Customer Reviews

Bizet - Les Pêcheurs de Perles (The Pearl Fishers) / Hendricks, Aler, Quilico, Capitole de Toulouse, Plasson

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4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This recording is a must have.

For many years after it's premiere. "The Pearl Fishers" held a place in the repertoire nearly as important as "Carmen", but its popularity dropped significantly during the course of the 20th century. A compelling case for the opera is made with this recording.

Barbara Hendricks, John Aler, and Gino Quilico are three of the most stylish, musical, and intelligent singers of their generation. They constitute an un-French cast proving to be (as each has done elsewhere) remarkable exponents of French style. They each contribute a beautiful, idiomatic performance that is truly glorious. Hendricks and Aler are just plain exquisite. Quilico is the best Zurga on record, and his dynamic performance keeps the dramatic balance on the baritone.

Michele Plasson leads a wonderful performance, capturing Bizet's atmospheric colors and dramatic contrasts with a skill hardly equaled on other recordings. He utilizes the orchestra and chorus to maximum effect throughout. The dramatic choral finale of the second act is magnificent and spine tingling; in lighter passages of the score when delicacy is called for, that is what is delivered.

Questions of performance edition, and what is and is not really Bizet, are points well covered elsewhere. However, I must praise the choice here to end the opera with the cathartic reprise of the melody from the Act 1 tenor / baritone duet. Sung by the tenor and soprano in the finale, it reinforces the conflicted friendship between the two men as the thematic and moral center if the opera.

Given the performances, conducting, and recorded sound superior to earlier releases, this recording is a clear first choice.

About 12 years ago, when I was first learning about opera, I relied heavily on the recommendations of a friend of mine, who I consider to be an expert. This friend is an opera devotee of the highest order; he has hundreds of opera recordings and attended his first Met performance in 1948 or so. He has been a lover of opera since his teens, and has committed many Italian librettos to memory. He had been trying to interest me in opera for years, but I was almost 40 when I finally decided that it was time I took the plunge. Naturally, I allowed him to suggest which recordings to acquire, which to steer clear of, and why.

When I shortly started asking, "What is this opera by Bizet called `the Pearl Fishers', he told me to "get the version with Micheau and Gedda - it's known as the best recording of it". So I ordered it, but in the meanwhile, I also acquired this 1988 version with Hendricks and Aler. When I mentioned it to my friend, he sniffed, "I don't know it, so I can't comment. But you can't go wrong with the Micheau / Gedda interpretation." I tried to tell him how much I liked the Hendricks / Aler recording, but he told me to wait until I'd heard the one he'd suggested.

Some weeks later I finally acquired the recommended classic recording, but, having grown accustomed to the Hendricks and Aler reading, I found the earlier version somewhat lacking. So I bought a new copy of what was now (and has remained to this day) my favorite opera recording, and mailed it to my old friend. I sat back to wait for his opinion.

I didn't wait long. He called me a few days later. "I congratulate you on your taste," he started. "I'm going to tell you something I never thought I'd say - this is not only far and away the best recording I've ever heard of this particular opera, it's one of the best opera recordings I've ever heard in my life!" He then proceeded to tell me how fresh, vibrant and unique he found this recording to be, and later told me that he listened to it every day for weeks, and recently told me he still hasn't grown tired of it.

So, anyone who is contemplating purchasing this glorious recording, I say go for it. My example proves that it will be loved by opera fans both old and new alike.

This is one of the best recordings now available. The words and music are easy to follow if using the Kalmus vocal score (in French with literal English translation). The principals: soprano Hendricks, tenor Aler and baritone Quilico are superb and well balanced. The bass, Courtis, is more than adequate but not menacing. The chorus has the power and majesty expected.

This recording is an excellent purchase for the novice opera enthusiast, the opera aficionado, or for those who think they do not like opera. It should be in all public libraries.

This opera is through-composed in the sense that there is no filler material, no 'going through the motions' music, none of the uninspired material that poisons so much of the operatic works so often performed and recorded today. The genius belatedly recognized for Carmen is fully on display in this work of ravishing beauty. I first heard this recording when relatively new to opera, and in the 15 years since have found little that favorably compares. The subordination of the music to the words/story/action that is a hallmark of American opera and quite typical of most works composed in the 20th century is thankfully nowhere to be found in Bizet. An analysis of the score will validate what one hears --- continuously beautiful melody, interesting harmonic construction, graceful orchestration in the French style championed by Berlioz,....in effect, an opera that never bores, never seems dull or routine, never causes the mind to wander to other things. And a performance that fully deserves the fatuously overused 'committed' phrase that one encounters in many mainstream musical reviews. You will not be disappointed.

