The opera is a telling of the story of
Helen of Troy after her husband's (
Menelaos) death. It opens with his funeral banquet. Helen descends to the
nether world to seek
Achilles on the Island of the Blest. Finding Achilles the two return from
Hades and proceed to sing love duets until an old fisherman convinces Helen that no love can last forever. She then sends Achilles back to Hades and stretches out to die. But along comes a young fisherman who dances and convinces Helen to try at love again. ==External links==