Boris Godounov à l’Opéra national du Capitole

The magnificent city of Ys in Brittany is protected from flooding by a dike, overseen by the royal family. To seal peace with the city’s former adversary, the King of Ys grants him the hand of his eldest daughter, Margared. But she breaks her vows at the altar, sparking the outbreak of a new war. Devastated to learn that the man she wishes to marry is promised to her own sister, Margared prepares to betray the secrets of the city of Ys to the enemy.

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. Henry VIII, a grand historical opera by Camille Saint-Saëns, 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. 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?