Die ägyptische Helena (The Egyptian Helen), Op. 75, is an opera in two acts by Richard Strauss to a German libretto by Hugo von Hofmannsthal. It premiered at the Dresden Semperoper on 6 June 1928. Strauss had written the title role with Maria Jeritza in mind but, creating quite a sensation at the time, the Dresden opera management refused to pay Jeritza's large fee and cast Elisabeth Rethberg instead as Helen of Troy. Jeritza eventually created the part in Vienna and New York City.
| Original Name | Die ägyptische Helena |
| Librettist | Hugo von Hofmannsthal |
| Date of composition | 1927 (1924-1927) |
| Premiered | 1928, June 6th in Dresden, Germany |
| First published | 1928 |
| Type | Opera |
| Catalogue | TrV 255 |
| Approx. duration | 170 minutes |
| Spoken language | German |
| Instruments |
Orchestra
Chorus/Choir Voice (Soprano) - Helena, wife of Menelaus Voice (Tenor) - Menelaus Voice (Soprano) - Hermione, daughter of Helena and Menelaus Voice (Soprano) - Aithra, the daughter of an Egyptian King, a sorceress Voice (Baritone) - Altair Voice (Tenor) - Da-Ud, Altair's son Voice - Female ; Two Servants of Aithra Voice - Female ; Four elves Voice (Contralto) - The omniscient sea-shell |
| Links | |
| Autotranslations beta |
Richard Strauss: The Egyptian Helen, TrV 255 Richard Strauss: The Egyptian Helen, TrV 255 Richard Strauss: The Egyptian Helen, TrV 255 |