How did French grand opera influence the form of Les Troyens?

Hector Berlioz’s monumental opera Les Troyens adopted the structural framework of French grand opera while simultaneously integrating influences from earlier traditions.

The influence of the grand opera style is evident in the work's epic proportions, which mirror the large-scale spectacles popularized by composers like Giacomo Meyerbeer. Like Meyerbeer’s Les Huguenots, Les Troyens centers on a narrative where the personal desires of individual characters are in constant competition with national affairs. Furthermore, the work incorporates hallmark elements of the genre, including a rich orchestral score, extensive choral sequences, and ballet scenes.1

However, Berlioz also diverged from the mainstream grand opera style by drawing upon the traditions of earlier French composers such as Jean-Baptiste Lully, Jean-Philippe Rameau, and Christoph Willibald Gluck. Specifically, he adopted their emphasis on a faithful adherence to the text, which helped shape the powerful dramatic thrust of his work.1