Divorced, Beheaded, Died: Divorced, Beheaded, Survived – opera tonight

Slippedisc, courtesy of OperaVision  broadcasts the live production of  Henry VIII tonight, a grand historical opera by Camille Saint-Saëns, rarely seen in recent years.  This opera is characterised by stark contrasts: ardour and modesty, jealousy and renunciation, intimacy and solemnity. La Monnaie in Brussels have entrusted their new production to director Olivier Py and conductor Alain Altinoglu, two fervent champions of the French repertoire.  Henry VIII is sung by Lionel Lhote.  With magnificent sets, high drama and compelling music, this production offers a musical journey which starts in sixteenth century England but still resonates today through a timeless question: How far can a man of power go with his conquests?

The Plot:  six marriages, two annulments, two beheadings and the founding of his own Church, against the authority of Rome… in his search for a suitable spouse, the notorious Tudor King of England Henry VIII shrank from nothing. Here we focus on the amorous and political intrigues surrounding the annulment of Henry’s first marriage to Catherine of Aragon in favour of his new passion for Anne Boleyn.

Available today 16 May 2023  at 1900 CET/ 1800 London/ 1300 NY

Subtitles in English, French and Dutch