Helen, Queen of Sparta.
Paris, son of Priam.
Menelaus, King of Sparta.
Agamemnon, King of the Kings.
Calchas, augur.
Achilles, King of Phthiotis.
Ajax I., King of Salamis.
Ajax II., King of the Locrians.
Orestes, son of Agamemnon.
Bacchis, attendant of Helen.
Parthoenis.
Loena.
Philocomes, servant of Calchas.
Euthycles, a blacksmith.
[Princes, princesses, courtiers, Helen's attendants, slaves, etc.]
The scene is laid in Sparta; time mythical.
In "La Belle Hélène" Offenbach goes back to the mythical period, and
presents the heroes of the time of Helen and Paris in modern burlesque.
The first act opens at the temple of Jupiter in Sparta, where, among
others who have placed their offerings at his shrine, is Helen. When
alone with Calchas, the augur, they discuss some means of avoiding the
decree of the oracle which has declared she is to leave Menelaus, her
husband, and fly with Paris, son of Priam, to Troy. Before a decision is
reached, Paris, disguised as a shepherd, arrives, and soon he and Helen
are lovers. They meet again in a grand tournament in which the two
Ajaxes, Achilles, Agamemnon, and others announce themselves in the most
comic fashion and guess at conundrums for a prize. Paris wins, and
proclaims his name and lineage, to the delight of Helen, whose delight is
still further enhanced when the oracle orders Menelaus to set off at once
for Crete.
In the second act Helen struggles against the decrees of Venus. Paris has
an interview with her, but she will not yield, and he retires. By the aid
of Calchas he secures admission to the chamber of the slumbering Queen,
when Menelaus suddenly returns and an altercation ensues, during which
Paris defies all the Grecian heroes, and Helen philosophically informs
Menelaus he should have announced his coming beforehand. Paris again
retreats, and Helen is now in despair.
In the third act Helen and Menelaus have a family quarrel, and he charges
her with being false. She denies it, and declares he has been dreaming.
Calchas now appears, and announces that a new augur has been appointed
and is on his way there. A golden galley is seen approaching, and the new
augur is found to be Paris himself. He brings word that Venus is angry at
what has been going on, but will relent if Helen will return with him to
her shrine and sacrifice white heifers. She is reluctant to go, but
finally decides to obey the voice of destiny, and sails away with him,
leaving them all behind in grief and Menelaus in rage.
The dialogue of "La Belle Hélène" is very witty, though coarse at times,
and many of the situations are full of a humorous incongruity and
drollness growing out of the attempt to modernize these mythological
heroes. The music admirably fits the text, and though not so gay as that
of "The Grand Duchess," yet is fresh, original, and interesting
throughout. The chief numbers of the work are Helen's passionate song of
mourning for Adonis, "Divine Love" ("Amours divins"); Paris' fable, "On
Mount Ida, three Goddesses" ("Au Mont Ida, trois déesses"), in which he
tells the well-known apple story; the march and chorus, "Here are the
Kings of Greece" ("Voici les rois de la Grèce"), in which, one after the
other, they come forward and announce themselves in an irresistibly funny
manner; Helen's mock sentimental song, "We all are born with Solicitude"
("Nous naissons toutes soucieuses"); the droll goose march of the Kings;
a fascinating chorus, "Let us wreathe Crowns of Roses" ("En courronnes
tressons roses"); Helen's song, "A Husband Wise" ("Un mari sage"), one of
the most characteristic numbers in the opera; and in the last act
Orestes' song, "In spite of this Ardent Flame" ("Malgré cette ardente
flamme"); the spirited trio, "When Greece has become a Field of Carnage"
("Lorsque la Grèce est un camp de carnage"); and the final chorus, "Let
now our Wrath" ("Que notre colère"), which preludes the Trojan war.
Orpheus.
[Opera bouffe, in three acts; text by Cremieux. First produced at the
Bouffes Parisiens, Paris, October 21, 1858.]