Identifier: victrolabookofop00vict (find matches)
Title: The Victrola book of the opera : stories of one hundred and twenty operas with seven-hundred illustrations and descriptions of twelve-hundred Victor opera records
Year: 1917 (1910s)
Authors: Victor Talking Machine Company Rous, Samuel Holland
Subjects: Operas
Publisher: Camden, N.J. : Victor Talking Machine Co.
Contributing Library: Harold B. Lee Library
Digitizing Sponsor: Brigham Young University

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. In London, in Italian with five acts, as Mirella, July 5,1864. The first performance in America of which the author has a record was at NewOrleans, January 29, 1885, in Italian. April 23, 1885, given at the Academy of Music, NewYork, with Patti in the cast. Cast RAMON, a rich farmer Bass MIRELLA, his daughter Soprano AMBROISE Bass VINCENT, 1, . , .,, / Tenor VINCENETTE, /hlS chlldren \Mezzo-Soprano TAVENA, a fortune-teller Contralto OURR1AS, a bull tamer Baritone Peasants and People ; Pilgrims. Mirella, which came later than Faust in order of production, is an example of the moredelicate art of Gounod, and the story of the faithfulness of the heroine for her peasant loveris reflected in the music with true Provencal warmth and color. The librettist took for his subject the pastoral poem Mireio, by the beloved poet ofProvence, Frederic Mistral, and Gounod has given it a tuneful setting with much local color,including many folk-songs. 332 VICTROLA BOOK OF THE OPERA —GOUNODS MIREILLE
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The first scene opens in amulberry grove, where Mirellais teased by the village girlsabout her attachment forVincent, the basket-maker.Tavena, the fortune-teller,warns the young girl thatRamon, Mirellas father, willnever consent to the union.Mirella meets Vincent and thewarning of Tavena is soon for-gotten. The lovers renew theirpledges and agree to meet soonat the Chapel of the Virgin. The young girl is also in-formed by the fortune-tellerthat Vincent has a rival, a wildherdsman, who has askedMirellas father for her handand obtained his consent.When the herdsman appears Mirella repulses him, declaring mireille—act i her irrevocable attachment for Vincent. She then starts on the long journey across the desertto meet her lover at the chapel, and on the way meets Tavena, who assures her that Vincentwill be waiting for her. The journey proves almost too much for the young girls strength,and when she finally arrives at the chapel she is completely exhausted, and faints on thethreshold.

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