PEARL HUNTERS

Conductor Vladimir Boshnakov
Director Slavcho Nikolov
Scenography and costumes Gendoni
Choreography and sculpture Romina Slavova
Choirmaster Mladen Stanev
Concertmaster Anna Ivanova
Language preparation of singers, subtitles translation Snezhina Zdravkova

Leila - Emilia Terzieva
Nadir - Andrei Fermeshanu
Zurga - Joseph Slavov
Nurabad - Momchil Milanov

Stara Zagora State Opera Choir and Orchestra

Bizet worked on the opera "The Pearl Hunters" after his return from a specialization in Italy in 1860. The libretto was written by two experienced authors of operatic and operetta texts: Michel Carré, who co-wrote Jules Barbier's libretto of Faust by Gounod, Mignon by Thomas and others, and Pierre Etienne Cormont. In France, interest in Eastern and exotic subjects was great at this time after the notorious works of Felicien David and especially after his work The Desert. The director of the Théâtre Lyrique offered Bizet, who was only 24 at the time, the libretto of The Pearl Hunters. Bizet accepted and within a few months completed the opera.

The opera is set in ancient Ceylon, and the plot centres on two pearl hunters whose friendship is threatened by their love for the same woman, who in turn is torn between earthly love and her priestly vocation.

The Pearl Hunters premiered on September 30, 1863 at the Lyric Theatre to mediocre success. However, Hector Berlioz, who was 60 at the time and had long since retired from critical work, appreciated Bizet's great talent and wrote a positive article about his opera; the last of his life.

The first production of Georges Bizet's opera The Pearl Hunters on the stage of the State Opera Stara Zagora was on 26 January 1957.

The second premiere was on 4 April 1968. Conductor - Veselin Nenov, director - Stoyan Velev, artist - Ivan Yordanov - guest, choirmaster - Bogdana Popova, balletmaster - Nikolay Nikolov.

The last premiere was on 1 October 1986. Conductor - Bozhidar Bonev, director - Veselina Manolova - guest, artist - Ivan Yordanov - guest, choirmaster - Bogdana Popova.

In his reading of the new production, director Slavcho Nikolov focuses on the complex human relationships in which jealousy, envy, revenge and sacrifice for love are present. The opera Pearl Hunters is an apotheosis of love, honour and friendship.

In his solution, the artist Gendoni presents the fairy-tale world of the Hindu epic and the fantastic elements. The solo costumes are made with materials close to the authentic ones, decorated with rich embroideries, stones and appliqués. They bring to life the turquoise waters of sandy lagoons, in search of the immortal pearls born from the dramatic duel of shells with the watery elements of the ocean.

According to conductor Vladimir Boshnakov, Pearl Hunters is unparalleled in terms of orchestral sound and vocal parts - at once transparent, delicate and intense emotions, masterfully orchestrated by the composer. All of this provides rich opportunities for the performers to express their artistic nature and talent to the fullest.

Premiere: March 21, 2024
Duration: 2 hrs. and 30 min.
Performed in French with English and Bulgarian subtitles.