A star-studded Kiwi expat homecoming marks NZ Opera’s first production of Bizet’s early masterpiece in over two decades
New Zealand Opera has unveiled details for the highly anticipated return of Georges Bizet's early masterpiece, The Pearl Fishers Les Pêcheurs de perles).
Marking the company's first staging of the work in 24 years - last performed on local stages in 2002 - this new production will open at Auckland's Kiri Te Kanawa Theatre in September before heading to the Isaac Theatre Royal in Christchurch in October.
Before Carmen, a 24-year-old Georges Bizet wrote The Pearl Fishers - an opera deeply rooted in universal themes of forbidden love, duty and lifelong loyalty. While traditionally set in an ancient seaside fishing village, this bold co-production with State Opera South Australia introduces a unique modern twist. Visionary Australian director Stephen Barlow has transported the drama to an ultra-exclusive luxury resort - The White Pearl - where image, influence and ambition shape every decision.
General Director of NZ Opera Brad Cohen - who edited the critical edition of The Pearl Fishers also used by Covent Garden and The Metropolitan Opera - outlines the vision driving this new interpretation: “As critical editor of The Pearl Fishers, I remain awestruck by Bizet's extraordinary music. I believe that beneath an outdated 19th-century libretto lies Bizet's deeper vision - an elemental human story about love, loyalty, and betrayal.
Our creative team for this new production has thoughtfully reset the opera in an elegant contemporary setting, and NZ Opera’s Consultant Dramaturg Alasdair Middleton has distilled a new English translation free of tired orientalist tropes. This allows the raw emotional power of Bizet's music to shine through, offering a path forward for historic opera which honours the score while speaking with integrity to modern audiences.”
The drama centres on two lifelong friends - Nadir and Zurga. Their friendship was once nearly destroyed by a shared passion for a mysterious woman, Léïla. Having sworn to never let rivalry come between them again, conflict arises when Léïla unexpectedly reappears in their orbit. The spark between Nadir and Léïla instantly reignites, but their romance is exposed by Zurga's ally, Nourabad. Zurga finds himself torn between burning jealousy over his friend’s betrayal and saving the two people he loves most. This iconic bond is immortalised in the exquisite duet 'Au fond du temple saint', classical music’s ultimate bromance anthem and arguably the most famous male duet in all of opera.
In a rare alignment of talent, the production is an extraordinary expat homecoming, offering audiences an opportunity to witness four of New Zealand’s most successful international opera exports on the same stage.
The stellar principal cast features world-class Kiwi artists: acclaimed soprano Madison Nonoa ((m)Orpheus, Acis and Galatea, Die Zauberflöte) stars as Léïla, celebrated tenor Filipe Manu (La traviata, Falstaff, Così fan tutte) is Nadir, renowned baritone Phillip Rhodes (Macbeth, Fidelio, Lucia di Lammermoor) as Zurga, and formidable bass Anthony Robin Schneider (Faust, The Magic Flute, Hercules) makes his NZ Opera principal role debut as Nourabad.
Bringing Bizet's much-loved and beautiful soundtrack to life is the power of the Freemasons Foundation New Zealand Opera Chorus, joining forces with the Auckland Philharmonia in Tāmaki Makaurau, and the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra for the Ōtautahi season. Esteemed Australian-Dutch conductor Benjamin Bayl, co-founder of the Australian Romantic & Classical Orchestra, conducts in both cities.
This landmark staging not only ends a 24-year Pearl Fishers drought for NZ Opera audiences but also represents a major milestone for the company. Bringing a modern co-production to life with a principal cast comprised entirely of world-class performers from New Zealand makes this return an unmissable highlight of the 2026 calendar.
With its highly accessible story and a concise running time of 2 hours and 20 minutes including interval, The Pearl Fishers serves as both a perfect entry point for newcomers and a long-awaited treat for seasoned opera goers.
Tickets are on sale now for the strictly limited Auckland and Christchurch seasons. https://nzopera.com/opera/the-pearl-fishers
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