Opera returns and is a musical must-see
THE PEARL FISHERS: FIVE MUSICAL MOMENTS
OPERA North returns to Hull City Hall next month with a concert performance of Bizet’s The Pearl Fishers.
Here are our top five reasons why we think it’s a musical must-see, particularly with anyone new to opera able to bag two great seats for just £20 each through the Try it ON scheme and £10 for Under 30s.
THE COMPOSER OF CARMEN
The Pearl Fishers is by Georges Bizet who also wrote the much-loved opera Carmen. He was only 24 years old when he completed this earlier work but, despite his young age, his musical skills are already very much in evidence with beautiful melodies, magnificent choruses and imaginative orchestration.
WATCH THE ORCHESTRA
You’ll usually find the Orchestra of
Opera North in the pit, but one of the joys of a concert performance is that they’re in front of you on the stage. That means you can watch the musicians and the conductor as they make sure every single note is pitch perfect.
A DAZZLING DUET
You may not think you know ‘Au fond du temple saint,’ but we guarantee you’ll have heard it before. One of the most recognisable tunes in opera, this famous friendship duet is sung by Nadir and Zurga, two childhood friends whose relationship is put to the test when both become entranced by the priestess Leïla.
AN ARRESTING ARIA
Conductor Matthew Kofi Waldren picks out Nadir’s aria in Act 1 as another key moment: “‘Je crois entendre encore’ is actually very unusual for 19th century operatic writing. It’s not a heroic tenor aria but incredibly perfumed, delicate and intimate which is a different sound world for opera to be moving into at that time.”
AN EXTRAORDINARY SCORE
Director Matthew Eberhardt adds: “I do think Bizet’s score is extraordinary. There are these moments of big anthem-like music and then there are moments of absolute exquisite beauty with the sound of one instrument coming from a distance. It feels like Bizet references the big world we’re in, and then brings it right back to something very small and very detailed. That’s what I’d love people to take away with them.”
■■Opera North’s concert performance of The Pearl Fishers is at Hull City Hall on Saturday, June 24, with tickets available from £17.50.