There is no question in my mind about which role Barbara Hendricks was born to sing.

In the role of Leila, she achieves a miracle. The voice is simply ideal for the music, like a swathe of silk mysteriously draped over the invisible air. The French language has an excellent exponent in her, too. This is the period, style and language in which Ms Hendricks beautifully exemplifies the best qualities required of a Leila.

John Aler is passionate and beautifully contained as Nadir, and an excellent Zurga is met with in Gino Quilico. The famous "duet from Pearlfishers" is most exquisitely performed here, and the lesser-known but no less lovely duet work between Leila and Nadir has never sounded better than in this recording.

The chorus, too, rises to the height of the occasion. Wonderfully supported by an excellent orchestra and conducted by Michel Plasson, the chorus add to the extraordinarily lovely spellbinding quality of this recording.

Les Pecheurs de Perles was one of the first operas I ever heard as a little girl. To this day, it remains a favourite, and I cannot recommend any recording of the opera more highly than this one.

If you like opera, or even if you think you don't, you'll love this performance of The Pearl Fishers. This simple and moving story of friendship and love inspired Bizet to a wealth of melodic, rhythmic, and harmonic invention. The tenor/baritone duet Au fond du temple saint is justly famous; the tenor aria Je crois encore entendre is ravishingly beautiful; and the soprano's coloratura aria is equally lovely.

Fortunately, the cast and conductor are up to the demands of the music. Tenor and soprano must have light, agile voices with high extensions. John Aler and Barbara Hendricks actually make this music sound easy and effortless. Aler brings back memories of the great Leopold Simoneau, and he far exceeds Nicolai Gedda, an outstanding and versatile tenor whose heavier voice has to strain for the high notes of Je crois encore entendre. Hendricks catches the sweetness and innocence of Leila, and her coloratura is light, skillful, beautiful of tone. Gino Quilico matches Aler in their thrilling duet. Plasson, the orchestra, and the chorus give deeply committed performances. As a final bonus, the French pronunciation is very satisfying.

Not able to find a CD with Nicolai Gedda, I went ahead and ordered this version. Now I am another convert. These men and women are extraordinary talents and we are enjoying this CD immensely. Playing it ten times a day (almost).
I took this chance based on the reviews of others, and they are so right about this version of this fabulous Bizet operal, one of my favorites for over 50 years. Thank you.
Dana in the beautiful Palm Springs desert.

This is certainly one of my favorite opera recordings. I agree with the reviewers who mention that there are few if any "routine" moments in this opera. I am reminded of the taughtness of a work such as "Rigoletto".
The music is ravishing and the opera abounds with memorable arias and duets....the famous ACTI duet and also "Je Crois..." as well as "Comme Autrefois" and Zurga'a aria.
The choruses are lovely too.
The singers are outstanding as well. Barbara Hendricks can lack a bit of emotion in her singing but does have a ravishing tone and is technically wonderful.
Bizet's first famous opera is, I think, greatly underrated and deserves a more permanent place in the repertory.
Buy this recording.....

I confess I have never heard a full version of Les Pecheurs de Perles although I have heard many arias from the likes of Di Stefano, Bjoerling, Pavarotti, etc. In spite of this, I will go out on a limb and say that I can hardly imagine a more beautiful rendition. The singers, especially Hendricks, Aler, and Quilico were simply wonderful. I must now seek out other recordings of Hendricks and Aler as they represent to me what is most beautiful about opera. The clarity and the strength of their voices, combine with such sweetness that the result is just magical. It is not often you get all three. I cannot recommend this beautiful recording enough.

OK, maybe not. Having produced Carmen, one of the major theatrical works of the 19th century, The Pearl Fishers will probably never be considered Bizet's greatest work. Yet for sheer sensual beauty, it's hard to think of a work that can rival it. From the famous, knock-out duet for tenor & baritone in the first act to the rousing chorus that ends Act II, and the nostalgic return of the duet in the concluding scene, it's one gorgeous moment to the next. I bought this recording on the strength of other reviews here at Amazon: it's a fine document of a beautiful score.