Audio CD
SPARS Code: ADD
Number of Discs: 2
Format: FLAC (image+cue)
Label: Angel Records
Size: 635 MB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: yes
# Mireille, opera
Composed by Charles Gounod
Performed by Toulouse Orchestra
with Jose Van Dam, Michele Command, Christine Barbaux, Gabriel Bacquier, Jane Rhodes, Mirella Freni, Alain Vanzo, Marc Vento
Conducted by Michel Plasson
Disc: 1
01. Mireille, opera: Ouverture
02. Mireille, opera: Act 1: No. 1, ‘Chantez, chantez, Magnanarelles…’
03. Mireille, opera: Act 1: No. 2, ‘C’est donc vrai?…’
04. Mireille, opera: Act 1: No. 3, ‘Est-elle jeune et belle?…’
05. Mireille, opera: Act 2: No. 4, ‘La farandole joyeuse et folle…’
06. Mireille, opera: Act 2: No. 4, ‘La brise est douce et parfumée…’
07. Mireille, opera: Act 2: No. 4, ‘Place, place aux coureurs!…’
08. Mireille, opera: Act 2: No. 4, ‘Eh bien!… Mireille, tu ne les suis donc pas?’
09. Mireille, opera: Act 2: No. 5, ‘Voici la saison, mignonne…’
10. Mireille, opera: Act 2: No. 5, ‘Que j’épouse et que j’aime un autre que Vincent…’
11. Mireille, opera: Act 2: No. 6, ‘Mon coeur ne peut changer!’
12. Mireille, opera: Act 2: No. 6, ‘Ourrias! Pouqoui fuir si vite à mon approche?’
13. Mireille, opera: Act 2: No. 7, ‘Si les filles d’Arles sont reines…’
14. Mireille, opera: Act 2: No. 7, ‘Adieu!… Permettez-moi de fuir…’
15. Mireille, opera: Act 2: No. 8, ‘Un père parle en père…’
16. Mireille, opera: Act 3: No. 9, ‘Voici le Val d’Enfer…’
Disc: 2
01. Mireille, opera: Act 3: No. 10, ‘Ils s’éloignent!’
02. Mireille, opera: Act 3: No. 11, ‘Ah! qu’ai-je fait?’
03. Mireille, opera: Act 4: No. 12, ‘Amis, voici la moisson faite!’
04. Mireille, opera: Act 4: No. 13, Musette
05. Mireille, opera: Act 4: No. 14, ‘Le jour se lève…’
06. Mireille, opera: Act 4: No. 15, ‘Heureux petit berger…’
07. Mireille, opera: Act 4: No. 15, ‘Mireille! Qui m’appelle?’
08. Mireille, opera: Act 4: No. 16, ‘Ah! parle encore! achève!…’
09. Mireille, opera: Act 4: No. 16, Introduction
10. Mireille, opera: Act 4: No. 17, ‘Voici la vaste plaine…’
11. Mireille, opera: Act 5: No. 18, ‘Ô vous qui du haut des cieux…’
12. Mireille, opera: Act 5: No. 19, ‘Mon coueur est plein d’un noir souci!’
13. Mireille, opera: Act 5: No. 20, ‘Ah! la voici! c’est elle!…’
Gounod Musical Magic
Although Gounod’s Faust and Romeo and Juliet are far more well-known, this opera is an unjustly overlooked little gem of lyrical French romantic opera. Melodic in the extreme, it’s very easy to listen to.
Mirela Freni gives a gorgeous performance, up to her usual standards. The late Alain Vanzo was one of the last great French tenors in the tradition of Georges Thill, and Vanzo’s light, lyrical and extremely musical tenor is a delight to hear and a wonderful counterpoint to Freni’s more Italianate lyrico-spinto soprano. Two excellent basses round out the cast, Belgian Jose van Dam and one of my favorites, Gabriel Bacquier, who can also be heard in to great advantage in recordings of operas by Massenet and Delibes. The sound quality is excellent and if you like French romantic opera, as I do, this is a “must-have”.