La Belle Hélène

Research Status: Basic Last Updated: 2025-07-06 Diary Coverage: Up to 1874-04-07

Identity

Jacques Offenbach's operetta about Helen of Troy, premiered 1864.

Diary References

1874

• April 7: "Je raffole en ce moment de 'La Belle Hélène'. Je la chante et je la joue. 'Au cabaret du labyrinthe etc...'" (I'm crazy about "La Belle Hélène" right now. I sing it and play it. "At the labyrinth cabaret etc...")

Context

• Comic operetta by Offenbach
• Premiered December 17, 1864 in Paris
• Satirizes Second Empire society through Greek mythology
• "Au cabaret du labyrinthe" - famous drinking song
• Popular with young women for its witty, slightly risqué humor
• Marie plays and sings excerpts

Related Entries

• Musical education and performance
• Popular culture of 1870s

Research Notes

• Offenbach's most successful operettas
• Cultural phenomenon of 1860s-70s
• Shows Marie's engagement with contemporary culture