Félicien David

La Perle du Bresil; No. 13: Act III, Scene 2

LA PERLE DU BRÉSIL (1851) is a lyric drama by Félicien David, set to a libretto by J. Gabriel and Sylvain Saint-Étienne. It premiered on November 22, 1851 by the Opéra-National at the Théâtre Historique under the baton of Edmond Seveste. It tells the story of a young lieutenant Lorenz, who falls in love with Zora, a Brazilian native. Admiral Salvador, the man who brought her to Portugal for her education, decides to take her back to Brazil. Disguised as a sailor, Lorenz is discovered on board the ship, but when a storm forces them into a harbor, they are surrounded by a group of hostile natives. Recognizing Zora, they withdraw their weapons and Salvador decides to give his consent so that the two lovers can marry. In Act 3, Zora praises the cheerful song of a bird and its devotion to a mate in CHARMANT OISEAU (THOU BRILLIANT BIRD). Instrumentation: 1.2.2.2: 4:0:0:0: Timp: Perc(1) Str(4.4.3.3.3 in set) [Solo Coloratura voice]: SCORE NOT AVAILABLE.