 THE PEARL FISHERS
Opera in 3 acts by Georges Bizet
Text by Michel Carré and Eugène Cormon
First performed Théâtre-Lyrique, Paris - September 30, 1863
Story
Act I
The action takes place in Ceylon (Sri Lanka), on a sea
shore where the native pearl fishers come annually to dive
for pearls. Zurga tells the fishermen they should choose a
leader for the pearl fishing and they unanimously swear
loyalty to him.
Nadir returns to the island and is recognised by Zurga as
his old companion. On their travels together they had both
fallen in love with a priestess they saw in a temple at
Kandy. They then promised each other, for the sake of their
friendship, to give up any thought of her and now they
reaffirm their friendship.
A priestess, chosen for her purity form all the temples
of the island, arrives to preside over the ceremonies to
protect the divers. Her singing is to charm the demons of
the deep and to ward off the spirits of the storm. Although
she is veiled, Nadir recognises her voice as that of the
priestess he loves. Zurga imposes an oath of chastity upon
her on pain of death; her reward for keeping the divers safe
from harm will be their finest pearl.
Nadir listens as Leila begins her vigil of incantation.
Finally, he can resist no longer and calls up to her: she
breaks off, answering his love.
Act II
Nourabad tells Leila that all the fishermen have returned
safely and that she can now sleep in the sanctuary until
morning. He stresses the importance of her vow. As proof of
her ability to keep her promise, she tells him how, as a
little girl, she protected a fugitive and never revealed him
to his pursuers. For his thanks, the man gave her a
necklace, which she wears to this day.
She falls asleep dreaming of Nadir. He makes his way into
the sacred enclosure and they are rapturously reunited. He
leaves her when a violent storm breaks overhead but he is
captured, and Nourabad denounces them both for sacrilege.
Zurga tries to protect his friend from the fury of the
superstitious natives who had demanded his immediate death.
Nourabad whips up their frenzy and Leila's veil is torn from
her. When Zurga recognises her as the priestess from the
temple in Kandy, he sees that Nadir has betrayed their oath
to forget her and angrily demands death for the guilty
couple.
Act III
Zurga's anger has passed and he sadly reflects on Nadir's
fate. Leila pleads for him saying that she alone was
culpable. For the first time she sees that Zurga loves her.
He relents, but his jealousy reawakens when she shows how
much she loves his rival. He allows Nourabad to take her to
the sacrificial pyre. Before she goes, however, she gives
him a necklace to be sent to her mother. With a cry of
recognition, he runs after them to save them.
The pearl fishers prepare for the ritual deaths of Leila
and Nadir. At the last moment Zurga stops them with the news
that their camp is on fire, and all their women and children
are in danger. He reveals to the captives that it was he
that Leila saved so many years ago and that he must now
repay his debt of gratitude for her bravery. He has himself
fired the camp in order to give them the chance to get away
and, gratefully, they make their escape. |
