Zurga in Bizet’s ‘Les Pêcheurs de perles’ in Zurich

This month, Brian Mulligan returns to the Opernhaus Zurich for performances as Zurga in Bizet’s Les Pêcheurs de perles. Mulligan recently thrilled audiences at the Zurich house last season as Sharpless in their production of Madama Butterfly:

“But it was American-Irish baritone Brian Mulligan who impressed me the most, as Sharpless. Amply rounded both in form and vocal tone, his warm voice was always the centre of attention and he displayed touching acting skills as the ever-sensitive Commissioner.” (Seen and Heard International)

He returns for performances on December 16 & 22, January 26 & 29, and February 1. Mulligan shares the stage with Olga Kulchynska as Léïla, Sergey Romanovsky as Nadir, and Wenwei Zhang as Nourabad. Pavel Baleff leads the Philharmonia Zurich and Zurich Opera Chorus.

With set designs by Mathis Neidhardt and costumes by Sybille Gädeke, Jens-Daniel Herzog’s production “forgoes exotic South Sea charm, instead taking the critical view, already inherent to the story, of a social order that is based on oppression. The pearl fishers slave on the lower decks of a steamer – while the gentlemen rule from their cabins.”