Bizet: Les Pecheurs de Perles The Pearl Fishers

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.

I was first exposed to Pearl Fishers in 1991 when I had just started a new job at an opera company and it was one of the first shows that we did when I started. I remember liking it very much. Over the years since then, I have not heard the whole opera, just the most famous arias (which are great of course). Well fast forward 21 years, now working at a different opera company, and we are about to do it this Fall. I wanted to refamiliarize myself with it and WOW, what a wonderful opera! I remember all over again just how much I like it. In addition to those wonderful arias that you always hear, the choral parts are extraordinary and very powerful. I can't understand why people refer to Pearl Fishers as "Bizet's other opera". In my opinion it has just as many beautiful moments as Carmen. I love it. I am not a musician or an expert in the musicality of opera; however, having worked in the business (on the production side) for over 25 years, I think my ears (and my heart) have learned a thing or two about the musical art that is opera. This is a wonderful recording and sounds pure to me. Give it a try and you might just fall in love with "Bizet's other opera".

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.

I have only had the opportunity to see this opera once. It was a beautifully performed opera by the Kansas City Opera, and I just recently got around to purchasing the album. This is a stunning recording. After listening to this recording I have a hard time understanding why it isn't a more frequently performed piece. Be that as it may, we can enjoy a great recording of this beautiful, though relatively obscure opera.

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.

I haven't seen much of Barbara Hendricks, but Bernstein thought enough of her to user for his final recording of Mahler's 2nd. This is a great recording of a so-so opera. "Au Fond du Temple Saint" is wonderful, as you might expect.

I bought the above recording and found it not o0nly to be excellent in sound but in performance as well.I am completely happy with this wonderful album and all concerned in the recording itself are of the very highest vocal quality.I never rwealized untilI heard of it what beautiful melodies are in it.

Artikel wie beschrieben, ich mag diese Aufnahme

Perfect!!! 👍

Eine wunderbare Oper von Georg Bizet. Herlichen Arien. Diese Oper wird leider zu wenig gespielt, ich liebe sie jedoch. Habe schon lange danach gesucht.

Bought this as a Birthday present for my husband and he really loves it.

When I first bought this CD I had a number of issues. I didn't think the opera was all that good, and I disliked some of singing, Barbara Hendricks in particular. Now, after listening several times, I think I was too quick to judge - and dismiss - this opera and this recording.It's not Carmen (what is?), and yes, the best, or at least best known, number comes right at the beginning, but there are so many other great things to enjoy. Bizet was one of those very gifted composers who couldn't help writing really good tunes. The Pearl Fishers is full of them. The opera sounds very like Massenet in many places (not a criticism) and has a particularly gallic charm and grace which I find captivating.As to the singing, it grew on me. I still find Hendricks' voice fizzy and quavery (there is a rival recording with Ileana Cotrubas, who has a purer voice). But again, the word that comes to mind is charm, and the coloratura passages are effortless. John Aler is a perfect fit for the high-lying tenor writing that is so characteristic of French operas composers (Gounod, and Massenet) and is at his very best here. Gino Quilico is another stalwart of this repertoire and puts in a sterling performance in a slightly ungrateful role.Now it's under my skin, so to speak, I am more certain of this opera's merits. It's flawed dramatically, and not all of it is at the same high level of inspiration but I believe it is a truly underrated work, and although I can't make any comparisons with other recordings (I think there are three others), this performance is excellent.Definitely worth adding to any collection of French opera (mine) that already includes a couple of Carmens (is Carmen the perfect opera?), several Massenets and Poulenc's Carmelites.