Andrea Bocelli and Bryn Terfel " The World Is Their Oyster!" *http://www.abmusica.com/pearlfishers.htm | "Classical superstars Bryn Terfel and Andrea Bocelli had the audience on its feet in a rousing ovation for their stunning Pearl Fishers duet, the closing number of this year's Classical BRIT Awards at London's Royal Albert Hall. A big-hearted performance full of warmth, passion and sheer vocal brilliance, it was the high point of a sensational awards ceremony and promises to be the high point of the disc we've all been waiting for - Bryn's new CD, out later this autumn." * Source: Classic FM Magazine, Awards 2003, Issue 103 Bryn's new CD will be out in October 2003 and is entitled "Bryn Terfel Sings Favourites". | During the Classical BRIT Awards in May 2003, Andrea picked up two awards ... Album of the Year and Best Selling CD of the Year for Sentimento. | |
"Au fond du temple saint" from The Pearl Fishers (Les P阠heurs de Perles) Music by Georges Bizet Libretto in French by Michel Carr� and Eug鑞e CormonScene: The coast of Ceylon. Zurga, the newly elected leader of the little world of Cingalese fishermen, has scarcely been inaugurated when Nadir, a long-lost friend of his youth, appears. After greeting one another with affection, they recall the time when they were foolish enough to quarrel over a beautiful priestess in the temple of Brahma, Leila. In the duet, "Au fond du temple saint" the two men sing rapturously about falling in love at first sight with a beautiful woman as she was revealed to them for an instant in the dim, incense-clouded temple. For each it was an almost mystical experience. When they realize they were in love with the same woman, they are alarmed. Believing themselves cured of the old infatuation, they swear eternal friendship. |
ZURGA C'閠ait le soir! Dans l'air par la brise atti閐i, Les brahmines au front inond� de lumi鑢e, Appelaient lentement la foule � la pri鑢e!
NADIR Au fond du temple saint Par� de fleurs et d'or, Une femme appara顃! ZURGA Une femme appara顃! NADIR Je crois la voir encore! ZURGA Je crois la voir encore!
NADIR La foule prostern閑 La regarde, etonn閑, Et murmure tous bas: Voyez, c'est la d閑sse! Qui dans l'ombre se dresse Et vers nous tend les bras!
ZURGA Son voile se soul鑦e! � vision! � r陃e! La foule est � genoux!
ZURGA & NADIR Oui, c'est elle! C'est la d閑sse plus charmante et plus belle! Oui, c'est elle! C'est la d閑sse qui descend parmi nous! Son voile se soul鑦e et la foule est � genoux!
NADIR Mais � travers la foule Elle s'ouvre un passage!
ZURGA Son long voile d閖� Nous cache son visage!
NADIR Mon regard, h閘as! La cherche en vain!
ZURGA Elle fuit!
NADIR Elle fuit! Mais dans mon 鈓e soudain Quelle 閠range ardeur s'allume!
ZURGA Quel feu nouveau me consume!
NADIR Ta main repousse ma main!
ZURGA Ta main repousse ma main!
NADIR De nos c渦rs l'amour s'empare Et nous change en ennemis!
ZURGA Non, que rien ne nous s閜are!
NADIR Non, rien!
ZURGA Que rien ne nous s閜are!
NADIR Non, rien!
ZURGA Jurons de rester amis! NADIR Jurons de rester amis! ZURGA Jurons de rester amis!
ZURGA & NADIR Oh oui, jurons de rester amis! Oui, c'est elle! C'est la d閑sse! En ce jour qui vient nous unir, Et fid鑜e � ma promesse, Comme un fr鑢e je veux te ch閞ir! C'est elle, c'est la d閑sse Qui vient en ce jour nous unir! Oui, partageons le m阭e sort, Soyons unis jusqu'� la mort! | BRYN It was in the evening! In the air cooled by a breeze, The brahmanes with faces flooded with light, Slowly called the crowd to prayer!
ANDREA At the back of the holy temple, decorated with flowers and gold, A woman appears! BRYN A woman appears! ANDREA I can still see her! BRYN I can still see her!
ANDREA The prostrate crowd looks at her amazed and murmurs under its breath: look, this is the goddess looming up in the shadow and holding out her arms to us.
BRYN Her veil parts slightly. What a vision! What a dream! The crowd is kneeling.
BRYN & ANDREA Yes, it is she! It is the goddess, more charming and more beautiful. Yes, it is she! It is the goddess who has come down among us. Her veil has parted and the crowd is kneeling.
