GEORGES BIZET (1838-1875)

highlights from

The Pearl Fishers

79:00

Opera in Three Acts

Libretto by Eugène Cormon and Michel Carré

English translation by David Parry

from Act I

1

Prelude

1:54

No. 1a, Introductioin

2

'At the break of day with the waves at play'

3:32

Chorus

No. 1b, Scene and Chorus

3

'My friends, yoiu must delay your dances'

4:03

Zurga, Chorus, Nadir

No. 1 c, Recitative and Chorus reprise

4

'Stay here and live with us, Nadir'

2:14

Zurga, Nadir, Chorus

No. 2a, Recitative

5

'At last I have found you again!'

2:37

Zurga, Nadir

No. 2b, Duet

6

'Then from the holy shrine'

7:11

Nadir, Zurga

No. 4a, Recitative

7

'Hearing her voice my soul is a cauldron of passion!'

1:24

Nadir

No. 4b, Romance

8

'Again her voice will haunt me'

3:11

No. 5, Air and Chorus

9

'Brahma the god, sovereign of the world'

5:31

Leïla, Chorus, Nadir

from Act II

No. 7, Recitative and Cavatina

10

'I am alone here in the night'

6:50

Leïla

No. 8, Chanson

11

'My love was weeping while she was sleeping'

1:53

No. 9, Duo

12

'Leïla! Leïla!'

6:49

Nadir, Leïla

from Act III

No. 11, Entr'acte, Recitative and Air

13

'The storm has run its course'

6:22

Zurga

No. 12a, Recitative

14

'(She is here! My heart… is pounding…)'

1:07

Zurga, Leïla

No. 12b, Duo

15

'(I would speak, but I cannot)'

10:03

Leïla, Zurga, Chorus

No. 14, Scene and Duo

16

'Spirits of dreaful night'

4:46

Nourabad, Chorus, Nadir, Leïla

Bonus tracks

No. 15, Trio (posthumous ending)

17

'Sacred light of being'

4:03

Leïla, Nadir, Zurga

No. 2b, Duet (posthumous ending)

18

'Then from the holy shrine'

5:19

Nadir, Zurga

Simon Keenlyside baritone - Zurga

Barry Banks tenor - Nadir

Rebecca Evans soprano - Leïla

Alastair Miles bass - Nourabad

Brad Cohen

10-12 September 2007