Sanktpēterburgas Opera / Pērļu zvejnieks

Les pêcheurs de perles' by Georges Bizet.
For the first time for the judgment of the spectators 'Les pêcheurs de perles' was presented in September 1863 in Paris' Théâtre-Lyrique. During the life of the composer, 'Les pêcheurs de perles' had no admirers, as well as other operas of him. The exception was not even the pearl of the classical repertoire - 'Carmen', the failure of which the 37-year-old composer could not get over. And although after years of success came to Bizet, the 'evil fate' pursues the French composer until now. His operas, excluding 'Carmen', are not popular with directors. 'Les pêcheurs de perles' is among them and considered as an extremely rare guest on the Russian stage. The plot of the opera is rather simple. It is based on the story of the selfless love of young Nadir and the priestess of Leila, on the way to happiness which the supreme priest Nourabad and Zurga stand - the leader chosen by the pearl seekers and an old friend of Nadir. Being jealous of him to Leila, Zurga decides to betray both to be executed but after painful thinking gives life to a friend of his youth and Leila, in whom he recognized the girl saved his life many years ago.
In fact, in 'Les pêcheurs de perles' the main thing is not the plot, but the melodic side. This music has become so popular that it is cited in the movies, performed in instrumental arrangements and sung even by rock musicians, like, for example, the famous Nadir's aria 'Je crois entendre encore' performed by David Gilmour or the rare male duo for tenor and baritone 'Au fond du temple saint', not so long ago famous for the duo of Roberto Alagna and Bryn Terfel.
The St. Petersburg Chamber Opera, according to Yuri Alexandrov, will amaze the audience not only with the great performers of the main roles but also with colorful scenery and costumes. The fairy-tale and beautiful world of the East will appear in front of the audience. The action takes place in the underwater kingdom, in the jungle, in caves and even in heaven. Scenography belongs to Vyacheslav Okunev. 'Les pêcheurs de perles' has several versions with fundamentally different endings. What kind of finale the St. Petersburg Chamber Opera offers - the audience will discover themselves.
Credits:
Music: Georges Bizet
Libretto: Eugène Cormon
Michel Carré
Production: Yuri Alexandrov
Conductor: Maxim Valkov
Set and Costume Designer: Vyacheslav Okunev
Lighting Designer: Irina Vtornikova
Video-art: Daniil Bakalin
Mikhail Ushinin
Directors: Tatyana Karpacheva
Natalia Chernikova
Darya Modzalevskaya
Chorus Master: Maria Gergel
Musical Preparation: Yana Zubova
Choreographer: Nadezhda Kalinina