La belle Hélène

Act One

As the citizens bring flowers in offering to Jupiter, Calchas, the high priest of Jupiter, watches over them in disgust (‘Vers tes autels, Jupin’). There are far too many flowers here for his liking, and he misses the old days when the people would bring droves of cattle. The offerings to Jupiter have been rather poor of late, and Calchas is worried that the gods’ time is over. Philcome reminds him that Venus has been making enough money, and her stocks were high in the last report.

Much to his relief, the blacksmith Euthycles arrives with Calchas’s thunder device. It is the feast of Adonis today, and Calchas will be forced to use the thunder, which the people believe to be the voice of Jupiter, if he is to have any control over the festival.

The preparations for the celebration of Adonis are beginning, as Helene and a group of young girls arrive. They are mourning the death of Adonis, as is their duty today (‘C’est le devoir des jeunes filles’). Helene offers a prayer to