Bizet: The Pearl Fishers

Georges Bizet (Composer), Jean Fournet (Conductor), Lamoureux Concert Association Orchestra (Orchestra), Léopold Simoneau (Performer), Pierrette Alarie (Performer), Rene Bianco (Performer), Xavier Depraz (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Léopold Simoneau, Pierrette Alarie, Rene Bianco, Xavier Depraz
• Orchestra: Lamoureux Concert Association Orchestra
• Conductor: Jean Fournet
• Composer: Georges Bizet
• Audio CD (September 13, 2005)
• SPARS Code: ADD
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: Philips
• ASIN: B00002456O
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #36,172 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #14 in Music > Classical > Historical Periods > Classical (c.1770-1830) > Vocal & Song > Romances
  • #24 in Music > Classical > Opera & Vocal > Languages > French

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

30 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Now hear this, August 2, 2007

By 

J. Ruggirello "jrugg" (Long Beach, CA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Bizet: The Pearl Fishers (Audio CD)

If you don't know this opera, or only know the famous tenor/baritone duet, you are in for a treat. I bought this performance on a budget LP a long, long time ago because I liked Carmen, I vaguely knew that Nadir was one of Caruso's roles, and I had played a piano edition of the tenor Romance as a student. That was about it. I had never heard the duet or any of the choruses.

Well, I listened, fell in love, and wore out that LP. There is one unbelievably gorgeous tune after another in the first and second acts. This opera is very different from Carmen as it turns out; it's more like Lakme and those French Romantic pieces by people like Auber and Lalo.

The voices are lovely. Pierette Alarie and Leopold Simoneau, married in real life, had beautiful voices and great flair for the French style. Simoneau especially has a sweet tone and lyricism that are enchanting; the Romance is very special. Alarie's voice is a little fluttery but very pretty. Rene Bianco does a solid job with the baritone part and Xavier Depraz, a fine French bass, is the Snidely Whiplash villain.

Orchestra and chorus (which has a lot to do) are good, and conductor Fournet keeps things moving along idiomatically.

Even if the third act (which doesn't contain much great music and in which the story kind of falls apart) is a bit of a letdown, this opera is really enjoyable to listen to and this is the recording of choice.

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the great recordings of its time, July 22, 2008

By 

Marc B. Haefele (santa monica CA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Bizet: The Pearl Fishers (Audio CD)

One of the very finest French opera recordings of the entire post WW II era. Simoneau and Alarie are flawless and magical together; I don't think anyone has ever been better. Depraz excels in his complicated and slightly awkward role. Fournet's direction drives Bizet's music to all its stunning climaxes without slighting a single musical detail. On the whole, the best "Pearlfishers" I know.

Be it said that this is apparently a 1953 recording. It's of a very high standard for that period, but it is not in stereo and is a bit bass shy.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars very appealing, December 9, 2009

By 

Michael F. Burdick (Chino Valley, AZ, United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Bizet: The Pearl Fishers (Audio CD)

This was my first hearing of The Pearl Fishers, and I was pleasantly surprised by the appealing music of this lesser-known opera by Bizet. At times, the music sounds like that of his Symphony in C, although there is an "exotic" tinge to much of the orchestration and harmonies (in an attempt to create "Hindu-sounding" music). The music also reminds me of Gounod, especially Gounod's Romeo et Juliette. Although this opera is short on plot and drama, it is one of the few operas that I can listen to from beginning to end without getting bored or distracted. Bizet knew how to write appealing melodies and ensembles.

There are two negatives, however, that I should mention. First, the engineered sound is from the 50's, and this is most noticeable in the somewhat "screechy" sound of the soprano, Pierrette Alerie. I am reminded of Jeannette MacDonald singing in a 40's or 50's musical! (This is not meant as a criticism of Alerie's voice, which is actually very beautiful.) Secondly, there is no libretto in this CD set, so you will have to find one on the Internet, as I did. Unfortunately, I could not find an English translation. But, the French text is pretty basic, so it is not too difficult to understand if you have a basic reading skill in French.

As for the cast, I can find no fault, as all the leads perform admirably and have attractive voices. All in all, this is a performance and recording to treasure, despite its age (from 1954).