Lyric's THE PEARL FISHERS Opens Sunday, 11/19

From the composer of Carmen, Lyric Opera of Chicago presents Bizet's The Pearl Fishers. Characterized by tropically hued costumes and colorful sets, this new-to-Chicago production promises high drama and gorgeous music conducted by Sir Andrew Davis and directed by Andrew Sinclair.

The Pearl Fishers opens Sunday, November 19, at 2pm, with seven performances through December 10 at the Lyric Opera House, 20 N. Wacker Drive, Chicago. Tickets start at $69 and are available now at lyricopera.org/PearlFishers or at 312-827-5600.

Bizet's captivating 1863 opera, The Pearl Fishers, is beloved by audiences everywhere for its score, which includes the most popular tenor-baritone duet in opera. The setting is ancient Ceylon (now known as Sri Lanka). In the ruins of a Hindu temple, Zurga (baritone Mariusz Kwiecie?), leader of the pearl fishermen, welcomes his long-lost friend, Nadir (tenor Matthew Polenzani). They reminisce about how years before their friendship was nearly ruined by a woman, but they vowed to remain true to that friendship. Unknown to Zurga, the veiled priestess Leïla (soprano Marina Rebeka ), now living in Ceylon, is the same woman who drove the two friends apart. When she is led into the temple by the high priest Nourabad (bass Andrea Silvestrelli) and Nadir sees her, his love for her reignites. Disastrous complications ensue.

Sir Andrew Davis conducts the new-to-Chicago production, directed by Andrew Sinclair. Dame Zandra Rhodes (Lyric debut) is set and costume designer, and Ron Vodicka (Lyric debut) is lighting designer. Lyric Chorus Master Michael Black prepared the 84-person chorus, and John Malashock (Lyric debut) is choreographer.

Performance dates for The Pearl Fishers are Nov. 19, 22, and Dec. 10 at 2pm; and Nov. 25, 29, Dec. 4 and 7 at 7:30pm. For tickets and information call (312) 827-5600 or go to lyricopera.org/PearlFishers.

Estimated running time is 2 hours 25 minutes, including intermission.

The opening performance of The Pearl Fishers can be heard live locally on 98.7WFMT and globally on wfmt.com, beginning at 1:45pm.

About Lyric Opera of Chicago

Lyric Opera of Chicago's mission is to express and promote the life-changing, transformational, revelatory power of great opera. Lyric exists to provide a broad, deep, and relevant cultural service to Chicago and the nation, and to advance the development of the art form.

Founded in 1954, Lyric is dedicated to producing and performing consistently thrilling, entertaining, and thought-provoking opera with a balanced repertoire of core classics, lesser-known masterpieces, and new works; to creating an innovative and wide-ranging program of community engagement and educational activities; and to developing exceptional emerging operatic talent.

Under the leadership of general director Anthony Freud, music director Sir Andrew Davis, and creative consultant Renée Fleming, Lyric strives to become The Great North American Opera Company for the 21st century: a globally significant arts organization embodying the core values of excellence, relevance, and fiscal responsibility.

To learn more about Lyric's new season, go to lyricopera.org. You can also join the conversation with @LyricOpera on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. #Lyric1718 #LongLivePassion.