After 10 years of war, the city of Troy finds itself in a sudden moment of peace. The Greek forces have fled, leaving behind only a wooden horse as a gift to the Trojans. A gift that will prove to be the end of Troy. Énée barely escapes the destruction of his beloved city. As a warrior and a hero it pains him to leave, but his destiny is mapped before him: he must go to Italy. There he will raise an empire and achieve a warrior’s death.
Énée, along with his son and a few of his men, are homeless refugees. They seek asylum from Queen Didon in Carthage, and offer their swords to support her armies against their enemies. An alliance is formed, and a romance blossoms between the Trojan hero and the Queen of Carthage. But Énée cannot resist his destiny. Haunted by the spirits of those he has lost, he is forced to leave Carthage, although he knows it will break Didon’s heart.
Berlioz’s Les Troyens is grand opera on every scale, with a large cast and ensemble, and rich orchestration. It demands a lot of the staging, the singers, and the orchestra, to bring this incredible work to life. At four hours run-time, this opera is truly an escape into the world of the Trojans, where these vast historical figures become real full-blooded people, who love, who fight, who make mistakes, who grieve, and for whom destiny is paramount.
Les Troyens guide sections
