The Artists of The Pearl Fishers

It's officially time to start talking about The Pearl Fishers, Georges Bizet's atmospheric tale of love, friendship, and sacrifice that he wrote ten years before he composed Carmen. Today we wanted to share some early insight into the talented group of musicians performing this fantastic piece.

To see Florida Grand Opera's lush and exotic production of Bizet's The Pearl Fishers, please call our Box Office Monday-Friday, 10am-4pm,  at 800.741.1010 or order securely online, 24-hours a day, at FGO.org.

CLICK HERE TO ORDER YOUR TICKETS

Florida Grand Opera Welcomes Maestro Barrese

Maestro Barrese

Full of rousing choruses and exotic music, The Pearl Fishers will transport audiences to a fantasticalAnthony Barrese, who will lead the FGO orchestra. Barrese, who currently serves as Artistic Director and Principal Conductor of Opera Southwest, has earned accolades as both a composer and a conductor from such widely-regarded publications as The Washington Post, Financial Times, The New York Times, and Opera Now.
land with drama that resonates through the ages. Making his FGO debut conducting this romantic masterpiece is

Barrese is the recipient of the 2007 Georg Solti Foundation U.S. award for young conductors. As a musicologist, Mr. Barrese rediscovered, prepared, and edited the critical edition of Franco Faccio’s opera Amleto, in conjunction with Casa Ricordi.  He is the only American in the Rediscovered Works Category to be nominated for an International Opera Award. The opera debuted in 2014 and will be performed at the Bregenz Festival in Austria in 2016. 

“I am thrilled to welcome Tony to Florida Grand Opera. He is an outstanding musician and I look forward to his performance as he brings The Pearl Fishers to life,” FGO General Director Susan Danis comments.

The Voices of The Pearl Fishers

Joining Barrese is a cast of both established and up-and-coming artists who are making headlines across the country.

Soprano Sydney Mancasola, who recently exploded into the opera scene with her 2013 Metropolitan Opera National Council Audition regional win, will be making her FGO debut in the role of the beautiful Leïla on February 28. She was also a winner of the Young Patronesses of the Opera vocal competition in 2011. The Philadelphia Inquirer recently stated that “[Mancasola’s] combination of deep-colored voice, solid technique, and general sense of fun was something any right-minded opera company would jump at,” and FGO certainly did. Ms. Mancasola will perform the role of Leïla on February 28 as well as on March 1, 3, and 6.

Sydney Mancasola
Leïla: Feb 28, Mar 1, 3, 6

Sharing the role with Mancasola is soprano Emily Birsan (Leïla: Mar 7, 12, 14). On the brink of an international career, and currently gracing the cover of Classical Singer Magazine, Birsan most recently finished her third year as a member of the Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Opera Center at the Lyric Opera of Chicago and has recently returned for the Lyric’s 60th anniversary season for a role in R. Strauss’ Capriccio. Birsan has been praised by Madison Isthmus as having “…strong, clear, handsomely balanced and beautiful voice... an artist with a very great promise for the future.”

Emily Birsan
Leïla: Mar 7, 12, 14

The roles of Nadir and Zurga will be sung by French tenor Philippe Talbot (Nadir: February 28, Corey McKern (Zurga: February 28, March 3, 7, 12, 14), both of whom will be making their FGO debut. Talbot has been called a “clear, handsome tenor” by The Classical Review. McKern has also performed the same role with Syracuse Opera, which was met with critical acclaim.

Philippe Talbot
Nadir: Feb 28, Mar 3, 7, 12, 14

Corey McKern
Zurga: Feb 28, Mar 3, 7, 12, 14

Florida Grand Opera Young Artist Daniel Bates will return to the FGO stage as Nadir (March 1, 6) after a celebrated performance as Ferrando in the company’s production of Così fan tutte. Bates will be joined by fellow Young Artist baritone Will Hughes, as Zurga (March 1, 6), who made his FGO debut this past fall as Prince Yamadori in FGO’s production of Madama Butterfly.

Daniel Bates
Nadir: March 1, 6

Will Hughes
Zurga: Mar 1, 6

Turkish bass Burak Bilgili will portray the high-priest Nourabad. From the time of his professional operatic debut at the Teatro alla Scala in 2002, to his 2003 win of Cardiff’s “Singer of the World” Competition, Bilgili has enjoyed a highly successful international career. Bilgili is no stranger to South Florida, having performed at both Palm Beach Opera and Florida Grand Opera numerous times, including his performance as Nourabad in FGO’s 2008 production of The Pearl Fishers.

Burak Bilgili
Nourabad

CAST | The Pearl Fishers

Leïla	………………………………………		Sydney Mancasola *
			Feb 28, Mar 1, 3, 6
	………………………………………		Emily Birsan *
			Mar 7, 12, 14
Nadir	………………………………………		Philippe Talbot *
			Feb 28, Mar 3, 7, 12, 14
	………………………………………		Daniel Bates
			Mar 1, 6
Zurga	………………………………………		Corey McKern *
			Feb 28, Mar 3, 7, 12, 14
	………………………………………		Will Hughes
			Mar 1, 6
Nourabad	………………………………………		Burak Bilgili
Conductor	………………………………………		Anthony Barrese
Director	………………………………………		A. Scott Parry
Production	………………………………………		Sarasota Opera
* = FGO Debut

SCHEDULE | The Pearl Fishers
**Sung in French with projected titles in English and Spanish without amplification**

MIAMI
Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County / Ziff Ballet Opera House
Saturday, February 28, 2015         7:00pm
Sunday, March 1, 2015                 2:00pm
Tuesday, March 3, 2015                8:00pm
Friday, March 6 2015                    8:00pm
Saturday,March 7, 2015                8:00pm

FORT LAUDERDALE
Broward Center for the Performing Arts / Au-Rene Theater
Thursday, March 12, 2015             7:30pm
Saturday, March 14, 2015              7:30pm


TICKETS AND DONATIONS

Tickets start at just $12 at the Arsht Center and $21 at the Broward Center.

Cost:

$21–$250          Opening Night at the Adrienne Arsht Center
$19–$225          Friday and Second Saturday Arsht Center performances
$12–$180          Sunday and Tuesday Arsht Center performances
$21–$200          all Broward Center performances

FGO’s Box Office is located at the Doral Center on 8390 NW 25 St., Miami, FL 33122, and is open to the public from 10:00am to 4:00pm, Monday through Friday during the season. Tickets may also be purchased by phone at 800.741.1010 or online at www.FGO.org.

Florida Grand Opera is now asking all those who enjoy and support grand opera in South Florida to make their gifts or pledges today. Donations can be made online at www.tickets.FGO.org/contribution. For more information, or to make a gift or pledge, please contact Senior Individual Giving Officer Max Kellogg at 305.403.3320 or mkellogg@fgo.org

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To see Florida Grand Opera's lush and exotic production of Bizet's The Pearl Fishers, please call our Box Office Monday-Friday, 10am-4pm,  at 800.741.1010 or order securely online, 24-hours a day, at FGO.org.

CLICK HERE TO ORDER YOUR TICKETS