Australian
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The Pearl Fishers (1963)

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The lovers reunited

Original classification rating: PG. This clip chosen to be PG

Clip description

The veiled priestess of the pearl fishermen (Rosalind Keene) has arrived for the annual blessing of the fleet. As she sings of her lost love, she is overheard by the man himself (Edward Brayshaw), who entreats her to break her vows and come away with him. The penalty for both is certain death but their love is too strong to resist.

Curator’s notes

by Janet Bell

The music and stagecraft are superb in this ABC television version of Bizet’s well-loved grand opera. The great passion these two still have for each other is utterly believable as the lovers are both great singers and great performers – and look good too. The opera was shot at the television studios at Gore Hill in Sydney and broadcast live. Despite its having been shot in black-and-white, the production values, the music and the stagecraft are such that it could be shown and thoroughly enjoyed by audiences today.