Composer

:

Charles Gounod

Genre

:

Opera

Style

:

Opera

Compose Date

:

1863 - 1864

Publication Date

:

1864

First Performance

:

Mar 19, 1864

Average_duration

:

139:02

Movement_count

:

18

Movement ....

Mireille is an opera in five acts composed by Charles Gounod. The libretto was written by Michel Carré and Jules Barbier, based on the poem Mireio by Frédéric Mistral. The opera was composed between 1863 and 1864 and premiered on March 19, 1864, at the Théâtre Lyrique in Paris. The plot of Mireille revolves around the love story of Mireille, a young Provençal girl, and Vincent, a poor basket weaver. Mireille's father wants her to marry a wealthy landowner, but she is in love with Vincent. The couple faces many obstacles, including the jealousy of the landowner and the disapproval of Mireille's father. In the end, Mireille dies in Vincent's arms, and her father realizes the error of his ways. The opera is characterized by its beautiful melodies and lush orchestration. Gounod's use of the orchestra to evoke the sounds and colors of the Provençal landscape is particularly noteworthy. The opera also features several dance movements, including a lively farandole and a graceful pas de deux. Mireille was well-received at its premiere, and it quickly became one of Gounod's most popular works. The opera has been performed regularly in France and around the world, and it has been recorded numerous times. Its enduring popularity is a testament to Gounod's skill as a composer and to the timeless appeal of its romantic story.

More....