"The waves of the coast
of Sri Lanka bring the music of Bizet to you"
The Pearl Fishers on 9th and 11th of January, 2008 at BMICH
PRESS RELEASE
Press and information Service Embassy of France in Sri Lanka and the
Maldives
The Pearl Fishers, an opera composed by the French composer Georges
Bizet, is a fiery love story set on an island off the coast of Sri Lanka
amongst the simple fishing folk. More than 140 years after its composition,
The Pearl Fishers is coming back to its country of origin: Sri Lanka.
Produced by The Neemrana Music Foundation, this unique event will gather
150 Sri Lankan-Indo-French singers, musicians and dancers: 25 musicians
from Symphonic Orchestra of Sri Lanka and 5 Indian musicians, 12 French
Musicians from the Pelleas Orchestra, A chorus of 60 Sri Lankan and
Indian singers and 8 Dancers from Sadhya Ballet.
Glorious and evocative, this version is conducted by one of today's
most talented european conductor - Benjamin Levy - accompannied by some
highly renowed professionals from all parts of the world :
Producer: Francis Wacziarg
A world-renowned stage director : Patricia Panton (South - Africa)
Conductor: Benjamin Levy who has already received many awards as the
Musical revelation (2005)
Conductor's assistant: Ajit Abeysekera (National Symphonic Orchestra
- Sri Lanka)
Choir conductor: Menaka de Fonseka who is a winner of the SAARC Women's
Association award for music in 2002 and the Indian choir by Gabriella
Boda Rechner
Stage: Senaka de Silva who is long been renowned for incorporating
Sri Lankan cultural, historical and social themes into his creations.
The corean tenor Matteo Lee and the indian baritone Vikrant Subramaniam.
Synopsis
Bizet's sensuous and romantic "The Pearl Fishers", a tale
of love, jealousy and redemption, transports you to the land of Ceylon,
where ancient gods rule. East meets West when two friends, Nadir and
Zurga, both captivated by a young priestess, Leïla, have their
loyalties, friendship and promises challenged. The Pearl Fishers conjures
up some of the most sensuous and alluring images in opera: the lush
and mysterious Sri Lankan landscape, a ruined temple at sunset, pearl
divers and an enigmatic veiled beauty. The Pearl Fishers melds passion
and exoticism into a spellbinding story.
Sponsors & Partners: Delair Events from Delmage group, Sri Lanka
Tourist Board, The High Commission of Sri Lanka in India/ The India
Sri Lanka foundation, The French Embassy in Sri Lanka, CulturesFrance
in Paris, Lafarge, BMICH Auditorium, Tourist Hotels Association of Sri
Lanka, ICCR (Indian Council for Cultural Relations)
Media Sponsors: Maharaja Group (4 radio channels and 3 TV channels,
including MTV, first private television Network in Sri Lanka in terms
of weight and market shares), Wijeya Newspapers, The Galle Literary
Festival
For further information please contact :
Press and information Service
Embassy of France in Sri Lanka and the Maldives
Tel: 2 639 400
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