Pearl Fishers - Georges Bizet

The pearl fishermen are one of the most beautiful compositions of Georges Bizet. At the time of writing this work, the later author of the immortal Carmen was not yet 25 years old. However, he created an opera that, despite unfavorable comments from critics of the time, withstood the test of time and saw many disc recordings. In Poland, the Pearl Catchers have been known for more than a hundred years, and they do not go down from the posters of the best opera houses in the world.

The author liked the exotic background for his operas. The action of the Pearl Fishers, referred to as a “lyrical opera”, takes place in the picturesque setting of a fishing village in Ceylon. The story tells about a love triangle: the village chief Zurga and the hunter Nadir fall in love with the beautiful priestess Leila. In the name of friendship, they renounce this love. However, fate is perverse. After a long absence, Leila arrives in the village and abuses her vocation as a priestess - contrary to her promise of chastity, a violent passion breaks out between her and Nadir. When the romance comes to light, the village chief is forced to give the lovers a death sentence. Will Zurga sacrifice his love in the name of friendship and the good of loved ones?

Bizet's work, directed by Waldemar Zawadziński, was staged as a supershow in the Hala Centulecia in 2013, before it appeared on the poster of the Wrocław Opera for good. 6 great performances were held, which in total watched by as many as 25 thousand spectators. Later, the opera was transferred to the stage of the theater at Świdnicka Street. The production concept itself is faithful to the original libretto, and the director consistently reproduces the colorful world of mythical Ceylon.