Marina Rebeka, Matthew Polenzani and Mariusz Kwiecień star as the passionate characters caught in a deadly love triangle.
A scene from The Pearl Fishers at Chicago Lyric Opera Photo: ©Todd Rosenberg Photography
Sunday 30 September at 6.00pm on RNZ Concert
BIZET: The Pearl Fishers
For sheer transcendent beauty, Bizet’s The Pearl Fishers has few rivals in the entire repertoire. The opera’s famed duet for tenor and baritone is a soaring melody that has turned countless opera newcomers into firm fans.
Mariusz Kwiecen as Zurga Photo: ©Todd Rosenberg Photography
Bizet (who composed this work 12 years before Carmen) transports us to Ceylon, where two devoted friends find themselves in love with the same woman, an entrancingly beautiful priestess, Leïla.
The Pearl Fishers demands the ultimate in vocal beauty and elegance to do justice to this sweepingly romantic drama.
Cast:
Zurga........................... Mariusz Kwiecien
Nadir............................ Matthew Polenzani
Leïla............................ Marina Rebeka
Nourabad..................... Andrea Silvestrelli
Chicago Lyric Opera Chorus & Orchestra/Sir Andrew Davis (WFMT)
Matthew Polenzani as Nadir Photo: ©Todd Rosenberg Photography
