(Les Pêcheurs de Perles)
Opera by Georges Bizet
Libretto by Eugène Cormon and Michael Carré
Premiere: September 30, 1863, Paris

May 4, 6m, 8, 2007
Cutler Majestic Theatre at Emerson College
Boston, Massachusetts

Zurga: Robert Honeysucker, baritone
Nadir: Yeghishe Manucharyan, tenor
Leila:  Jee Hyun Lim, soprano
Nourabad:  David Cushing 
  
Conducted by Gil Rose
Directed by James Marvel
Scenic Design by Susan Zeeman Rogers
Costume Design by Nancy Leary
Lighting Design by Christopher Ostrom

Opera Boston closes its season with Georges Bizet’s exotic and lyrical Pearl Fishers, selected to honor and showcase one of Boston’s most renowned singers, baritone Robert Honeysucker.  Mr. Honeysucker will appear as Zurga, the chief of a Ceylon fishing village, whose renewed rivalry with his beloved friend Nadir over the priestess Leila threatens their friendship and their community.  Mr. Honeysucker has previously appeared with Opera Boston in Luisa Miller, La vie parisienne, and L’étoile. 

Armenian-born tenor Yeghishe Manucharyan appears as Nadir; Mr. Manucharyan’s most recent appearance with Opera Boson was as Rodolfo in 2004’s Luisa Miller. 

Soprano Jee Hyun Lim makes her company debut as Leila.  In the 2005-06 season, Ms. Lim appeared as Cio-Cio San in Madama Butterfly with the New York City Opera, and with the Austin Lyric Opera.  She has also recently sung Mimi in La Bohême with the Lyric Opera of Chicago, Atlanta Opera, and Minnesota Opera. 

The production will be directed by James Marvel, an emerging opera stage director who will make his company debut.  His previous engagements in Boston include Romeo et Juliette and Glass’s Galileo Galilei for the Boston University Opera Institute.  Mr. Marvel is also a frequent collaborator with the Utah Festival Opera, Opera Santa Barbara, and Asheville Lyric Opera. 

Scenic designer Susan Zeeman Rogers returns for her fourth Opera Boston production.  Her previous work with the company includes Nixon in China, Alceste, and L’étoile. 

Costume designer Nancy Leary completes the season with Opera Boston. 

Resident Lighting Designer Christopher Ostrom completes his ninth season with the company.