ANDREA But through the crowd she makes her way.
BRYN Already her long veil hides her face from us.
ANDREA My eyes, alas! Seek her in vain!
BRYN She flees!
ANDREA She flees! But what is this strange flame which is suddenly kindled in my soul!
BRYN What unknown fire is destroying me?
ANDREA Your hand pushes mine away!
BRYN Your hand pushes mine away!
ANDREA Love takes our hearts by storm and turns us into enemies!
BRYN No, let nothing part us!
ANDREA No, nothing!
BRYN Let nothing part us!
ANDREA No, nothing!
BRYN Let us swear to remain friends! ANDREA Let us swear to remain friends! BRYN Let us swear to remain friends!
BRYN & ANDREA Oh yes, let us swear to remain friends! Yes, it is her, the goddess, who comes to unite us this day. And, faithful to my promise, I wish to cherish you like a brother! It is her, the goddess, who comes to unite us this day! Yes, let us share the same fate, let us be united until death! | http://www.abmusica.com/pearlfishers.htm |
The Pearl Fishers
(Original French title: Les Pêcheurs de perles)
An Opera by Georges Bizet
Besides "Carmen," Bizet was the composer of "Les Pêcheurs de Perles" (The Pearl Fishers) and "Djamileh."
"Les Pêcheurs de Perles," the words by Carré and Cormon, is in three acts. It was produced at the Théâtre Lyrique, Paris, September 29, 1863. London saw it under the title of "Leila," April 22, 1887, at Covent Garden; as "Pescatori di Perle." May 18, 1899. The New York production was at the Metropolitan Opera House, January 11, 1896, with Calvé; and November 13, 1916, with Caruso. The scene is Ceylon, the period barbaric.
The first act shows a company of pearl fishers on the coast. They choose Zurga as chief. He and his friend Nadir, in the duet, "Au fond du temple saint" (In the depths of the temple), recall their former rivalry for the hand of the beautiful priestess, Leila, and how they swore never to see her again.
Now approaches a veiled priestess who comes annually to pray for the success of the pearl fishers. She prays to Brahma. Nadir recognizes Leila. His love for her at once revives. She goes into the temple. He sings "Je crois encore entendre" (I hear as in a dream). When she returns and again invokes the aid of Brahma, she manages to convey to Nadir the knowledge that she has recognized and still loves him.
In the second act, in a ruined temple, the high priest, Nourabad, warns her, on pain of death, to be faithful to her religious vows. Leila tells him he need have no fear. She never breaks a promise. The necklace she wears was given her by a fugitive, whose hiding place she refused to reveal, although the daggers of his pursuers were pointed at her heart. She had promised not to betray him. Her solo, "Comme autrefois," etc. (A fugitive one day), is followed by the retirement of the priest, and the entrance of Nadir. There is an impassioned love duet, the effect of which is heightened by a raging storm without: "Ton coeur n’a pas compris (You have not understood). Nourabad, returning unexpectedly, overhears the lovers, and summons the people. Zurga, as chief and judge, desires to be merciful for the sake of his friend. But, Nourabad tears the veil from Leila. It is the woman Nadir has sworn never to see -- the woman Zurga also loves. Enraged, he passes sentence of death upon them.
In the third act, the camp of Zurga, Leila expresses her willingness to die, but pleads for Nadir, "Pour noi je ne crains rien" (I have no fear). Zurga is implacable, until he recognizes the necklace she wears as one he had given many years before to the girl who refused when he was a fugitive to deliver him to his enemies. The scene changes to the place of execution, where has been erected a funeral pyre. Just as the guilty lovers are to be led to their death, a distant glow is seen. Zurga cries out that the camp is on fire. The people rush away to fight the flames. Zurga tells Leila and Nadir that he set fire to the camp. He then unfastens their chains and bids them flee. Terzet: "O lumière sante" (O sacred light).
From a hiding place Nourabad has witnessed the scene. When the people return, he denounces Zurga’s act in setting fire to the camp and permitting Leila and Nadir to escape. Zurga is compelled to mount the pyre. A deep glow indicates that the forest is ablaze. The people prostrate themselves to Brahma, whose wrath they fear.
Leila is for soprano, Nadir tenor, Zurga baritone, Nourabad bass.
In the performance with Calvé only two acts were given. The rest of the program consisted of "La Navarraise," by Massenet.
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