New-York tribune., 1919-02-23
IN THE WORLD OF MUSIC AND MUSICIANS
Victor MauyeI, Painter

study at the top of his house. i,
west Seventeen Street, and at the enc
of that time emerged with sheaf O
sketches which were promptly &C
cepted. Those who are irritated with
the vagaries of ultra-modern scene
painters need have no apprehension
as to the settings that will be forth.
coming on Friday night. They will
neither vex nor startle. Speaking OF
ms settings the other day, M. Mau.
rel referred enthusiastically to the
beauties of Provence, to the gorgeous
coloring of nature in this district and
particularly to the radiance of the sun
shine, which the stage mechanicians
Will be at some pains to reproduce with
effective lighting. The atmosphere of
the country is what NJ Maurel has
striven to present.
'Mireille' is the very breath of
Provence" he said, "where the women
of Aries are the flowers of the region.
In the sketches that l made at the re-
quest of Mr.. Gatti l have tried to
reproduce the atmosphere Of the dis
trict, the atmosphere in which lies the
chief charm of Gounod's beautiful mu-
sic. In recalling memories Of my
youth l realize that the fascination
of Aries lies in its radiant sunlight
characteristic lines and landscapes
Among the souvenirs of antiquity that
this city arouses the beauty Of it's
women is the most dominant. The
praises of this beauty have often been
sung by historians and poets. The
women of Aries are in themselves a
type; with their high stature, their ma
jestic carriage and characteristic feat
ures they still resemble moving bass
reliefs. am not exaggerating when |
say that the famous Venus of Aries
still lives in the person of these
women.
"What is the traditional dress of the
women of Aries? This is the most i'm
portant point about the mise-en-scene
of the opera. Since 1840, the date at
which Mistral places the idyllic story
OF his Mireille, many changes have
taken place. In the most recent pro-
ductions in Paris, both on the speaking
and the operate stage, the women of
Aries have appeared in the clothes of
to-day-a black or brown dress, to
which relieving touch of muslin is
added. The public rightly protested at
this innovation. To deprive Mireille of
her picturesque costume is to throw
needless and gloomy veil over the
charming local color of this region.
Mireille should wear high-waisted
bodice, with tight sleeves covered by a
fringed fichu, falling below her shoul-
ders. Her skirts should be short, and
she should wear colored stockings and
satin shoes with straps. Her coffure
is bit strange. A high band of white
muslin should hold her hair in place.
Wide ribbons cut en- bandelettes, pinned
with enormous gold pins, should be
bound around her forehead. Gold hoop
earrings complete the costume in it's
authentic simplicity. 1t appears that
the Isis of antiquity was represented
in the bass-reliefs at Egina with sim
liar headdress, and it is not wholly
without cause that the women of Aries
have played and still play in Provence
the part of the courtesans of Miletus
in Greece and Rome. The women of
Aries, by the way, are the most numer-
Gus and most beautiful courtesans of
the Midi"
After these instructive remarks on
women and dress, NJ. Maurel proceeded
to dlsclalm any responsibility for the
costumes of the coming production. His
advice on this matter, it appears, was
not asked until the eleventh hour, and
then it was to late for him to do any
more than make a few helpful sugges
tions as to the dresses of Nine. Bar
rientos, the Mireille of the occasion.