TheLittleSongbird
Les Pecheurs De Perles(The Pearl Fishers) is not Bizet's finest opera, with a story that, while still interesting and emotionally engaging, would remind one of a love triangle that one has seen before and done in a more plausible fashion perhaps. For me that's still Carmen(clichéd answer I know). But hearing the sublime music, and that is not just the famous duet Au Fond Du Temple Saint(the versions by Bjorling/Merrill and Domingo/Milnes are two of my most played pieces of music and renditions on my IPod) but also Nadir's Je Crois Entendre Encore, one would wonder why the opera wasn't performed more often.I did like this production. I can understand why some mayn't be taken with it, I admit I wasn't completely bowled over, but as to my knowledge the only Pecheurs De Perles available on DVD, it is certainly worth fishing for. Starting with the things that people may be infuriated by, those looking for a traditional approach will be disappointed by the lack of any palm trees and temples. I do prefer traditional staging, but don't mind different staging as long as it is done in good taste.As far as I know, the staging was not done in bad taste, and while I was think the temple setting should have been there as it is important to the story, I wasn't disgusted by it necessarily and didn't mind the little subtle changes the production made. Some may dislike the choreography, thinking it distracting and too reminiscent of something like Thais. Exotic it is, but I found it enhanced the drama rather than distracted from it.These weren't the problems for me actually. One was the costumes, which were often very unflattering, especially with Nadir and Naroubad. The biggest flaw though was Yasu Nakajima as Nadir, I wouldn't say he is as terrible as some make him out to be but I didn't care for him as a whole. Dramatically he seemed more concerned about watching the conductor and prompter rather than engaging with his character and everyone else on stage with him. As for vocally, he gets better, but to start it had a very hollow and uncontrolled(in pitch) sound to it.I was disappointed in the big duet Au Fond Du Temple Saint. People will recognise it as the big tenor/baritone showpiece beloved by many opera enthusiasts. What didn't work were two things mainly. One being that I didn't feel much friendship and affection between Nakajima's Nadir and Luca Grassi's Zurga, the other being simply that the voices aren't very well blended with Grassi having the much stronger voice.However, the sets are not bad at all, considering the tiny stage. The video and picture quality are excellent, I liked the fading technique used for the likes of Je Crois Entendre Encore, likewise with the sound, apart from some moments of reverberation. Bizet's music is beautiful, and performed with a lush sound by the orchestra and with authority by conductor Marcello Viotti. Of the principal singing, the best is Annick Massis as Leila, her voice is angelic and the whole performance is dramatic, thrilling and moving.With the men, the most consistent was Luca Grassi's Zurga, vocally strong and sturdy and he comes as affectionate and sympathetic. As Naroubad, Luigi DiDonato has a voice that is firm that always has room for delicacy and heft. All in all, not a great production, but it was interesting and worth the look. 7/10 Bethany Cox
Ed
Georges Bizet is famous mostly for the opera "Carmen" but his earlier opera "Les pêcheurs de perles" ("The Pearl Fishers") has its fans particularly because of its famous tenor-bass duet "Au fond du temple saint" and its almost-as-famous tenor aria "Je crois entendre encore".As with much of 19th century French opera, "Pearl Fishers" has an exotic locale, in this case, early Ceylon (I'm not sure how early.) which is now Sri Lanka.This DVD was recorded at the new Teatro La Fenice which was once again rebuilt after a fire ("Fenice" refers to the phoenix which is reborn from its own ashes. The first Fenice was built after the loss of another theater, not by fire, but the 1st and 2rd did indeed burn down, the 2nd apparently due to arson in 1995. Coincidentally, arson features strongly in this opera.) "The Pearl Fishers", premiered in 1863, suffers from an inferior libretto by Eugène Cormon and Michel Carré. It's subject matter involves the usual love triangle of the soprano, tenor and bass and, of course, nowadays commentators have wondered who the real love couple is! Be that as it may, the excellent Annick Massis is the soprano Leïla who would have to compare favorably with most others who have recorded the part. And she is easily the standout here. But Luca Grassi is quite good as Zurga as is Luigi de Donato as Nourabad, a priest of Brahma.The tenor Yasu Nakajima is another story and most reviewers have reacted to him in a generally negative way. His sound was hollow in the first act and that, unfortunately, includes the duet and his famous solo. But I do feel that once he started singing with Massis, there was a startling improvement and he really began to sing out.The dancing seemed little more than an advanced exercise class but it served its purpose. The costumes for the men and most of the women, seemed rumpled and unattractive.The lighting was generally all right but not flattering in the case of Massis with its heavy shadows. The sets were quite serviceable and the production was good as a whole.Recommended with reservations.
