Saint-Saëns and Henry VIII

I was browsing the performance history of the San Diego Opera when I saw Henry VIII by Camille Saint-Saëns. This was not the only rarity in the company history but I’m a fan of Saint-Saëns so I scurried over to YouTube to see if it was around. Of course it was.

The SDO production in 1983 was the North American Professional premiere of the opera. Henry VIII had received its debut performances 100 years earlier in 1883.

There are any number of episodes in the life of Henry VIII which are worthy of the operatic treatment but they all have similar conclusions — beheading and whatnot. In this case the material is from the Era of Catherine of Aragon and Anne Boleyn. Henry is asking the Vatican to annul his marriage to Catherine so he can be united with Anne.

I listened to all three-plus hours of Henry VIII and it had some great moments of music but I can see how it wouldn’t wear well. It’s about as long as Faust but without the philosophical and dramatic qualities of Faust and the music isn't quite as entertaining as Faust.

I'm not sure why I'm using Faust as the comparison. It could be because the costumes in a traditional production are Henry the VIII-ish.

The characters in any story about Henry VIII just aren’t very sympathetic except for Thomas More. Thomas More doesn’t come into this version of the story as the events occur after Henry beheads him for treason.

It is the relationship between Henry and Moore which is most fertile dramatically and which was effectively displayed in the Academy Award winning film A Man for All Seasons.

All that said, I like Saint-Saëns treatment of Henry but it isn’t going to be coming back anywhere anytime soon. It’s not a small opera which a prospecting boutique opera company could produce and it doesn’t have any type of commercial appeal which a large company could raise funds for.

Why do Henry VIII when you can do the much more effective Samson et Dalila? Samson is shorter and has those sexy Philistines in their loincloths having a baccanale. The court of the Tudors doesn't have the same appeal.