Bizet’s Les Pêcheurs de Perles

Director: Penny Woolcock

Conductor: Gianandrea Noseda

Cast: Diana Damrau (Leïla), Matthew Polenzani (Nadir), Mariusz Kwiecien (Zurga), Nicolas Testé (Nourabad)

Bizet’s gorgeous opera of lust and longing set in the Far East returns to the Met stage for the first time in 100 years. Soprano Diana Damrau stars as Leïla, the beautiful Hindu priestess pursued by rival pearl divers competing for her hand. Her suitors are tenor Matthew Polenzani and baritone Mariusz Kwiecien, who sing the lilting duet “Au fond du temple saint,” which opera fans know and adore. Director Penny Woolcock explores the timeless themes of pure love, betrayal, and vengeance in a production that vividly creates an undersea world on the stage of the Met. Conductor Gianandrea Noseda brings his romantic flair to the lush score from the composer of Carmen.

Act I
A village of pearl divers swears loyalty to Zurga, a local leader. The fisherman Nadir returns after a year away. He and  Zurga recall how their competing love for a priestess nearly destroyed their friendship. Nadir swears that he has stayed away from her. Nourabad, the High Priest, brings a priestess to the village. Nadir realizes that she is Leïla, the priestess he still loves. Zurga imposes an oath of obedience upon her. Nadir reveals that, having met Leïla illicitly, he has followed her to the village. As she begins to pray, he calls out to her, and she answers his love.

Act II
Nourabad tells Leïla that she can now sleep but stresses the importance of her vow. She describes how she once protected a fugitive who gave her a necklace as thanks. Leïla dreams of Nadir. He arrives, but as a storm breaks out, Nourabad discovers the couple and denounces them. Zurga protects Nadir when the villagers demand his death, but when Zurga recognizes Leïla, he calls for their execution.

Act III
Zurga’s anger has passed, and he reflects on Nadir’s fate. Leïla intercedes for Nadir, and Zurga relents. But when he see how much Leïla loves Nadir, he commands Nourabad to take her to be sacrificed. Leïla asks one of the divers to bring her necklace to her mother. Zurga seizes it with a cry. The people prepare for the ritual deaths. Zurga stops them because the village is on fire, and they flee. Zurga releases Nadir and Leïla, explaining that he started the fire to rescue them. He was the fugitive whom Leïla once saved. The lovers escape, and Zurga is left behind.

Ticket information
Ticket price: 4100 HUF

Tickets are available at the Cassa of the Urania National Filmtheater (open every day 11:00-20:30, Credit Cards are accepted) and in the Ticket Sale System of Interticket and Jegymester (available in English too)

Discounted tickets are available at the price of 3800 for those purchasing tickets for at least 5 different performances for the season or the summer selection at the same time.

Please note that after the start of the screening, you can only take a seat on the floor side.

Thank you for your understanding!
Directorate of Uránia National Film Theater