Saint-Saëns - Henry VIII - Acte III : Le Synode, final

[baltoman24]

This exciting act, beautifully written by Saint-Saens is not fully realized in terms of the static staging, but the singers are very good particularly Michele Command and Phillipe Rouillon. The agitation, conflict and triumph of the music is not equalled by the stage picture. Would love to see this work done by a major company that has the resources to do it justice.

[kidnap2010]

@baltoman24 I was part of the team that launched this opera 20 years ago, there were more than 300 costumes and great artists as you can see. I had lost the cd's and I'm glad I could find this nice memory. I think it is a great opera piece, and should, as you say, be performed more often, and possibly, with more splendor. The theatre these videos are taken, is "The Théâtre Français de la Musique", in Compiègne. The place is stunning and has great audio qualities.

[baltoman24]

@kidnap2010 Hello! I was so pleased to hear from you- what a great experience for you. The costumes were wonderful and the theater looks magnificent. I have the dvd (from Kulture) that I think is still available; I have enjoyed watching it over and over! Overall I thought the production was superb- musically extraordinary. It was supposed to be staged at the Metropolitan in 1906 - but somehow, was not done-possibly because Saint-Saens would not conduct Samson as an oratorio! Thank you.

[BasilikonD]

Une pépite de Youtube!

On reconnaît Michèle Command en Catherine d'Aragon. Qui sont les autres?

[kidnap2010]

@BasilikonD Philippe Rouillon en Henry VIII - Lucille Vignon dans le rôle d'Anne Boleyn, j'ai peur d'avoir oublié les autres... Mea culpa.

[sonoporti]

@kidnap2010 L’archevêque de Canterbury que l'on voit ici est Jean Marc Loisel, une des rares traces de cette basse et artiste magnifique.

[sergiolcb]

Saint-saens used some ancient English themes found in London Library that forms the efficient final of act 3. Wonderful chorus.