Offenbach - Keck

La Belle Hélène (OEK critical edition) (1864)

Duration: 150 minutes
Opéra-bouffe in three acts

Libretto by Henri Meilhac and Ludovic Halévy; original German version by Ernst Dohm; new German versions by Gunter Selling, Michael Quast, Peter Hacks and Wolfgang Quetes; new English version by Richard Duployen (F,G,E)

Scoring
2S,3S(M),4T,T(Bar),Bar,BBar; 2 speaking roles; chorus; 2(II=picc).1.2.1-2.2.1.0-timp.perc-strings; Viennese orchestration: 2(II=picc).2.2.2-4.2.3.0-timp.perc-strings.
Abbreviations (PDF).

Territory
This work is available from Boosey & Hawkes for the world.

World Premiere
12/17/1864
Théâtre des Variétés, Paris
Company: unknown



World premiere of version
7/2/2004
Kaiserthermen, Trier
Wolfgang Quetes, director
Conductor: Fabian Dobler
Company: Ensemble Theater Trier

Roles

PARIS, son of king Priam	Tenor
MENELAUS, king of Sparta	Buffo Tenor
HELENA, queen of Sparta	Mezzo Soprano (Vienna: Soprano)
AGAMEMNON, king of kings	Baritone
ORESTES, son of Agamenmon	Soprano oder light Mezzo Soprano
CALCHAS, grand augur of Jupiter	Baritone (or Bass Baritone)
ACHILLES, king of Phthia	Tenor
AIAX I, king of Salamis	Buffo Tenor
AIAX II, king of Lokris	Buffo Tenor (or high Baritone)
BACCHIS, follower to Helena	Soprano
LEOENA, hetaera	Soprano
PARTHOENIS, hetaera	Soprano (or Mezzo Sorpano)
PHILOCOME, servant of Calchas, responsible for thunder	speaking role
EUTHYCLES, balcksmith	speaking role
Guards, slaves, people, princes, princesses, women mourning Adonis, Helena’s retinue

Time and Place
Sparta and Nauplia before the Trojan war

Synopsis
Prince Paris, having given the first prize of a beauty contest on Mount Ida to the goddess Venus ahead of Juno and Minerva, has been promised the most beautiful woman of Greece as a reward from Venus. This news has made its way to Troy where Helena, the wife of King Menelaus, is convinced that this woman must be no-one other than herself. Shortly afterwards, Paris appears in Troy, dressed as a shepherd, and asks the high priest Calchas for help in conquering the city. Paris wins at a ceremonial (though ananchronistic) guessing game, at which numerous classical heroes are gathered, and reveals his identity. Helena expresses her delight with daring coloratura. Calchas makes the thunder machine rumble and declares that Jupiter wishes the instant departure of the king to Crete. Menelaus has evil forebodings, but may not resist the will of the highest god. Paris is free to do what he wants. Now, however, as all obstructions have been removed, Helena appears cold and rejects Paris at night. Soon she repents what she has done and wishes for the fulfilment of her longings, at least in a dream. When that finally comes true, in a very real way, Menelaus returns and enters the marital bedchamber. This time Paris has to withdraw. Helena reproaches her husband for acting against the explicit will of the goddess Venus, and Menelaus begins to wonder whether she may be right. He sends for a priest of Venus from the island of Cythera who is supposed to investigate the case. But the priest, who takes Helena to his ship and abducts her "on behalf of the goddess", is none other than the cunning Paris. The Trojan war can begin, just as described in the schoolbooks…

Moods
Comic

Subjects
Mythology, Relationships, Religion, Politics, Society