A Co-produdciton of NCPA & Staatsoper Berlin: Les Pêcheurs de Perles

During May 15th-19th, 2019, opera classic Les Pêcheurs de Perles, composed by Georges Bizet, will be staged as a highlight of the NCPA Opera Festival 2019. As the first opera created by Georges Bizet in 1863, Les Pêcheurs de Perles is the most frequently performed work of Bizet in addition to Carmen. As a co-production of the NCPA and Staatsoper Berlin, Les Pêcheurs de Perles will greet Chinese audiences in May. The world-renowned German director Wim Wenders and the shining opera singer Olga Peretyatko will join in the opera, and present this classic in an unique style.


Still of Les Pêcheurs de Perles

Les Pêcheurs de Perles is a three-act opera created by French composer Georges Bizet at the age of nearly 25. Through this masterpiece, he fully demonstrated his own melody genius and personal style. The abundant harmony and changing rhythm lead to a varied and exotic atmosphere, which makes his first lyrical tragedy impressed with extraordinary savours. Compared with the masterpiece Carmen earning name for himself, Les Pêcheurs de Perles is fascinating with moving emotions.


Still of Les Pêcheurs de Perles

From Aida by Verdi to Madama Butterfly by Puccini, every exotic story is deeply favoured by the composers of the Romantic Period, and Les Pêcheurs de Perles is no exception. In addition to the exotic atmosphere of Ceylon in ancient times, “Pearl Divers”, about whom modern people know very little, also leave room for the audience’s imagination.
 
As a co-production of the NCPA and Staatsoper Berlin, Les Pêcheurs de Perles was successfully premiered at Staatsoper Berlin in June 2017, and will be presented in the NCPA in May 2019. Les Pêcheurs de Perles also witnesses the profound cooperation between the NCPA and Staatsoper Berlin for the first time. This opera is directed by the world-renowned German director Wim Wenders, winner of the Honourary Golden Bear Award for Lifetime Achievement at the 65th Berlin International Film Festival. This is the first opera directed by himself. Since Wenders personally serves as a playwright in many films directed on his own, French script of Les Pêcheurs de Perles has also been refined and adjusted. The whole opera boasts of more distinct and compact narrations and expressions. Wenders gives full play to his expertise as a film director, and reveals vigorous film language style in the stage presentation frames. The stage presentation takes a clear-cut and simple style, with strong narrative savours. In terms of starring and chorus, delicate and elegant character arrangements and psychological expressions are highlighted. Acting and singing get integrated in an impressive manner.


Still of Les Pêcheurs de Perles

The international cast will bring together the original cast of the premiere at Staatsoper Berlin in 2017. Russian soprano Olga Peretyatko, who plays Leïla, is a popular new-generation superstar on the contemporary opera stage. She is a contemporary female heavyweight presenting operas by Rossini. This is also the first time that she dedicates herself to opera production by NCPA. She will cooperate with famous singers from both at home and abroad, such as Francesco Demuro, Alfredo Daza, Paul Gay, GUO Chengcheng, Mert Süngü, ZHOU Zhengzhong and GUAN Zhijing on the stage so as to resound this impressive and sincere ode to true love.