Opera preview at the library features ‘The Pearl Fishers’
Published 3:10 pm Friday, October 2, 2015
Opera aficionado Norm Hollingshead will give an opera preview of “The Pearl Fishers” at 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 3 at the Bainbridge Public Library.
Sail away to the island of Sri Lanka for a sweet and sonorous romance from the great Georges Bizet (“Carmen”).
The free presentation is funded by the Bainbridge Island Friends of the Library.
In Bizet’s intoxicating romance “The Pearl Fishers,” a gorgeous priestess with an air of mystery is pursued by both a brave hunter and his best friend, the leader of a fishing village. Honor, jealousy, and communal duty complicate the love triangle; but a long-buried secret saves the day.
Composed 12 years before “Carmen,” “The Pearl Fishers” is decorated with passionate duets, lusty choruses, and high-energy dance numbers. British fashion icon Zandra Rhodes has created a technicolor dream world with set and costume design. Rhodes has designed for Princess Diana and Elizabeth Taylor, and her vintage pieces have been worn by Sarah Jessica Parker on “Sex in the City,” and by Kate Moss and Kelly Osbourne, to name a few. Seattle audiences may remember her whimsical costumes from “The Magic Flute” (2011).
Bringing this story of love and friendship to life is tenor John Tessier, returning as the rugged hunter Nadir, and baritone Brett Polegato, who returns as the strapping fisherman. Together, they’ll perform “Au fond du temple saint”— the “friendship duet” for which “The Pearl Fishers” is perhaps most famous.
However, while this particular piece is much-beloved, Seattle Opera general director Aidan Lang says there’s much more to Bizet’s opera than its “greatest hit.”
“The music of The Pearl Fishers is unceasingly apt for the dramatic moment at hand; at times bold and theatrical, at others ravishingly beautiful. This is French 19th century opera at its very best,” Lang said.
“Additionally, the vibrant designs by Zandra Rhodes capture the visual impact that the piece would surely have made on its original Parisian audience, but without making it a museum piece. Rhodes’ designs make Bizet’s masterpiece speak to today’s audiences.”
Starring as Leïla, the pinnacle of the two men’s desires, is soprano Maureen McKay. McKay previous performed as a Seattle Opera Young Artist, and now makes her mainstage debut.
In the opposite cast, Elizabeth Zharoff as Leïla is pursued by Keith Phares (Zurga) and Anthony Kalil (Nadir). Making company debuts in the role of the High Priest Nourabad are New Zealand bass Jonathan Lemalu and Korean baritone Joo Won Kang.
French Maestro Emmanuel Joel-Hornak makes his Seattle Opera debut, and Australian stage director Andrew Sinclair returns following “The Marriage of Figaro” at Seattle Opera (1989). San Diego-based choreographer John Malashock makes his company debut.
“The Pearl Fishers” premieres Saturday, Oct. 17, and runs through Saturday, Oct. 31.
Tickets are available online at seattleopera.org or by calling 206-389-7676 or 800-426-1619.
