Title   La Belle Hélène (Fair Helen) Composer   Jacques Offenbach (1819 - 1880) Librettists   Henri Meilhac and Ludovic Halévy Genre   Comic opera (three acts). First performance   Théâtre des Variétés, Paris, 17 December, 1864. Time of action   Greek antiquity - if not the modern age. Place of action   Square before the temple of Jove, Sparta The royal palace, Sparta Nauplia, a seaside resort; a week later. Main parts   Paris tenor     Menelaus comic tenor     Calchas baritone     Agamemnon bass/baritone     Helen (mezzo)soprano     Orestes (trouser rôle) (mezzo)soprano Prominence of chorus   Large. Orchestra   2 flutes, 1 oboe, 2 clarinets, 1 bassoon, 2 French horns, 2 trumpets, 1 trombone, kettle-drums, percussion, strings.. Special demands   It is usual practice to bring topical references into the riddle-contest of the first act: this calls for some inventiveness on the part of the stage-director. The tenor singing Paris must be able to sing a high b-flat. A small stage band (playing out of tune!) is required. The singer of the Helen part should be a competent comic actress. Full score and orchestral parts   Available. Level   Not really difficult. Length   3 acts. About 2½ hours in all. Music   One of Offenbach's most popular works, full of wellknown numbers, such as the entrance of the heroes, the air of Paris, the waltz, a trio for men (in parody of Rossini's William Tell) etc. Story   Venus has promised Paris the most beautiful woman in the world. This turns out to be Helen, who, unfortunately, is married to the king of Sparta. After many complications Paris manages to carry her off. The story abounds with comic anachronisms and is a parody of the grand theatrical manner. The Greek heroes are presented as only too human: vain, jealous, mean etc. Costumes   Quasi-Greek, with modern touches.