January 25, 2013

Georges Bizet:The Pearl Fishers 
Concertgebouw, Amsterdam 
Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra and Chorus 
Michel Plasson, conductor

CAST: Annick Massis (Leila); Charles Castronovo (Nadir); Jean-Francois Lapointe (Zurga); Nicolas Teste (Nourabad)

Yes, Bizet did write something besides Carmen! No less a critic than Hector Berlioz described The Pearl Fishers, Bizet's "other" opera, as "beautiful and expressive ... filled with fire and rich coloring." This performance comes to us from one of music's truly legendary venues -- and what may be the world's best acoustics.