The Upcoming
  • Cinema & Tv
    • Movie reviews
    • Film festivals
      • Berlin
      • Tribeca
      • Sundance London
      • Cannes
      • Locarno
      • Venice
      • London
      • Toronto
    • Show reviews
  • Music
    • Live music
  • Food & Drinks
    • News & Features
    • Restaurant & bar reviews
    • Interviews & Recipes
  • Theatre
  • Art
  • Travel & Lifestyle
  • Literature
  • Fashion & Beauty
    • Accessories
    • Beauty
    • News & Features
    • Shopping & Trends
    • Tips & How-tos
    • Fashion weeks
      • London Fashion Week
      • London Fashion Week Men’s
      • New York Fashion Week
      • Milan Fashion Week
      • Paris Fashion Week
      • Haute Couture
  • Join us
    • Editorial unit
    • Our writers
    • Join the team
    • Join the mailing list
    • Support us
    • Contact us
  • Competitions
  • Facebook

  • Twitter

  • Instagram

  • YouTube

  • RSS

CultureTheatre

Les Pêcheurs de Perles shimmers at Holland Park

Les Pêcheurs de Perles shimmers at Holland Park | Opera review
9 July 2013
Ben Corrigan
Avatar
Ben Corrigan
9 July 2013

The Opera Holland Park production of Les Pêcheurs de Perles, conducted by Matthew Waldren and directed by Oliver Platt, was a perfectly polite way to enjoy a summer evening, thanks to the brilliantly spacious and airy venue and, of course, the music. 

Bizet’s shimmering orientalist score, written in 1863 some years before he composed Carmen, sets the scene in Ceylon where a community of pearl-divers is thrown into turmoil by the arrival of Leila, a beautiful singer whose role is to propitiate the gods while the fishers go about their dangerous business. The plot is, like most of Bizet’s work, very basic, as was the set that saw very few changes and was entirely unconvincing as a harbour. But, the electrifying intensity of Jung Soo Yun as Nadir was gripping enough, as was the breathtaking City of London Sinfonia who enchanted a visibly entertained audience. 

Unfortunately the dancing was surprisingly amateurish, and the acting by most of the chorus was a little forced, but these are not reasons to miss what is a truly wonderful opera of jealousy, love and danger. In addition to Jung Soo Yun, the performance by Soula Parassidis as the mysterious and alluring Leila was beautifully passionate, and technically very accomplished. 

Les Pêcheurs de Perles is not a tear-jerker, and is ultimately unconvincing as a piece of theatre, but was relaxing and enjoyable nonetheless. Overall, dramatically weak but with consistent and truly stunning music. 

★★★★★

Ben Corrigan

Les Pêcheurs de Perles is at Opera Holland Park until 13th July 2013. For further information or to book visit the theatre’s website here.

Related Itemsreview

More in Theatre

Rita at Charing Cross Theatre

★★★★★
Mae Trumata
Read More

Ed Fringe 2022: Hungry

★★★★★
Ella Satin
Read More

Royal Ballet School students return to the stage for post-Covid performances

The editorial unit
Read More

“Theatre is totally unique… there’s simply nothing else quite like it”: An interview with Sir Howard Panter as the new cast of Jersey Boys opens at Trafalgar Theatre

Natallia Pearmain
Read More

Jersey Boys bring on a new cast at Trafalgar Theatre

Natallia Pearmain
Read More

All of Us at the National Theatre

★★★★★
Mersa Auda
Read More

Midsummer Mechanicals at Sam Wanamaker Playhouse

★★★★★
Alexandra Fletcher
Read More

Camden Fringe 2022: The Importance of Being Anxious at Museum of Comedy

★★★★★
James Humphrey
Read More

Camden Fringe 2022: Rome 3000 (Julius Caesar) at Canal Cafe Theatre

★★★★★
Cristiana Ferrauti
Read More
Scroll for more
Tap
  • Popular

  • Latest

  • TOP PICKS

  • Ed Fringe 2022: Hungry
    ★★★★★
    Theatre
  • Kasabian – The Alchemist’s Euphoria
    ★★★★★
    Album review
  • Tips for creating a peaceful home
    Feature of the week
  • Royal Ballet School students return to the stage for post-Covid performances
    Theatre
  • “Even people who’ve been through adversity might say ‘Well, I wouldn’t change anything because I wouldn’t be who I am'”: Eva Noblezada and Flula Borg on Luck
    Cinema & Tv
  • Kasabian – The Alchemist’s Euphoria
    ★★★★★
    Album review
  • Rita at Charing Cross Theatre
    ★★★★★
    Theatre
  • Ed Fringe 2022: Hungry
    ★★★★★
    Theatre
  • “Even people who’ve been through adversity might say ‘Well, I wouldn’t change anything because I wouldn’t be who I am'”: Eva Noblezada and Flula Borg on Luck
    Cinema & Tv
  • “Film offers a way of looking at the past, the present and the future simultaneously. That’s its wonder”: Sarah Beddington on Fadia’s Tree
    Cinema & Tv
  • Kasabian – The Alchemist’s Euphoria
    ★★★★★
    Album review
  • Rita at Charing Cross Theatre
    ★★★★★
    Theatre
  • “Even people who’ve been through adversity might say ‘Well, I wouldn’t change anything because I wouldn’t be who I am'”: Eva Noblezada and Flula Borg on Luck
    Cinema & Tv
  • Nope
    ★★★★★
    Movie review
  • Five Days at Memorial
    ★★★★★
    apple
The Upcoming
Pages
  • Contact us
  • Join mailing list
  • Join us
  • Our London food map
  • Our writers
  • Support us
  • What, when, why
With the support from:
International driving license

Copyright © 2011-2020 FL Media

The World’s End | Movie review
Frank Ocean at Brixton Academy | Live review