The Pearl Fishers

In a stroke of good fortune, I found myself availed of tickets for the opera The Pearl Fishers on not just one occasion, but two. The reason this is good fortune is because the first night I got to the performance late and missed the first half! So the second performance, last night, I got to see the whole thing.

Aesthetically, it was very beautiful, the set was simple but brightly colored and interesting to look at. This opera is set in Sri Lanka, so the outfits are all colorful saris and flowing scarves. The lighting to show times of day, storms, stuff like that, was really cool. The dancing was very unusual, too, like a mix of tribal and modern dance. I liked it a lot.

The singing was pretty, but I always think it's pretty! I'm no connoisseur. I found the lead baritone's voice very powerful, but the tenor's voice was so much more emotional, if quieter. It seems like they always are; for whatever reason, that range is just amazing for showing emotion. Even more so than the soprano, in my opinion. I've noticed the tenor is always my favorite part.

However, the plot wasn't my favorite. I felt like they could have fit a lot more story into that length of time. The man and woman in the story were supposed to be so in love, but I didn't feel that strong connection I thought Rodolfo and Mimì have in La Bohème. It's probably not fair that I compare every love story to that one, but whatever. I can if I want.

All in all, lovely, and here is a photo of Zakia (my date, and thank you to Stephanie for the tickets) and I in front of a fountain on the Kennedy Center terrace to commemorate.

I love the Kennedy Center.