The Trojans, by Hector Berlioz

Berlioz (b. 1803, d. 1869) only produced a small number of operas in his lifetime, but the Trojans is considered to be one of the finest operas of all time. However, Berlioz had been the butt of many a joke by his contemporaries due to his material and avant-guarde views.

The libretto to The Trojans was produced by Hector Berlioz after Virgil's Aeneid. Written as a Grande Opera, the premiere of Acts III - V was on the 4th November 1863 in Paris. Acts I - III as a concert performance on the 7th December 1879 in Paris, 10 years after his death. It is set in Troy and Carthage during the time of the Trojan War.

Characters:

Aeneas, a Trojan hero and the son of the goddess Venus (Tenor)

Ascanius, his son (Soprano)

Panthous, a Trojan priest and friend of Aeneas (Bass)

Cassandra, a prophetess and daughter of king Priam (Mezzo-Soprano)

Corebus, an Asian prince, betrothed to Cassandra (Baritone)

Priam, king of Troy (Bass)

Hecuba, his wife (Soprano)

Helenus, a Trojan priest and Priam's son (Tenor)

Polyxena, Cassandra's sister (Soprano)

Ghost of Hector, a Trojan hero and Priam's son (Bass)

A Greek Soldier (Bass)

Andromache and Astyanax, Hector's widow and son (silent)

Dido, Queen of Carthage (Mezzo-Soprano)

Anna, her sister (Contralto)

Narbal, Dido's minister (Bass)

Iopas, a poet (Tenor)

Hylas, a young Phrygian sailor (Tenor)

Two Trojan Soldiers (Bass, Bass)

Mercury (Bass)

A Priest of Pluto (Bass)

Trojans, Greeks, Tyrians, Carthaginians, nymphs, satyrs, fauns, sylvan spirits and invisible spirits (the chorus)

Synopsis:

Act I

After 10 years of war with the Greeks besieging Troy, the Greeks have suddenly disappeared. The only thing they have left behind is a great wooden horse. Celebrating their victory over the Greeks, the Trojans bring in the wooden horse into their city. Cassandra warns them of the Greek's cunning and against rejoicing, but the Trojans pay her no heed.

Act II

The wooden horse is set up as a tutelary deity in the city by the Trojans who are unaware of the Greek soldiers hiding within. At night, the soldiers creep out, Troy falls and everyone is murdered. Venus saves her mortal son Aeneas and the Ghost of Hector orders him to found a new kingdom in Italy. Cassandra and the other Trojan women decide to kill themselves rather than be taken captive by the Greeks.

Act III

In Carthage, the people enjoy prosperous lives under the reign of Queen Dido. Since the death of her husband, Dido has been quite lonely. She has rejected an offer of marriage by the Numidian king and because of this, expects to go to war. The Trojans anchor their ship in port and ask Dido for permission to stay and for her protection.

Act IV

Both the Carthaginians and Trojans go hunting together when a storm starts to emerge. Dido and Aeneas seek shelter in a cave. The goddess Venus sends her messengers to them. The god Mercury reminds Aeneas not to forget his sacred mission. Narbal, the queen's ministers, warns Dido about Aeneas and not to get in the way of the gods. Unfortunately, Dido has already fallen in love with Aeneas and he with her.

Act V

The Ghost of Hector appears to Aeneas again and the hero decides in favour of duty, rather than that of love. He leaves Carthage without telling Dido. When she learns of his departure, Dido builds a pyre and throws all his belongings onto it before throwing herself upon his sword. As she lays dying, Dido receives a vision of Rome destroying Carthage.

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