Paride ed Elena
Opera
Paride ed Elena is an opera by Christoph Willibald Gluck. It is the third of Gluck's so-called reform operas for Vienna, following Orfeo ed Euridice and Alceste, and the least often performed of the three. Like its predecessors, the libretto was written by Ranieri de' Calzabigi. The opera tells the story of the events between the Judgment of Paris and the flight of Paris and Helen to Troy. It was premiered at the Burgtheater in Vienna on 3 November 1770.
Synopsis
The hero Paris is in Sparta, having chosen Aphrodite above Hera and Athena, sacrificing to Aphrodite and seeking, with the encouragement of Erasto, the love of Helen. Paris and Helen meet at her royal palace and each is struck by the other's beauty. She calls on him to judge an athletic contest and when asked to sing he does so in praise of her beauty, admitting the purpose of his visit is to win her love. She dismisses him. In despair Paris pleads with her, and she begins to give way. Eventually, through the intervention of Erasto, who reveals himself as Cupid, she gives way, but Pallas Athene (Athena) warns them of sorrow to come. In the final scene Paris and Helen make ready to embark for Troy.
Act I
- Aria "Spiagge amate"
- Aria “Ma, chi sei” (Paride, Amore)
- Aria “O del mio dolce ardor”
Act II
- Aria "Di te scordami"
- Aria "Le belle imagini d'un dolce amore"
- Recitativo "Tutto qui mi sorprende"
Act III
- "Quegli occhi belli" (Paride)
Synopsis from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.