Mireille

I did a little digging; found that Mireille had been performed more than 800 times at the Opera-Comique in less than a century! That shows that when the French like something they really like it. For my part, I couldn't find the greatness that Gounod put into Romeo et Juliette and Faust. I listened to 'Ange adorable' from Romeo this morning--a thrilling duet that plumbs the passions the lovers feel. I haven't found comparable passion in this opera, although Castronovo has a wonderful sweet voice and acts well, and Mula is always touching as Mireille. The production is good; those fields of grain look fairly real, and the costumes are appropriate. The problem is with the music--it's not up to the standards of Gounod's great works.