Fishermen of pearls

the Fishermen of Pearls is a opera in three acts of Georges Bizet on the Livret of Eugene Cormon and Michael Carré. The work at summer represented for the first time on September 30th 1863 with the Theater-Lyric of Paris and recovery to the Op3era Comique on April 21st 1893. The history occurs to Ceylon.

The fishermen of pearls have just arrived on the island of Ceylon. They need the blessing of a priestess (Leïla) for good harvests. But in the past, Zurga and Nadir were both in love with Leîla, and Nadir and Zurga are friends of childhood. In spite of its promise of chastity, which will become the trio in love with beautiful Leïla?

Characters

Zurga , a fisherman, the chief of village and friend of Nadir Baritone
Nadir , a fisherman and friend of Zurga, Tenor
Leïla , the priestess, Soprano
Nourabad , high priest, Low

Creators

History

Act 1

On a beach of Ceylon, the fishermen of pearls complete to assemble their tents. The ritual festival which precedes the period of fishing beats full sound. The fishermen achieve songs and dances in order to drive out the bad spirits, then elect Zurga like their chief. Nadir, friend of youth of Zurga, then joined the group. Both evoke the memory of Leïla, priestess of Crystallized, with which they were in love. In order to preserve their friendship, they had pronounced the wish to give up this love; wish which they decide to reiterate. A dugout then approaches the shore with, on board, the Nourabad priest and Leïla, the young virgin whose song must protect the village and the fishermen from the anger of the floods. In thanks, it will receive the most beautiful pearl. In front of Zurga, she reiterates her vows of chastity and promises never not to take off the veil which hiding place it, the violation of this oath would be cruelly punished by it. The ceremony finishes. Leïla climbs the path to the temple, followed by Nourabad. Top of the rock, it sings its crowned words. Nadir recognizes its voice and decides to join it.

Act 2

In the ruins, of an Indian temple, Leïla rests. The large Nourabad priest points out his engagements to him. To prove her honesty, the young woman tells him how it formerly risked her life to save a foreigner. In exchange, it had offered a collar to him which she kept. Remained only, the priestess sings her love for Nadir and happiness to re-examine it; the voice of this one then comes to mix with his. But Nourabad discovers them and denounces them in Zurga and the fishermen. No pity for the lovers sacrileges: Zurga, taken jealousy, condemns them to death. A storm rises, the fishermen, terrorized, are persuaded that it is about the revenge on the offended sea.

Act 3

the First table : Only, in its tent, Zurga meditates on what it has just done. It is corroded by the culpability. Leïla then comes to be thrown to its feet, by begging it to save Nadir, offering its life in exchange. But the love which it tests for Nadir makes only increase the jealousy and the anger of Zurga. Seeing its hour coming, Leïla entrusts its collar to a young fisherman and asks him that it carry it to his mother. Zurga immediately identifies the pledge entrusted formerly to that which had saved the life to him. Recognizing, it then decides to save the two lovers by allowing them the escape. the Second table : The execution prepares with the foot of the statue of Brahma. Suddenly a red gleam invades the horizon. To mislay the fishermen who await the execution of the two traitors, Zurga puts fire at the village. It brings itself the terrible news: the village burns. The Indians leave in disorder, Zurga breaks the chains of condemned. Its completed task, it remains upright in the middle of the fire, contemplating its misfortunes: the loss of its camp and its love.

Great outdoors

Act 1, duet Zurga/Nadir: " It is you whom finally I revois"
Act 1, Nadir monolog: " With this voice, which trouble"
Act 1, duet Nadir/Leïla and chorus: " O Brahmâ" god;
Act 2, Leïla monolog: " Here me is only in the nuit"
Act 2, duet Nadir/Leïla: " Of my friend, flower endormie"
Act 3, Nadir/Leïla/Zurga trio: " I quivered, I stagger, of his heart cruelle"
Act 3, Nourabad, Nadir, Leïla, Zurga, chorus: " Dark divinités"
Act 3, Finale.

The partition

Act I

a place on the Island of Ceylon. |- |rowspan=" 3" |1. |rowspan=" 3" |{ |Chorus | On the strike on fire | |- |Scene and Chorus | Friendly, stop your dances |(Nadir, Zurga.) |- |Account and Resumption of the danced chorus | Residence among us, Nadir |(Nadir, Zurga.) |- |rowspan=" 2" |2. |rowspan=" 2" |{ |Account | It is you, you that finally I re-examine |(Nadir, Zurga.) |- |Duet | At the bottom of the holy temple |(Nadir, Zurga.) |- |rowspan=" 3" |3. |rowspan=" 3" |{ |Account | What do I see? |(Nadir, Zurga.) |- |Chorus | Would be the welcome | |- |Scene and Chorus | Only in the middle of us |(Léïla, Nadir, Zurga, Nourabad.) |- |rowspan=" 2" |4. |rowspan=" 2" |{ |Account | With this voice |(Nadir.) |- |Lovesong | I still believe to hear |(Nadir.) |- |rowspan=" 2" |5. |rowspan=" 2" |{ |Scene and Chorus. | the sky is blue |(Nadir, Nourabad.) |- |Air and Chorus. | O Brahma God! |(Léïla.) |- |colspan=" 5" |

Act II

Act III

1 ER TABLE.
an Indian tent. |- |11. | |Interval, Account and Air. | the storm calmed |(Zurga.) |- |rowspan=" 3" |12. |rowspan=" 3" |{ |Account | What did I see? |(Léïla, Zurga.) |- |Duet | I quivered, I stagger |(Léïla, Zurga.) |- |Scene | Hear with far this noise from festival |(Léïla, Zurga.) |- |colspan=" 5" | 2 ND TABLE.
a wild site. |- |13. | |Danced chorus. | As soon as the sun |(Nadir.) |- |14. | |Scene and Chorus. | Dark divinities |(Léïla, Nadir, Zurga, Nourabad.) |- |15. | |Trio. | O holy light |(Léïla, Nadir, Zurga.) |- |15. | |Final. | It is them, here! |(Characters and Chorus.) |}

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