Composer

:

Jacques Offenbach

Genre

:

Opera

Style

:

Operetta

Compose Date

:

1864

First Performance

:

1864

Average_duration

:

94:03

Movement_count

:

32

Movement ....

La belle Hélène is an operetta composed by Jacques Offenbach in 1864. The plot is a satirical take on the story of Helen of Troy, who is married to King Menelaus of Sparta but falls in love with Paris, the prince of Troy. The operetta is set in ancient Greece and follows the love triangle between Helen, Menelaus, and Paris. The operetta premiered on December 17, 1864, at the Théâtre des Variétés in Paris. It was an immediate success and became one of Offenbach's most popular works. The music is characterized by its catchy melodies, witty lyrics, and lively dance rhythms. The first movement of the operetta opens with a chorus of Greek soldiers singing about their love for Helen. The second movement introduces Helen, who is bored with her life in Sparta and longs for adventure. She sings the famous aria "Amours divins" in which she expresses her desire for a lover who is brave and daring. The third movement introduces Paris, who has been sent to Sparta to negotiate a peace treaty with Menelaus. He falls in love with Helen at first sight and sings the aria "Au mont Ida" in which he describes his love for her. The fourth movement features a duet between Helen and Paris in which they declare their love for each other. The fifth movement introduces Menelaus, who is outraged to discover that his wife has fallen in love with Paris. He sings the aria "On me nomme Hélène la blonde" in which he laments his fate and vows to take revenge on Paris. The sixth movement features a comic scene in which Menelaus disguises himself as a fortune-teller in order to trick Paris into revealing his true identity. The final movement features a grand finale in which all the characters come together for a lively dance. The operetta ends with a chorus singing about the power of love to conquer all obstacles. Overall, La belle Hélène is a lively and entertaining operetta that showcases Offenbach's talent for catchy melodies and witty lyrics. Its satirical take on the story of Helen of Troy remains popular to this day, and it continues to be performed in opera houses around the world.

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