Musicology Annotation << Back Reception of works of Jacques Offenbach in musical criticism of Camille Saint-Sa&#235;ns: two views on the ancient mythology Zoia N. Kniaz The paper studies the perception of works of Jacques Offenbach in the musical criticism of Camille Saint-Saëns. A particular attention is given to the perception of Offenbach’s operettas with an ancient plot. A difference in the perception of ancient themes by Offenbach and Saint-Saëns is shown by analysis of musical criticism and essay of Saint-Saëns. A particular attention is given to the paradox of creation of opera «Hélène» by Camille Saint-Saëns that could be considered as a musical answer to Offenbach’s operettas «La belle Hélène». Keywords: C. Saint-Saëns, J. Offenbach, C. Gluck, opera, operetta, musical criticism. Contacts: E-mail: art.vivus@gmail.com Pp. 49-54.