Hélène is a poème lyrique or opera in one act by composer Camille Saint-Saëns. It is the first opera for which Saint-Saëns wrote his own French libretto, which is based on the classic story of Helen of Troy and Paris from Greek mythology. The opera premiered at the Opéra de Monte-Carlo in Monaco on 18 February 1904. Moderately successful, the opera enjoyed a handful of revivals up through 1919, after which it fell out of the performance repertoire. The work was resurrected in 2008 for its world premiere recording by the Australian music label Melba.
| Librettist | (based on the story of Helen of Troy and Paris from Greek mythology) |
| Date of composition | 1903 (1902-1903) |
| Premiered | 1904, February 18th (Opéra de Monte-Carlo) in Monaco-Ville, Monaco |
| First published | 1903 |
| Dedicated to | Prince Albert I of Monaco |
| Type | Opera |
| Spoken language | French |
| Instruments |
Voice (Soprano)
- Hélène
Voice (Tenor) - Pâris Voice (Soprano) - Vénus Voice (Contralto) - Pallas Orchestra |
| Autotranslations beta |
Camille Saint-Saëns: Hélène Camille Saint-Saëns: Hélène Camille Saint-Saëns: Hélène |