Search - Charles Gounod, Roger Desormiere, Jules Gressier :: Charles Gounod: Mireille

Avec charme lyrique

Emgee | Merriam, KS USA | 06/27/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"2 CD Gala label with a complete performance of the 5 act opera Mireille with the interpolated waltz song and two selections from Le Colombe and two selections from Faust as additional tracts. Gounod had three big successes in his career: Faust(1859), Mireille (1864) and Romeo et Juliette(1867). Mireille has many versions as the first performances were not successful and many revisions were made to find success. The basic story is that a wealthy farmer's daughter (Mirelle) who loves a poor local boy (Vincent) to which her father (Ourrias) objects. Eventually tragedy ensues. The work has abundant melody and fine orchestration throughout its five short acts. If this work is unknown to you it is well worth investigating especially in this reasonably good and low priced version. Andree Esposito (Mireille), Alain Vanzo(Vincent),Suzanne Darbans (Tavan)are all in fine voice but Gabriel Bacquier (Ourrias) has had better outings although he is by no means unacceptable. In general a fine performance of a tuneful work of great beauty and lyric charm. Janine Micheau was in poor voice for the Waltz Song but did finely in the two Le Colombe ("The Dove")selections. Sills,Molese and Treigle in the two Faust sequences."