Die schöne Helena - Operette

In the organizer's words:

BIRTH OF THE OPERETTE Jacques Offenbach, the Cologne-born son of a Jewish cantor, made a career for himself in Paris in the mid-19th century and is now considered by many to be the father of operetta. At the Théâtre des Bouffes Parisiens, which he co-founded, his entertaining parodies of myths, starting with Orpheus in the Underworld, took Parisian audiences by storm. Offenbach knew how to parody both antiquity and his own time with music rich in catchy melodies and lively rhythms. Underneath the ancient garments are modern Frenchmen. The little sideswipes at Parisian society caused the odd scandal and conflict with the censorship authorities at the time, but were also part of the fascination for the audience. Karl Kraus even spoke of Offenbach as the "greatest satirical creator of all times and cultures".

ZANKAPFEL Die schöne Helena (1864) was Offenbach's first collaboration with the librettists Henri Meilhac and Ludovic Halévy. They used the Greek legend of the abduction of the Spartan Queen Helen by Prince Paris, which triggered the Trojan War, as a backdrop. Helena, bored with her marriage to the dorky King Menelaus, is somewhat coy, but is all too receptive to adultery with the attractive prince. In her dreams, at least, she wants to give herself to him. But was it really just a dream?

BIRNENKOMPOTT Did you know that "Birne Helene", the dessert of classic French haute cuisine, was created in 1870 on the occasion of the performance of Offenbach's Belle Hélène? It was none other than Auguste Escoffier, creator of grande cuisine, who invented the dessert of poached pears with vanilla ice cream, hot chocolate sauce and candied violets. As Loriot once said: "An apple is an apple and a pear is a pear."

In German with surtitles