Mireille by Charles Gounod. A treasure of music framing love and drama at Palis Garnier in Paris.

wonderful opera Mireille is presented at the Paris Opera at Palais Garnier and it is a wonderful music treasure being performed at the old Paris Opera house.

Inva Mula as Mireille in 1. act. Opéra national de Paris/ Photo: Agathe Poupeney

Charles Gounod

The history by Michel Carré based on a novel by Frédéric Mistral Mirèo and was composed by Charles Gounod in 1864. It is quite simply a history starting at a Midsummer morning folloeing with farandoles about a young woman Mireille, sung by the wonderful soprano Inva Mula, from a rich farmer family which is falling in love with a very handsome and serious young man, Vincent, sung by the fantastic young tenor Charles Castronovo, from a not so rich farmer family in the Arles district in France. But as it was in these times her father, Maitre Ramon, sung by the great bass Alain Vernhes has found a less handsome but richer guy, Ourrias, sung by the good baritone Franck Ferrari, for Mireille. And after denying Vincent and Mireille to meet each other any more, the father is taking Mierille with him home to the farm, protecting her, and not to see her bellowed Vincent anymore. A night Ourrias is out looking after to find Vincent he find him and try to kill Vincent and think that he has managed to do so after that the destiny in version of a ferryman is suppose to bring Ourrias to the other side of the river but the boat is going under to hell.

Luckely the good witch Taven, wonderfully sung and performed by the alto Sylvie Brunet is sawing Vincent. In the end of the story Vincents sister Vincenette sung by the great mezzo soprano Anne-Catherine Gillet is telling Mireille that Vincent is alive and tat he hope they will meet. This happens in the last scene where Mireille after a long exhausting perilous pilgrimage across the Crau desert to Saintes-Maries is coming to the chapel to hope to invoke divine protection

. Vincent enters and sound Mireille appears. Seeing the heavens opening up to receive her. A repentant father Ramon is at her side. Mireille dies in the arms of Vincent but a celestial voice sung by the not visible Sophie Claisse, promises her soul eternal happiness in heaven.

In Mireille we enjoy the many wonderful choir parts. Chef of the choir is Patrick Marie Aubert,  a great orchestra with a wonderful sound and taking well care of all the different difficult parts leaded by the famous maestro Marc Minkowski.

Nicolas Joel, regi, has been true to the old fashion style of opera and that is very well done. The instruction of the singers is fabulous, no strange ideas or effects; here it goes directly on the history. This is followed very close up by his cooperating Décor responsible Ezio Frigerio which has build up an amazing scenography out on the mulberry field before the harvest time in Arles. Franca Squarsiapino is following closely up with beautiful costumes from the period, made very delicious. We watched an atmospherically well lightening set by Vinicio Cheli. The choreography is by Patrick Segot.

 In the roles we are, as allready mentioned, enjoying a brilliant line of singing stars headed by the most demanding roles, Inva Mula in the title role, Mireille, where this wonderful soprano is showing all sides of her beautiful talent with fantastic coloratura, she is magnificent.  The wonderful and good looking tenor Charles Castronovo who in addition to singing wonderful, for sure is one of the best tenors in the world today. In addition he has an outstanding stage appearance and what I specially appreciated is his relaxed body language so natural showing him as a young handsome farmer son, which suits the role perfect. Well helped by the good costume and the makeup.  His Angel in Paradise aria in the last act was a hit.

It was a pleasure to enjoy the character and the wonderful singing by Alain Vernhes as the father and Sylvie Brunet as Taven. In addition we enjoyed the  Le Paseur Ugo Rabec and Christian Rodrigue Moungoungou as a young Arlesien.

A great opera evening, in an old fashion opera style
. Which not must be forgotten, and I am sure that Paris Opera will keep well. Thank You.

 Up to 1993 Mireille was performed at Salle Favart to great acclaim and I given for the first time at the Opera de Paris. The performances are followed up by an exhibition about Charles Gounod in the foyer.

To the performance as usual at the Paris Opera houses, a beautiful and well done program.

Alain Vernhes (Ramon), Inva Mula (Mireille), Charles Castronovo (Vincent) and Anne-Catherine Gillet (Vincenette). Opéra national de Paris/ Photo: Agathe Poupeney