Bizet's The Pearl Fishers
Yoshi Oïda (stage director), Leo Hussain (conductor) — With Sonya Yoncheva (Leïla), Dmitry Korchak (Nadir), André Heyboer (Zurga), Nicolas Testé (Nourabad)...
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Cast
Yoshi Oïda — Stage director
Daniela Kurz — Choreographer, stage director
Tom Schenk — Set designer
Richard Hudson — Costume designer
Fabrice Kebour — Lighting
Sonya Yoncheva — Leïla, a priestess of Brahma
Dmitry Korchak — Nadir, a fisherman
André Heyboer — Zurga, head fisherman
Nicolas Testé — Nourabad, high priest of Brahma
Yoomi Ahn — Dancer
Martin Blazec — Dancer
Samuel Delvaux — Dancer
Benjamin Duluc — Dancer
Lola Kervroedan — Dancer
Véronique Laugier — Dancer
Ludovic Lezin — Dancer
Program notes
Georges Bizet was not yet 25 when the Opéra-Comique in Paris commissioned a new opera from him. In the span of a few short months, the young composer produced Les Pêcheurs de Perles (The Pearl Fishers), which premiered on September 30, 1863. Nearly 150 years later, the work returned to the Opéra-Comique! In Yoshi Oïda's splendid staging with Fabrice Kebour's bold lighting, soloists and dancers shine brightly in this early gem by the great Bizet.
Zurga and Nadir (played by the superb André Heyboer and Dmitry Korchak), two pearl fishers from Ceylon (Sri Lanka), glimpse and fall in love with the priestess Leïla (the inimitable Sonya Yoncheva), which nearly ruins their friendship. They mutually renounce Leila and vow to remain friends, but Nadir is unable to keep his vow, and Zurga, newly chosen as the village leader, orders his execution—but will he change his mind and allow Nadir and Leila to live in peace?
