The Pearl Fishers

April 14-22, 2012

Opera in three acts
By Georges Bizet
Libretto by Eugène Cormon and Michel Carré
Premiered 1863 in Paris
Sung in French with English translations projected above the stage
Running time is 2:30

A fishing village in ancient Ceylon is the steamy setting for Bizet’s tale of friendship, loyalty and forbidden love, The Pearl Fishers. Brave pearl fishermen Zurga and Nadir recall a pact they made not to pursue Leila, a woman with whom they were both in love. When a veiled virgin arrives to pray for the fishermen on their upcoming expedition, the real pearl remains hidden: her true identity. When Leila finally reveals herself, she pits old friends against each other in a deadly triangle of forbidden love.

DeROY TESTAMENTARY FOUNDATION
Performance Sponsor, Saturday, April 14, 2012

J. ERNEST & ALMENA GRAY WILDE FUND
Production Sponsor

ACT I
On the beach, the pearl fisherman are preparing for the diving season and choose Zurga to lead them. They await the arrival of the consecrated virgin, who will ward off storms. Zurga’s old friend Nadir returns after a long absence, and the two reminisce about their night together at the gates of Candi. It was there that they encountered a beautiful, mysterious woman. Both instantly fell in love with her, but renounced that love in order to preserve their friendship.

A veiled woman approaches. She is the consecrated virgin, whose duty it is to protect the fisherman while they are at sea, by singing and remaining inviolate. Acclaimed by the pearl fishermen, she swears an oath of obedience and is led to the place of her sacred vigil. Nadir recognizes her as Leila, the woman from his past. Despite his assurance to Zurga, he has never stopped loving her, and makes himself known to her.

Night falls, and the high priest Nourabad reminds Leila of her sacred vow. She assures him the she never breaks a promise and recalls how, as a child, she once risked her life to protect a fugitive. The fugitive gave her the necklace she now wears, proof of her fidelity.

Later that evening, Nadir appears, declaring his love. Leila does not reject him, and a storm erupts at seas. Nourabad returns with his guards and seizes the guilty lovers. Zurga at first pardons them, but becomes furious upon recognizing Leila and withdraws his pardon.

ACT II
Zurga later regrets condemning his old friend. Leila appears to beg for Nadir’s life, offering her own to spare his. Her devotion to Nadir rekindles Zurga’s jealousy and he rejects her plea. Leila and Nadir are to be sacrificed at sunrise. As she is led away, Leila hands her necklace to a diver, asking him to pass it on to her mother. Zurga enters with news that the village is burning. As the villagers rush off to save their homes, Zurga frees Leila and Nadir, and admits that he lit the fire himself. He had recognized the necklace, for he was the fugitive whom she had saved in her childhood. The lovers flee, leaving Zurga behind to face the consequences of his selfless act.

• Conductor: Mark Flint
  Mark Flint

  Conductor Mark Flint has led the majority of orchestras in world-renowned opera houses throughout the United States and Canada, including New York City Opera, Opéra de Montréal, Opera Company of Philadelphia, Florida Grand Opera, Opera Theatre of St. Louis, Fort Worth Opera, Arizona Opera and Hawaii Opera Theatre. He conducted... Learn More.
• Chorus Master: Suzanne Mallare Acton
  Suzanne Mallare Acton

  As long-term Chorus Master of MOT, Suzanne Acton has received wide critical acclaim for her choral direction involving more than 125 productions in seven languages. Conducting credits include West Side Story, Barber of Seville, Music Man, Pirates of Penzance, The Mikado, Daughter of the Regiment, Carmen, La Traviata and Die... Learn More.
• Production Designer: Zandra Rhodes
  Zandra Rhodes

  Zandra Rhodes has stamped her identity on the international world of fashion with her pink hair, theatrical makeup and art jewelry, and was part of the wave of British designers who put London at the forefront of the international fashion scene in the 1970s. Ms. Rhodes designed her first opera,... Learn More.
• Lighting Designer: Kendall Smith
  Kendall Smith

