La Belle Hélène

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La belle Hélène is the work that confirmed Offenbach's international reputation. The libretto caricatures the conventions of Greek mythology to poke fun at contemporary society, and the melodies, once heard, never leave you. The erotic and political scandal surrounding the creation of this work ensured its immediate and enduring success. We are carried away by music that is always new and inventive, sprinkled with nods to other works: the dream duet between Helen and Paris, the patriotic trio mimicking Rossini's William Tell, the ensemble of "the man with the apple" and the waltz of the "vile seducer"... Not to mention the exquisite humor of the language, whose inventions, such as "plis de vaillance" (folds of valor) and "poux de la reine" (queen's lice), have entered the lexical fund. In this celebration of Offenbach, we constantly swing between laughter and beauty, indulging in the pleasure of all the senses...

Country:

Switzerland

Genre:

Music

Duration:

124 minutes

Year:

2019

Director:

Michel Fau

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Company:

Opéra de Lausanne,

Opéra Royal de Wallonie-Liège,

Opéra Comique

Cast:
Michel Fau

Ménélas

Julie Robard-Gendre

Hélène

Julien Dran

Pâris

Christophe Lacassagne

Agamemnon

Jean-Claude Sarragosse

Calchas

Crew:
Ludovic Halévy

Writer

Michel Fau

Director

Emmanuel Charles

Set Designer

Jacques Offenbach

Musical

Henri Meilhac

Writer