Troyens

Les Troyens is a monumental opera in five acts by Hector Berlioz. Its libretto, also by Berlioz, is based on Virgil's epic poems, the Aeneid. The opera is divided into two parts, the first dealing with the fall of Troy and the second with the arrival of the Trojans in Carthage and their subsequent encounter with Dido. Berlioz began composing Les Troyens in 1856 and it was not fully staged during his lifetime. The first part, La prise de Troie (The Taking of Troy), was performed in 1879, and the second part, Les Troyens à Carthage (The Trojans at Carthage), was staged in its entirety in 1890.

The opera is known for its grand scale, its dramatic intensity, and its rich orchestration. Key characters include the Trojan prince Aeneas, the doomed queen Dido of Carthage, and the prophetess Cassandra. The music is characterized by Berlioz's innovative use of leitmotifs and his dramatic portrayal of the characters' emotions. Les Troyens is considered one of Berlioz's masterpieces and a significant work in the operatic repertoire, despite its challenges in production due to its length and the size of its cast and chorus.