Before Carmen, there was The Pearl Fishers. This sparklingly novel work by the youthful Bizet (just 24 when the opera was composed) foreshadows all of the brilliance that was to come later. The duet “Au fond du temple saint” is probably the single most famous duet for tenor-baritone in all of opera.

Focused on the love triangle between Leila, Nadir, and Zurga, the drama unfolds against a delightfully inventive and tuneful musical backdrop that has an especially prominent role for the chorus, which acts almost as a “fifth character”. This production will feature our first-ever collaboration with the New Mexico Symphonic Chorus under the direction of Maestro Roger Melone.

Opera Southwest welcomes Soprano Shana Blake Hill (Violetta, La Traviata 2011) back to the stage as the beautiful Leila.

CAST

Leila / Shana Blake Hill
Nadir / Scott Ramsay
Zurga / Sean Anderson
Nourabad / John Fortson

Stage Director / Nathaniel Merchant
Scenic Design / John Malolepsy
Conductor / Roger Melone

For More Information: http://www.operasouthwest.org/operas/the-pearl-fishers