72 - Georges Bizet's Les pêcheurs de perles (The Pearlfishers)

The lesser known of Bizet's operas, it is still incredibly beautiful. Originally set on the coast of Mexico, the locale was changed to Sri Lanka, set amongst a village of pearl divers living on the coast. The opera is most famous for the duet for tenor and baritone "Au fond du temple saint", with its faint tinge on homoeroticism as the friends pledge eternal love to each other. The music is perfumed with exotic sounds and while the story is a classic love triangle, it is wonderfully realised.

The opera is a real rarity around the world, except in Australia where it ranks with Puccini and Verdi in popularity. The arias and ensembles are a cascade of beautiful pieces, one after another. Recently produced at the Metropolitan Opera in New York, for the first time in 116 years, and by Opera Australia in Sydney and Melbourne, where it is currently playing, the opera seems to be finally gaining a place in the repertoire.

Here are photos from the previous spectacularly beautiful Opera Australia production by Ann-Margret Petterson, showing various casts from several different revivals including the spectacular Emma Matthews and the fabulous Nicole Car as Leila, the virginal priestess, the sensational Michael Lewis as Zurga, the village headman, friend of Nadir and in love with Leila, and the gorgeous Henry Choo as Nadir, one of the pearl divers also in love with Leila.