La Belle Hélène at Grand Théâtre de Genève

One never tires of Jacques Offenbach’s musical humour. At over 150 years of age, his inimitable sense of fun, in all its wryness and subtlety, is more relevant than ever. Take, for instance, the domestic spats between King Menelaus and his wife, the fair Helena. In La Belle Hélène, the royal couple’s relationship is on the rocks and the arrival in Sparta of Paris, the handsome shepherd, is not helping. Venus has promised the most beautiful woman of the universe to the young newcomer and he is ready to do anything to get her; if that means starting a war, then so be it. Offenbach has a field day using the Ancient Greek legends to lampoon the conservative bourgeoisie of his time. La Belle Hélène is certainly one of his best opéras-bouffes and the first instance of his fruitful collaboration with librettists Meilhac and Halévy, whose irresistible word play and witty repartee make Offenbach’s sprightly melodies dazzle. Light opera never had it so good…