After a self-imposed absence, Nadir returns to the shores of Ceylon, where his friend Zurga has just been elected Fisher King by the local pearl fishermen.
On meeting again, they sing this duet, remembering how they first fell in love/were fascinated with a veiled priestess of Brahma whom they saw passing through the adoring crowd.
A key moment in the opera, this duet is the clearest depiction of the triangular relationships between the protagonists.
The obvious situation at this point is that males will value their friendship higher than a heterosexual relationship.
[1] Peter Weir uses this duet in his 1981 film Gallipoli without the heterosexual aspect, purely to express male mateship and loyalty between a pair of doomed soldiers.
[2] A different view is possible by a reading of the duet as a "pair of parallel monologues",[3] emphasizing the rivalry and deceit between the men.
This duet reappears at the end of the opera, but is sung in unison as the soprano Leila and the tenor Nadir sing together of their love which will transcend all their trials—while Zurga sacrifices himself, knowing of their love, as he lets them flee to safety.
", the score briefly omits all signature accidentals, and the time signature changes at "Non, que rien ne nous sépare" to 34 before returning to the starting configuration on "Oui, c'est elle" in the final duet.
[4] Depending on the version and on cuts to the recitatives within the aria, it takes between 4 1/2 to 6 minutes to perform.
In the air cooled by a breeze, The brahmanes with faces flooded with light, Slowly called the crowd to prayer!
Nadir Au fond du temple saint paré de fleurs et d'or, Une femme apparaît !
At the back of the holy temple, decorated with flowers and gold, A woman appears!
The prostrate crowd looks at her amazed and murmurs under its breath: look, this is the goddess looming up in the shadow and holding out her arms to us.
Son voile se soulève Et la foule est à genoux !
Nadir Mais à travers la foule Elle s'ouvre un passage !
Mais dans mon âme soudain Quelle étrange ardeur s'allume !
Nadir De nos cœurs l'amour s'empare, Et nous change en ennemis !
En ce jour qui vient nous unir, Et fidèle à ma promesse, Comme un frère je veux te chérir !
Oui, partageons le même sort, Soyons unis jusqu'à la mort !