Opera Plots I - MDC Faculty Home Pages

horde of wild Tartars, sent by the Demon to destroy him, so that there may be no rival in his path;
and the young Prince is slain, and his followers robbed. In the next scene Tamara is shown
mourning over the dead body of her lover; but presently she once more hears the thrilling tones of
the Tempter whispering passionate words of love into her ear and promising her the dominion of
the whole world if she will yield to his embraces. Finally the tempted girl, feeling her powers of
resistance growing weaker as she becomes more strangely attracted to her mysterious wooer,
enters a convent for protection, but even here the Demon forces an entrance, and revealing his true
identity entreats her to show pity on him since his love for her is sincere. Tarnara is torn by many
conflicting feelings, and in her turn implores her passionate wooer to renounce the paths of evil;
but she is terrified as the Demon folds her in a hot embrace. At this moment the Angel of Light
appears, and as Tamara flies to him for protection she falls lifeless. The arch-fiend has thus lost
the soul he coveted, and as he vanishes amidst wild lightnings, full of despair and cursing the
world afresh, the freed spirit of the gentle Tamara is borne up to Heaven by the Angel of Light and
other seraphic guardians.
139. HENRY VIII
Historical Opera in Four Acts By Camille Saint-Saëns
Libretto By Delroyat and Silvestre
First Produced Paris, March, 1883
Chief Characters Queen Katherine, Anne Boleyn, Henry VIII, Don Gomez, Dukes of Norfolk and
Surrey, Papal Legate
THE first act takes place in the royal palace, where Don Gomez, the Spanish Ambassador, is
introduced and reveals his love for Anne Boleyn, to whom he has written a letter- containing love
passages, which letter has come into the possession of Queen Katherine. The Dukes of Norfolk
and Surrey warn him to walk warily, since the King himself has shown a predilection for Anne
Boleyn, and, making no secret of his passion for her, is seeking a divorce from Katherine in order
to make the former his Queen. When the King enters, he informs Katherine that he has a new
Maid of Honour for her, who is Anne Boleyn, whom he introduces to her, and creates
Marchioness of Pembroke. The Queen is compelled to accept the new maid; and then she pleads
for the life of -the Duke of Buckingham, who has been condemned to death. The King, however,
refuses her request, and turns instead to his love-making with Anne, being displeased when he
finds that she is acquainted with the Spanish Ambassador.
Act 2 takes place in Richmond Park, where Anne meets Don Gomez, whom she assures that she
still loves, in spite of the Kings infatuation for her; but when Henry presently appears, and Don
Gomez retires, she does not refuse to listen to the armorous monarchs protestations of love. She
even consents to marry him, on condition that she is made Queen; and as Henry is already
negotiating this matter of his divorce from Katherine, he is filled with delight. Queen Katherine
presently appears and charges Anne with ensnaring the King in her toils; but the favourite heeds
not these words of reproach, but rejoices in her newly gained power.
Act 3 is occupied with the interview between Henry VIII and the Papal Legate; and when the latter
announces the Popes refusal to consent to the divorce of Katherine, the King shakes off the