Les Troyens by Berlioz Is

Les Troyens by Berlioz Berlioz is one of the most important artists of the 19th century. He represented a major force in music but at the same time it contributed to the transformation of ancient literature such as Virgil's into a contemporaneous and modern piece of literature. "Les Troyens" is from this point-of-view one of his masterpieces. Through this work, he perfectly portrays the nature and status of his overall beliefs and artistic creed. "Les Troyens" is a remarkable and at the same time contested piece of music.

This is largely due to the fact that Berlioz, unlike other Romantic composers, cannot be categorized to symbolize a particular part of history. His entire work revolved around different influences and concepts that would make it impossible for art critics to precisely pin point the nature of the composer. This opera in particular represents a mix between ancient literature, Shakespearian influences and romantic elements. The complexity of the work offers it beauty and composer. The symbols of order from "Les Troyens" are traditional to the ancient literature elements.

In this sense, one such symbol is related to the number. More precisely, the number three is used to mark the presence of the Three Women, of the Three Hecate, or the three shepherds in the beginning of the opera, or the rising of Dido three times in act V, scene 3. The symbolism of the number three stands for universal order as there are three galaxies, three religious elements. Even in music, the number three represents the basic element for every music composition.

From this point-of-view, the number in itself provides a sense of order and of a higher identity. This symbol has been used before but in particular by Shakespeare, a source of inspiration for Berlioz for "Les Troyens." There are several elements which note to this. The dramatic nature of the work is clearly Shakespearian, while the subject is part of the ancient Greeks tragedies. However, Berlioz succeeded in combining the two elements to provide a unique style to the creation.

The symbols of disorder however represent the chaos and the destruction that takes place in the opera. The context of the entire tragedy represents disorder. The war in itself is aimed at destroying an established system of order. Against this background, the entire tragedy which takes place can be viewed as trying to reestablish the order. These elements are clearly representative for both Vergil and Shakespeare. Both of them treated the element of war as a catalyst for change.

From this view, it is important to consider that the influence of Vergil was mixed with Shakespeare's notes to offer an original piece. Aeneas is an important character. He is the representative of army in its purest sense. However, the eventual results of the opera point out to the failure of Aeneas because in the end the Cassandra committed suicide, unwilling to become a slave for the Greeks. Given the fact that Aeneas was in charge of protecting Troy, as the head of the army, his mission failed.

From this point-of-view, Aeneas can be viewed as having failed also from the role of hero because he did not succeed in averting the danger. Even so, it is important to note the fact that Berlioz portrayed him still as a chosen individual. The fact that Aeneas had a premonition in a dream of the falling Troy made him a particular actor in the scene. The symbolism in this sense is related to the dream and the warning.

However, the warning came too late and Aeneas failed as the head of his men and as the potential defender of Troy. There are two feminine characters in Les Troyens. One is Dido, Queen of Carthage, and Cassandra, the Trojan prophetess and Priam's daughter. Cassandra's role however is very important because it draws the attention on the Shakespearian influences of the opera. In most of Shakespeare's works there is such a present.

One of the most important and notable is in Romeo and Juliet tragedy, one of Berlioz's sources of inspiration. In the Shakespeare play, as well as in Berlioz's, the prophet (in Shakespeare it is the priest) has deep premonitions over future events, uncertainties, and fears for the worst. However, similarly, both prophets failed to listen to their premonitions, and the tragedies took their natural course. They denied unconsciously their beliefs and feelings and their chosen nature. Thus, the Shakespearian influence is obvious.

The beauty of the opera lies in the way in which it was constructed. The influences as well as the language portray an almost perfect combination. The symbols of beauty rely on the way in which each scene is constructed. For instance, in the beginning of the opera, the scene between Cassandra and her suitor Coroebus is.