  Kendall Smith has designed lighting for more than 60 productions with the Michigan Opera Theatre, making his debut in 1988 with The Ballad of Baby Doe, and most recently designed lighting for the company’s fall 2011 production of Marriage of Figaro. His work has been featured in numerous productions by... Learn More.
• Stage Director: Andrew Sinclair
  Andrew Sinclair

  British director Andrew Sinclair has staged numerous productions at the Royal Opera Covent Garden since 1986. He directed a semi-staging of Der Ring des Nibelungen at Royal Albert Hall and made his Italian debut with Verdi’s I masnadieri at Teatro Comunale of Bologna. Mr. Sinclair debuted in the U.S. at... Learn More.
• Choreographer: John Malashock
  John Malashock

  John Malashock is Artistic Director of Malashock Dance, which he founded in San Diego after a distinguished performing career with Twyla Tharp’s company in New York. With Tharp, he performed world-wide, appeared in the Academy Award-winning film Amadeus, and performed in concerts with Mikhail Baryshnikov. Mr. Malashock’s work has been... Learn More.
• Assistant Choreographer: Michael Mizerany
  Michael Mizerany

  Michael Mizerany last appeared with MOT as a dancer in the 2004 production of Pearl Fishers. He is the Associate Artistic Director for Malashock Dance in San Diego and has danced in venues across the nation, including Lincoln Center and the Kennedy Center. Mr. Mizerany has choreographed extensively and his... Learn More.
• Zurga: Nmon Ford
  Nmon Ford

  Panamanian-American baritone Nmon Ford makes his company debut this spring. A featured soloist on the 2010 Grammy Award-winning Transmigrations and the three-time 2006 Grammy Award-winning Songs of Innocence and of Experience, Mr. Ford has enjoyed many successful major debuts in recent seasons, including with Orchestre National des Pays de la... Learn More.
  (14, 18, 21) Edward Parks
  Edward Parks

  American baritone Edward Parks makes his company debut this spring. A recent graduate of the Metropolitan Opera’s Lindemann Young Artists Program, he made his Met debut as Fiorello in Barber of Seville, and has since appeared there in productions of La Bohème and La Fancuilla del West and toured with... Learn More.
  (20, 22)
• Nadir: Noah Stewart
  Noah Stewart

  American tenor Noah Stewart last appeared with MOT in 2010 as Rodolfo in La Bohème. He has established himself as one of the world’s fastest-rising young tenors, making debuts in Bregenz, Johannesburg, Leeds, Lisbon, London, Paris, New York, Chicago and Detroit in repertoire including Cavaradossi in Tosca, Don José in... Learn More.
  (14, 18, 21) Jesus Garcia
  Jesus Garcia

  American tenor Jesus Garcia returns to the company after last performing in Daughter of the Regiment in 2005. Specializing in the romantic roles of the Italian and French repertoire, his dynamic stage presence and soaring vocalism have made him one of opera’s most sought-after rising stars. Mr. Garcia is the... Learn More.
  (20,22)
• Leila: Leah Partridge
  Leah Partridge

  Soprano Leah Partridge, a Georgia native, returns to the company after last appearing in the 2007 world premiere of David DiChiera’s Cyrano. She has received praise worldwide for her compelling stage presence and intelligent interpretations of opera’s most beloved characters. Ms. Partridge has recently performed with the Metropolitan Opera as... Learn More.
  (14, 18, 21) Sarah Joy Miller
  Sarah Joy Miller

  American soprano Sarah Joy Miller returns to MOT after her company debut as Gilda in last spring’s Rigoletto. Last year also marked the release of an album of arias she recorded with the Pannon Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Steven Mercurio in Pecs, Hungary. Recent appearances include Musetta in La Bohème... Learn More.
  (20, 22)
• Nourabad: Andrew Gray
  Andrew Gray

  Australian-American bass-baritone Andrew Gray most recently appeared with the company as Figaro in last fall’s Marriage of Figaro. He made his professional debut with MOT in 2009’s Nabucco, and has also performed with the company as Colline in La Bohème, Masetto in Don Giovanni, Angelotti in Tosca, and Mr. Lindquist... Learn More.

The Pearl Fishers

Submit your review — and view other reviews — opening night.