Les Troyens facts for kids

Berlioz in 1860

Les Troyens (pronounced "Lay Trwah-YEN") is a very long and famous opera created by the French composer Hector Berlioz. An opera is like a play where all the words are sung, usually with an orchestra. Berlioz wrote both the music and the story for this opera between 1856 and 1858. The story comes from an ancient Roman poem called the Aeneid by Virgil.

It took many years for Les Troyens to be performed because it was so long. Berlioz finally agreed to cut the opera down to its last three acts. These shorter parts were performed in Paris in November 1863.

About Les Troyens

Les Troyens means "The Trojans" in French. It tells a dramatic story from ancient times. Berlioz was a huge fan of the Roman poet Virgil and his epic poem, the Aeneid. This poem describes the end of the Trojan War and the adventures of the Trojan hero Aeneas.

The Story Behind the Opera

The opera is divided into two main parts:

• Part 1: The Capture of Troy (La Prise de Troie). This part shows the famous story of the Trojan Horse. The Greeks pretend to leave, but they hide soldiers inside a giant wooden horse. The Trojans bring the horse into their city, thinking it's a gift. But at night, the Greek soldiers come out and destroy Troy. Aeneas, a Trojan hero, is told by the ghost of Hector to escape and build a new city.
• Part 2: The Trojans at Carthage (Les Troyens à Carthage). Aeneas and his people sail away and land in Carthage, a city ruled by Dido, its queen. Dido and Aeneas fall in love. However, the gods remind Aeneas that his destiny is to go to Italy and start the Roman Empire. He must leave Carthage. Dido is heartbroken when Aeneas leaves and decides to end her life.

Bringing the Opera to Life

Berlioz worked on Les Troyens for a long time. He wanted to create a grand opera that would be a masterpiece. However, its huge size made it difficult to stage. It needed many singers, a large orchestra, and complex sets.

After many struggles, only the second part of the opera, Les Troyens à Carthage, was performed in 1863. Berlioz was very disappointed that his complete work was not shown. The full opera was not performed until many years after his death. Today, Les Troyens is considered one of the greatest French operas ever written.

Images for kids

• 

  Cover of the 1863 Choudens vocal score for Les Troyens à Carthage, the second half of the opera, and first part performed.

• 

  The Choudens vocal score illustration for La Prise de Troie, the first part of the opera.

• 

  Detail from The Procession of the Trojan Horse in Troy by Domenico Tiepolo (1773).

• 

  Set design for the throne room (1863)

• 

  Gardens of Didon by the shore (1863)

• 

  Énée et Didon by Guérin (1815).

• 

  Didon's apartment (1863)

• 

  Press illustration of the last scene – the Death of Didon (1863). Set designer: Philippe Chaperon

See also

In Spanish: Los troyanos para niños