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Charles Gounod (1818-1893): Mireille
5099968618629
Opera in five acts
Libretto: Michel Carr after Frédéric Mistral
| Mireille |
Mirella Freni |
| Vincent |
Alain Vanzo |
| Taven |
Jane Rhodes |
| Ramon |
Gabriel Bacquier |
| Ourrias |
JosÉ Van Dam |
| Vincenette |
Christine Barbaux |
| Clémence |
Michele Command |
| Ambroise |
Marc Vento |
| Le passeur (Ferryman) |
Jean-Jacques Cubaynes |
| Andreloun, un berger (Shepherd) |
Luc Terrieux |
Orchestre et Choeurs du Capitole de Toulouse
Chorus master Guy L'homme
Michel Plasson
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Introduction
Having recorded Gounod's Marguerite and Juliette for EMI, Mirella Freni turns to his lesser-known Provenale heroine with an impressive cast of all-Francophone singers including Alain Vanzo, Gabriel Bacquier and José van Dam. Michel Plasson conducts.
Synopsis
Mireille, set in Provence, is based on Mirèio, a long narrative poem by Frédéric Mistral, who went on to win the Nobel Prize for Literature. Now rarely performed – though it was chosen to open the 2009/10 season at Paris’ Palais Garnier – it combines Gounod’s characteristic lyricism with a strong sense of local colour, reflecting such evocative locations as Arles, Le Val d’Enfer, the dry plain of the Crau, and the town of Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer.
Initially a gentle rustic drama, the opera is soon overtaken by violence and tragedy. Mireille, the daughter of the prosperous and authoritarian Ramon, is in love with Vincent, the son of a poor basket-weaver. Ourrias, a bull-driver, is jealous of Vincent and wounds him with a trident, but is punished for his actions when, shortly afterwards, he drowns while crossing a river. Mireille undertakes a pilgrimage to Saintes-Maries to pray for Vincent, but, having crossed the Crau, dies of exhaustion and sunstroke. Among the highlights of the score are Mireille’s ‘Trahir Vincent’, as she resolves not to be parted from her love, her ‘Voici la vaste plaine’ as she crosses the Crau, and Vincent’s ‘Anges du Paradis’ as he calls on Heaven to protect Mireille.
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Compact Disc 1
ACT ONE
1 Overture 6.11
2 Introduction Chantez, chantez, Magnanarelles 8.41
(Clmence/Chorus/Taven/Mireille)
3 Recitative Cest donc vrai? 3.58
(Taven/Mireille/Vincent)
4 Duo Est-elle jeune et belle? 7.58
(Mireille/Vincent)
ACT TWO
5 Farandole La farandole joyeuse et folle 3.57
and chorus (Chorus/Mireille/Vincent)
6 Chanson de Magali La brise est douce et parfume 4.32
(Mireille/Vincent/Chorus)
7 Scene and chorus Place, place aux coureurs! 1.52
(Chorus)
8 Recitative Eh bien!Mireille, tu ne les suis donc pas? 0.42
(Taven)
9 Chanson Voici la saison, mignonne 4.08
(Taven/Mireille)
10 Recitative Que jpouse et que jaime un autre que Vincent 1.21
(Mireille/Taven)
11 Aria Mon cur ne peut changer! 5.42
(Mireille)
12 Recitative Ourrias! Pourquoi fuir si vite mon approche? 0.44
(Mireille/Ourrias)
13 Couplets Si les filles dArles sont reines 3.23
(Ourrias)
14 Recitative Adieu!Permettez-moi de fuir 3.20
(Mireille/Ourrias/Ramon/Ambroise)
15 Finale Un pre parle en pre 12.19
(Mireille/Vincenette/Vincent/Ourrias/Ambroise/Ramon/Chorus)
ACT THREE
16 Prelude Voici le Val dEnfer 5.00
(Ourrias/Chorus)
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Compact Disc 2
1 Scene and duet Ils sloignent! 8.35
(Ourrias/Vincent)
2 Scene Ah! quai-je fait? 14.09
(Ourrias/Chorus/Ferryman)
ACT FOUR
Tableau I
3 Chorus Amis, voici la moisson faite! 8.20
(Chorus/Ramon)
4 Musette 2.02
5 Chanson Le jour se lve 2.37
(Shepherd)
6 Cavatina Heureux petit berger 2.24
(Mireille)
7 Recitative Mireille! Qui mappelle? 1.10
(Mireille/Vincenette)
8 Duet Ah! parle encore! achve! 8.44
(Mireille/Vincenette)
Tableau II
9 Introduction 1.35
10 Aria Voici la vaste plaine 9.04
(Mireille)
ACT FIVE
11 March and chorus vous qui du haut des cieux 2.43
(Chorus)
12 Cavatina Mon cur est plein dun noir souci! 3.13
(Vincent)
13 Finale Ah! la voici! cest elle! 11.15
(Mireille/Vincent/Chorus/Ramon/Vincenette)
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