Overview
Synopsis
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.
Show Information
- Music
- Hector Berlioz
- Libretto
- Hector Berlioz
- Based on the Play/Book/Film
- Virgil’s Aeneid, Book II and IV
- Category
- Opera
- Age Guidance
- Thirteen Plus (PG-13)
- Number of Acts
- 5
- First Produced
- 1856
- Genres
- Historical/Biographical
- Settings
- Period, Multiple Settings
- Time & Place
- Troy, Carthage, Ancient Times, Antiquity, Trojan Wars
- Cast Size
- large
- Orchestra Size
- Large
- Dancing
- Some Dance
- Licensor
- None/royalty-free
- Ideal For
- Professional Opera, Star Vehicle Female, Mostly Male Cast, Includes Young Adult, Adult, Mature Adult, Elderly, Child, Early Teen, Late Teen Characters, Large Cast
Context
Although Les Troyens was originally completed in 1858, this was only the start of what would prove to be a lifetime of revisions, even continuing well after Berlioz’s death. He struggled to get this large scale opera performed in Paris, with the Theatre Lyrique only agreeing to mount the second half of the opera. This version, which took on the title Les Troyens A Carthage, replaced the events of the first act with a narration. Still further cuts were made to produce something acceptable
to read the context for Les Troyens and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Plot
Act One
The Trojan people are finally able to walk beyond their walls after 10 long years inside (‘Après dix ans’). Music and laughter is heard all around as the children play games, and the people celebrate their new freedom. They see a large wooden horse, and believe that the Greeks have left it there as an offering to them. One of the soldiers stops to tell the people that the place they stand on is more important than they know. This is the place where Achilles died. The soldier points
to read the plot for Les Troyens and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Characters
| Name | Part Size | Gender | Vocal Part |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lead |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano, Soprano |
|
|
Lead |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Lead |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Contralto |
|
|
Supporting |
Either Gender |
Soprano |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Bass |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Bass |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Bass |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Soprano |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Soprano |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Tenor, Baritone |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Bass |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Silent |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Silent |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Baritone, Bass |
|
|
Featured |
Either Gender |
Non-singer |
|
|
Ensemble |
Either Gender |
Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Tenor, Baritone, Bass, Contralto |
Songs
Author’s note: There are many different versions and revisions of this opera, and it began its life as two separate pieces. This guide focuses on the current most commonly performed version.
Act 1
- Chorus ‘Après dix ans’ - Chorus, Un soldat
- Recitative and Aria ‘Le Grecs ont disparu’ … ‘Malheureux Roi! Dans l'éternelle nuit’ - Cassandre
- Recitative and Duet ‘Quand Troie éclate’ … ‘Reviens à toi’ - Cassandre, Chorèbe, Chorus
- March and Hymn ‘Dieux protecteurs de la ville éternelle’ - Priam, Hécube, Énée, Ascagne, Chorus
- Combat de Ceste — Pas de Lutteurs
- Pantomime. ‘Andromaque et son fils’ - Andromaque, Astyanax, Cassandre, Priam, Hécube, Énée, Ascagne, Chorus
- Recitative ‘Du peuple et des soldats’ - Énée
- Octet and Double Chorus ‘Châtiment effroyable’ - Ascagne, Cassandre, Hécube, Énée, Helenus, Chorèbe, Panthée, Priam, Chorus
- Recitative and Chorus ‘Que la déesse nous protège’ - Ascagne, Cassandre, Hécube, Énée, Helenus, Chorèbe, Panthée, Priam, Chorus
- Aria ‘Non, je ne verrai pas’ - Cassandre
- Finale: Marche Troyenne - Cassandre, Chorus
Act 2
Scene 1
- Scene and Recitative ‘O lumière de Troie!’ - Ascagne, Énee, l’Ombre d’Hector
- Recitative and Chorus ‘Quelle espérance encore’ - Ascagne, Énee, Chorèbe, Panthée, Chorus
Scene 2
- Prayer ‘Puissante Cybèle’ - Polyxene, Chorus
- Recitative and Chorus ‘Tous ne périront pas’ - Cassandre, Chorus
- Finale ‘Complices de sa gloire’ - Cassandre, Un chef Grec, Chorus
Act 3
- Chorus ‘De Carthage les cieux’ - Chorus
- National Anthem: ‘Gloire à Didon’ - Didon, Anna, Narbal, Chorus
- Recitative and Aria ‘Nous avons vu finir’ - Didon, Chorus
- Entrance of the Builders
- Entrance of the Sailors
- Entrance of the Ploughmen
- Recitative and Chorus ‘Peuple! tous les honneurs’ - Didon, Chorus
- Duet ‘Les chants joyeux’ - Didon, Anna
- Recitative and Aria ‘Échappés à grand peine’ - Iopas, Didon
- Marche Troyenne: ‘J’éprouve une soudaine’ - Didon
- Recitative ‘Auguste Reine’ - Ascagne, Didon, Panthée
- Finale: ‘J’ose à peine annoncer’ - Ascagne, Didon, Anna, Iopas, Énée, Narbal, Panthée
Act 4
Scene 1
- Royal Hunt and Storm, Pantomime ‘Ao ao... Italie!’ - Chorus
Scene 2
- Recitative ‘Dites, Narbal’ - Anna, Narbal
- Aria and Duet ‘De quels revers’ - Narbal, Anna
- March for the Entrance of the Queen
- Ballets: Pas des Almées, Danse des Esclaves, Pas d’Esclaves Nubiennes
- Scene and song of Iopas ‘Assez, ma sœur’ - Didon, Iopas
- Recitative and Quintet ‘Pardonne, Iopas’ - Didon, Anna, Énée, Iopas, Narbal
- Recitative and Septet ‘Mais bannissons’ - Ascagne, Didon, Anna, Énée, Iopas, Narbal, Panthée, Chorus
- Duet ‘Nuit d’ivresse’ - Didon, Énée, Mercure
Act 5
Scene 1
- Song of Hylas ‘Vallon sonore’ - Hylas, Deux Sentinelles
- Recitative and Chorus ‘Préparez tout’ -Panthée, Chorus
- Duet ‘Par Bacchus’ - Deux Sentinelles
- Recitative and Aria ‘Inutiles regrets’ - Énée
- Scene ‘Énée’ …’Éncor ces voix!’ - Énée, le Spectre de Cassandre, le Spectre d’Hector, le Spectre de Chorèbe, le Spectre de Priam, Chorus
- Scene and Chorus ‘Debout, Troyens!’ - Énée, Chorus
- Duet ‘Errante sur tes pas’ - Didon, Énée, Chorus
Scene 2
- Scene ‘Va, ma sœur’ - Didon, Anna
- Scene ‘En mer, voyez!’ - Didon, Iopas, Narbal, Anna, Chorus
- [Recitative ‘Je vais mourir’ - Didon
- Aria ‘Adieu, fière cité’ - Didon](/audition-songs/10081/je-vais-mourir-adieu-fiere-cite/les-troyens)
Scene 3 * Funeral Ceremony ‘Dieux de l’oubli’ - Anna, Narbal, Le Grand Prêtre, Chorus * Scene ‘Pluton semble’ - Didon * Death of Didon: ‘D’un malheureux amour’ - Didon * Chorus ‘Au secours!’ - Didon, Anna, Narbal, Le Grand Prêtre, Chorus * Curse ‘Rome! Rome!’ Didon, Chorus
A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.
Monologues
Scenes
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Guide Written By:
Wendy Silvester
Singer and vocal coach based in the UK.