2007, is equally passionate and her emotions soar on beautifully controlled notes. Her prayer, O Dieu Brahma, at the end of Act I shimmers in the mind through the interval and comes to life again as she and Nadir reveal their love for each other in their heart-breaking duets in Act II and again, as they face death in Act III. Here the chorus, dressed in the light, flowing cottons of the Orient, and blue and grey as the sea itself, angrily invoke the wrath of Brahma on the couple, until Zurga, who has been consumed by guilt and indecision throughout the Act, arrives to save them .

The simplicity of the plot is tempered by the John Conklin’s exotic set and Nigel Levings’ stunning lighting. Blue dominates. The sea and sky are picked up in towering oriental images and sweeping curtains. In contrast, the fiery anger evoked by broken vows and betrayed loyalty is suggested by flickering candles, burning torches and flaring lightning.

This is a beautifully stated production of Bizet’s sensual and exotic opera.

Carol Wimmer

Images: Andrew Jones as Zurga, Nicole Car as Leila and Henry Choo as Nadir & Nicole Car as Leila and Andrew Jones as Zurga. Photographer: Branco Gaica