Georges Bizet: Les Pêcheurs de Perles / The Pearl Fishers (2016)

Bizet’s Les Pêcheurs de perles, set in Sri Lanka, is known above all for its unforgettable duet for tenor and baritone, but it its score is full of delightful and dramatic music. When recently staged at the Metropolitan Opera in New York it proved a major success, both for the production by Penny Woolcock and the musical performance, conducted by Paolo Noseda, with (once again) Diana Damrau as the priestess Leïla and, as the two men competing for love, the tenor Matthew Polenzani (Nadir) and the baritone Mariusz Kwiecien (Zurga).


As The New York Times wrote: “Ms. Woolcock’s updating of “The Pearl Fishers” works beautifully … Mr. Kwiecien is an ideal Zurga. Singing with burnished sound and lyrical richness, he looks like a natural leader, handsome, confident and something of an operator. …Mr. Polenzani makes a poignantly believable Nadir … [In the duet] their ardent, soaring performance, supported by the glowing playing Mr. Noseda drew from the orchestra, brought fresh urgency to the familiar music … Mr. Polenzani sang [his] haunting aria of remembrance with wondrous lyrical tenderness while conveying the music’s gently swaying gait. And if you think it’s impossible for a tenor to cap phrases of a dreamy aria with melting, pianissimo high notes, report to the Met to hear Mr. Polenzani demonstrate how this is done superlatively …Ms. Damrau brings brilliant coloratura agility, radiant sound and charisma galore to the role of Leila … Mr. Noseda conducts as if every moment of the music matters deeply.”
Recorded 16 January 2016 at the Metropolitan Opera, New York.

Supplements
'Back Stage at The Pearl Fishers' - Patricia Racette conducts live backstage interviews with: Diana Damrau, Gianandrea Noseda, Matthew Polenzani and Mariusz Kwiecien. Studio interview with stage director Penny Woolcock.

Original title: Georges Bizet: Les Pêcheurs de Perles (The Pearl Fishers)
Release year: 2016
Genre: opera
Directed by: Penny Woolcock
Conductor: Gianandrea Noseda
Cast: Diana Damrau (Leïla), Matthew Polenzani (Nadir), Mariusz Kwiecien (Zurga), Nicolas Teste (Nourabad); The Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and Chorus

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