... I hate it when 'clever' directors of film, theatre, music or opera think that they have the right to muck around with the plots, scripts, scores and settings of classic works.
I refuse to go to plays or films of Shakespeare dramas or comedies when the settings have been changed to contemporary scenarios. So it was the setting of The Pearl Fishers at the NZ Opera performance of Bizet's classic The Pearl Fishers (Les pêcheurs de perles) that was changed from ancient Ceylon to a 21st century resort island in the Pacific.
Bizet's original setting - and the setting used in the 2002 version we saw when NZ Opera last staged this - is a desolate seashore with the ruins of a Hindu temple in the background. A chorus of pearl fishermen and women sing of the dangerous tasks that lie ahead ("Sur la grève en feu"), and perform ritual dances to drive away evil spirits. They then elect one of their number, Zurga, as their leader, or "king". Nadir arrives and is hailed by Zurga as a long-lost friend. Left alone, the pair reminisce about their past where their friendship was nearly destroyed by their mutual love of a young priestess. They had each renounced their love for her to protect their friendship. Now they affirm this again and sing the duet 'Au fond du temple saint" which is The Old Girl's favourite of all duets.
A boat draws up on the beach bearing the veiled figure of Leila, the virgin priestess whose prayers are required to ensure the safety of the fishermen. Although neither Nadir nor Zurga recognises her, she is the woman with whom both had been in love. As Zurga is explaining her duties, she recognises Nadir, but she says nothing and shortly afterwards is led up to the temple by the high priest Nourabad. Zurga and the fishermen go down to the sea, leaving Nadir alone. In a troubled soliloquy before he sleeps he recalls how he had broken his vows to Zurga and pursued his love for the veiled woman ("Je crois entendre encore"). It was the rumour that she might be found in this place that brought him here. Alone in the temple, Leila prays and sings. Nadir wakes and, recognising the voice of his long-desired lover, traces it to the temple. Leila briefly draws her veil aside, he sees it is she and the pair declare their renewed passion. On the beach, the fishermen plead with her to continue protecting them, but she tells Nadir she will sing for him alone ("O Dieu Brahma").
In the temple with Nourabad, Leila expresses fear at being left alone, but Nourabad exhorts her to be brave and to fulfil her vows to Brahma on pain of her own death. She tells him of the courage she once displayed when, as a child, she had hidden a fugitive from his enemies and refused to give him up even when threatened with death ("J'étais encore enfant"). The fugitive had rewarded her with a necklace that he asked her always to wear. She had kept this promise, as she would her vows. On the priest's departure, Leila quietly muses on the former times when she and Nadir would meet together secretly ("Comme autrefois dans la nuit sombre"). Nadir then enters; in her fear of Nourabad's threats Leila begs him to leave, but he remains and the two declare their love in a passionate duet ("Léïla! Léïla!...Dieu puissant, le voilà!"). He goes, promising to return next night, but as he leaves he is captured by the fishermen and brought back to the temple. Zurga, as the fishermen's leader, at first resists the fishermen's calls for Nadir's execution and advocates mercy. However, after Nourabad removes Leila's veil, Zurga recognises her as his former love; consumed by jealousy and rage, he orders that both Nadir and Leila be put to death. A violent storm erupts, as the fishermen unite in singing a hymn to Brahma ("Brahma divin Brahma!").
In his tent on the beach, Zurga notes that the storm has abated, as has his rage; he now feels remorse for his anger towards Nadir ("L'orage s'est calmé"). Leila is brought in; Zurga is captivated by her beauty as he listens to her pleas for Nadir's life, but his jealousy is rekindled. He confesses his love for her, but refuses mercy ("Je suis jaloux"). Nourabad and some of the fishermen enter to report that the funeral pyre is ready. As Leila is taken away, Zurga observes her giving one of the fishermen her necklace, asking for its return to her mother. With a shout, Zurga rushes out after the group and seizes the necklace.
Outside the temple, Nadir waits beside the funeral pyre as the crowd, singing and dancing, anticipates the dawn and the coming double execution ("Dès que le soleil"). He is joined by Leila; resigned now to their deaths, the pair sing of how their souls will soon be united in heaven. A glow appears in the sky, and Zurga rushes in to report that the fishermen's camp is ablaze. As the men hurry away to save their homes, Zurga frees Leila and Nadir. He returns the necklace to Leila, and reveals that he is the man she saved when she was a child. He recognises now that his love for her is in vain, and tells her and Nadir to flee. As the couple depart, singing of the life of love that awaits them, Zurga is left alone, to await the fishermen's return ("Plus de crainte ... Rêves d'amour, adieu!").
(In the revised version of the ending introduced after the opera's 1886 revival, Nourabad witnesses Zurga's freeing of the prisoners and denounces him to the fishermen, one of whom stabs Zurga to death as the last notes sound of Leila and Nadir's farewell song. In some variations Zurga meets his death in other ways, and his body is consigned to the pyre.)
- Thanks Wikipedia for most of that.
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This modern production which has changed time and location is a confusing mess.
It began with a faux advertisement (AI generated) of a luxury pearl and jewellery brand - Pecheur & Perle - which was a preamble to a corporate event hosted by the company at a luxury resort named The White Pearl which is a knock-off of the tv series The White Lotus.
Zurga is Director of Brand Strategy for the company and Nadir the previous Creative director while Leila who was originally a priestess of Brahma is now billed as a celebrity singer and influencer. The setting is now a “Brand Awareness Retreat” for the successful jewellery house.
The pearl divers are now corporate staff and customers whose daring isn't death defying diving but rather investment and Champagne drinking.
The superstition and mysticism though is badly distorted and angry gods and retribution in a Pacific resort is all a bit silly unless it was just a cyclone or a hurricane that happened. Modern day settings require modern day explanations.
The original story is of a small community dependant on the pearl trade which is dangerous. They are not sophisticated and very superstitious believing that gods protect them. They find out that their priestess who was supposed to be gaining the gods favour has been violated and the temple desecrated. This is very serious and understandably, given the ancient setting, archaic cultural beliefs and overpowering religious influences they are angry and want punishment to be meted out - execution in fact. The storm is related to this as a backdrop and 'proof' of the gods' anger.
It's a good story bound up with a love triangle setting up protagonists on either side of the 'trial'. Why this current production decided to throw most of that away and replace with a confusing and nonsensical 'homage' to a confusing and nonsensical TV series is anyone's guess. As you might gather I was not impressed.
The trial and planned execution of Nadir and Leila was done in a silly modernised and stylised electric chair setting with the 'pearl fishers' surrounding them in a cocktail party setting. Silly and gratuitous.
Fortunately the great musical sections and the three principal singers were very good with strong voices and good technique although the acting intensity was a bit lacking. It was from the music and singing point of view one of the best productions we've seen but the staging and theme was ridiculous.
The Old Girl's favourite is the duet, 'Au fond du temple saint" sung by Nadir and Zurga which was done well albeit spoilt a bit by a crass and moronic woman behind us who spoke loudly, clapped at the wrong times and, at the beginning of the duet had her cell phone ringing!
My favourite is the aria sung by Nadir “Je crois entendre encore“:
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