This newest Opera in English release from Chandos features 79 minutes of Bizet’s Pearl Fishers, which means that less than a half-hour of the opera is missing. You have to assume that it is therefore designed for fans of the specific singers performing here, or for fans of opera in English, or for those who already own another performance of this lovely-if-uneven bauble of French Orientalism. Hearing the text in English does not add to the opera’s dramatic believability; it is still an ordinary love-triangle, albeit in an exotic setting, in which people speak somewhat stiltedly to one another. “Remorse has made me giddy” probably sounds no better in French, and neither does the chorus’ entreaty to Zurga in Scene 1: “The man we want to be our master…Zurga, dear friend, Zurga, dear friend, is you!” And his response, “Who, me?” does not help. But we’ve heard worse, so on to the performance.
Conductor Brad Cohen uses a new critical edition of the score (the autograph is lost) that reverts to the original ending of the famous Zurga/Nadir duet (the more popular version is offered as an appendix, as is the corny but catchy trio for the lovers composed by Benjamin Godard in the 1880s).
The recording is fine enough so that Bizet’s scoring is clear–the colorful jingling, the frequent use of high winds–and the orchestra plays handsomely. The chorus sounds very British and not at all like fishermen or a particularly pious group. But Rebecca Evans is a lovely Leila, with every bit of coloratura in place and even the highest notes pure. Enunciation takes a beating above the staff, however. Barry Banks, a superb bel canto tenor, sings Nadir’s long lines and beautiful melodies with utter sincerity and grace, but his voice lacks the French suavity the role absolutely requires: Leopold Simoneau on Philips (in a 1953 recording) or Nicolai Gedda (EMI) are the touchstones here. Simon Keenlyside is a fantastic Zurga–passionate, tonally centered, sympathetic, and singing with impeccable diction. Alastair Miles sings what is left of the role of Nourabad with authority. To sum up: If you own either the Simoneau or Gedda (both available at mid-price) you don’t need this, but it’s a nice set of highlights nonetheless. [11/14/2008]
