Korea National Opera Opens 2015-2016 Seasonal Repertoire With ‘The Pearl Fishers’ By French Composer Georges Bizet

Korea National Opera (KNO) has decided to launch new repertoires every season which will likely help the opera company to work well with foreign producers and artists. Hence for season 2015-2016, KNO opened with "Les Pecheurs de Perles" or "The Pearl Fishers."

The opera was created by French composer Georges Bizet and was first performed on September 30, 1863 at the Theatre Lyrique in Paris. "The Pearl Fishers" entered the repertoire of opera houses globally after Bizet's death, as noted by Korea Joongang Daily on Friday.

Bizet's work revolves around the life of two men who pledged for eternal friendship, however, the relationship was threatened after both of them fell for the same woman. "The Pearl Fishers" is set on the island of Ceylon during the ancient times.

Korea Times forecasted on Oct. 4 that the opera features international cast members which include baritones Paul Gong and Je Sang Chul, tenor Jesus Leon, sopranos Nathalie Manfrino and Hong Ju Young, and bass Park Jun Hyuk.

"I am very thankful that the Korea National Opera took the courageous step to stage such great work of opera" Gong says, noting that he has not seen the opera being staged.

He goes on, "Since I am participating in the performance, I now know why the opera hasn't been performed so often. It is such a difficult piece for the tenor and soprano that unless singers who are capable perform it, it will not be successful."

Jean-Louis Grinda, who led the production, says he tries to make sure that the costumes, lighting and staging are well-organized to make the whole production impressive.

"It was Bizet's first opera, but it is grand with a full melody," he says. "Because the opera covers so many themes and is powerful in so many ways, I tried to break it down as much as I could."

The Monacan director reveals this is his first time to direct "The Pearl Fishers," although he has known the opera since he was young.

"Because this is a love story, although it also involves two men's vow of eternal friendship being threatened by this one woman, I've tried to make the flow as elegant as possible while making the stage as simple as possible," he says.

As the opening act of KNO's season 2015-2016, "The Pearl Fishers" was staged on October 15 at the Opera Theater of Seoul Arts Center in Seoul. The opera will run through the weekend at 3:00 p.m.