Photo credit: Jeff Busby
At the start of the dangerous pearl fishing season in Ceylon, the ruthless Profiteer Nourabad, Andrew Collis, shows up with Leïla, Emma Matthews, a gorgeous Priestess whose beautiful voice and celibacy will bless the divers and save them from sharks and the ‘bends.’
Nadir (Aldo di Toro) and Zurga (Grant Doyle) are close mates. But there was an awkward time when both fell in love with the same woman. Nadir recognizes the veiled Leila, the object of his and Zurga’s adoration, because of her singing. Nadir tracks Leila down and professes his love. Leila reciprocates but is terrified because she knows Nourabad will inflict terrible revenge if she breaks her vows of chastity.
Michael Gow’s direction is sleek and straightforward. He doesn’t vamp it up and sprinkle the dramatic arc with glib gags and there’s an engaging energy and dedication from the cast. Gow shines a torch on the ruthless exploitation of the Ceylonese by colonial powers. All of the male leads abuse the Ceylonese as illustrated in their narcissistic treatment of Leila.
There’s an engaging vibe. The production is old-school but this not intended as a criticism. The curtain is drawn for several scene changes. And with set design as good as this, it doesn’t matter. The look, by Robert Kemp, is stunning, from the clear blue Ceylonese sky counterpointed by sparkling orange safaris to Zurga’s office with its sad, vivisected deer heads pinned on scumbled, yellow walls. The earnest and effective declamatory chorus in orange costumes, sweep a wave of colour across the set. Visually, it’s a treat. Even if the men’s naked chests, pale, chubby and variously ‘hairy’ are not.
Emma Matthews has star quality as Leila. She has a beautiful, technically astonishing voice. Every phrase she utters in Bizet’s blistering virtuosic arias are infused with pathos and meaning. Her communication with the audience is direct and she invests Bizet’s arias with a marvelous potency. The famous, ‘Au fond du Temple Saint’, glorifying the lead’s friendship sung by Zurga and Nadir was an accomplished airing of an operatic gem carved deep into our cultural heart. Bizet’s score, insightfully and vibrantly directed by Graham Abbott with an expressive Queensland Symphony Orchestra ensured a compelling, entertaining production.
3 ½ stars out of 5
The Pearlfishers
Queensland Opera and Queensland Symphony Orchestra
Lyric Theatre, QPAC
25, 27, 30 June, 1 & 3 June
