It’s only taken 37 years but Georges Bizet’s 1863 opera The Pearl Fishers (Les pêcheurs de perles) has finally come to Utah Opera. Set in ancient Sri Lanka, the opera is about two lifelong friends, Nadir and Zurga, who are pearl fishers and who love the same woman, Leïla. The plot details the vow of eternal friendship the two men made to each other and how that friendship is threatened by their love for Leïla. But Leïla doesn’t have it easy, either. She is caught up in an uncomfortable predicament that pits earthly love against her duties as a priestess.
Georges Bizet
“There is that element of fate,” said tenor Brian Stucki who replaces Philippe Talbot in the role of Nadir. “They’re locked into their fates. They try to escape it, but can’t.”
Soprano Andrea Carroll, the production’s Leïla, said that “everyone has an incredibly huge choice to make.” And these choices have broad consequences. “Their decisions don’t just affect themselves. The entire community – their culture – depends on them,” she said.
The three principal characters find themselves in precarious situations, said stage director Kristine McIntyre. “They have a public responsibility. They have to ask themselves: ‘Can you abuse power?’ ‘At what point can you compromise?’”
“The mistakes people make and how they resolve their problems makes it a relevant story for the 21st century,” said conductor Carlos Izcaray.
Bizet was a prolific composer of operas, but only Carmen and The Pearl Fishers have found a steady place in the repertoire. That the others haven’t found a permanent home in today’s opera houses isn’t the fault of the music – Bizet had a natural gift for melody and capturing the character of a scene. It’s because he mainly had second rate librettos to work with. And that holds true for The Pearl Fishers. Since so much of the story takes place before the opera begins, “it’s dramatically challenging to make sense of the story,” said McIntyre. “But it gives us tremendous freedom to make the story accessible to all.”
Also in the cast is bass-baritone Derrick Parker as the high priest Zurga. Choreography is by Daniel Charon, artistic director of Ririe-Woodbury Dance Company.
The opera will be sung in French with English supertitles.
- PERFORMANCE DETAILS
- What: Utah Opera, The Pearl Fishers
- Venue: Capitol Theatre
- Time and Date: 7:30 p.m. Jan. 17, 19, 21 and 23; 2 p.m. Jan. 25
- Tickets: $18-$95 ($5 higher when purchased on the day of performance); $10 for students and anyone 30 and younger
- Phone: 801-355-2787 or 888-451-2787
- Web: www.utahopera.org
- ALSO: Opera Prelude Lecture by Utah Opera principal coach Carol Anderson, Capitol Room in the Capitol Theatre, one hour prior to each performance, free for ticket holders.
- ALSO: Q&A Session with Utah Opera artistic director Christopher McBeth, Capitol Room in the Capitol Theatre, immediately following each performance, free for ticket holders.