The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-03-29
Ring Nal BEFORE the Audience Of tho
pnrfa Grand Operu.

MJcIJ Daf.h6t
Richard whiteing writes TO the World
from Paris: The new opera OF "Hcnry
VIII.," by Submissions, was produced at
the Grand Opera last night. The librctto
Is by Detroyat and Armand Sylvester, the
latter an old fellow-worker Of Sa;n,-Saens
In journalism. II Is, broadly speaking,
founded on the tragedy OF Shakespeare,
but II follows this only at remote
distance, as might be expected from
n work intended TO meet exigen-
cies OF opera and OF modern French taste.
In the opening we learn that Henry has
made up his mind to divorce from Cathe-
rinc OF Aragon, and Is impaticntly await
ing the return Of his ambassador TO the
Pope. Mistress Anne Bobyn has caught
the royal eye. and a. an excuse for keeping
her at court his Majesty has appointed her
maid OF honor TO the Queen. Catherine
receives her without suspicion, thinking
she has been brought there only to give her
an opportunity Of meeting the Spanish
| Ambassador, who is known to be very
much in love with her. Atlength the n,es-
sepger returns from the Pope with point
blank refusal OF the divorce, and Henry
at once shows his hand by creating
Anne Countess OF Pembroke as q mark OF
| his particular favor. and declaring that he
will be his own Judge in the divorce suit.
| The maid OF honor Is radiant with JOY at
the prospect rapidly unfolding itself tq, her
ambition, but her spirits are Il little dashed
when she hears from without the funeral
strains of band playing buckingham, one
OF the first OF the wavward tyrants vic
tins, 10 the scaffold. IL is nm omen for her
and a terror for all, and the first-act curtain
falls effectively on this situation, which is
the germ OF the whole piece.
Henry supports his demand for divorce
on the ground that his marriage with n de
ceased brothers wife was illegal according
TO Old-Testament law-it is Moses uerSiLs
the Pope. Meanwhile the Lcgate OF His
Holiness arrives, but Henry, on one pre-
text or another, refuses TO receive him and
orders preparations to lie made for what
he is pleased b. call the trial OF the case
in Westminster Hall. This, as may he
imagined, makes n splendid scene-thc
grand old Parliament House, the King and
Queen. the judges, the great dignitaries OF
the kingdom and the guards, all in the COS
tune OF the time. All the reason is on
the Queens side and all the authority on
the Kings, so his Majesty DULLES his way
to Judgment, and soon declares the trial
over and the marriage null and void, the
obseQuious bench, Of course, iDtimating
that il is impossible to arrive ut any other
conclusion. The Spanish Ambassador,
however, intervenes for the Queen, and
threatens war. This gives Henry Il
point, and the way i'm which lie makes
use Of it shows that he was the first OF
British Jingoes as wei as Defender OF
the Faith. Englishmcn." he cries,
awe have been insulted by foreign
or /" and TO strengthen the appeal, he
calls in the people from outside and in
forms them that, TO make the country en-
tlrely free OF all foreign domination what
ever, he viii give il national church.
They declare themselves highly delighted
with this arrangement, and the only Jar
ring note, though still perfectly harmoni-
Gus one in this instance, is that OF the
Pope's Legate, who curses bis Majesty
and all concerned. These various scenes
and incidents bring Us to the end OF the
third act.
The curse is not long in bearing fruit.
The King becomes horribly jealous OF
Anne, end he has some reason, for she has
certainly had Irritation, TO put it mildly,
with the Spanish Ambassador. She even
had the impru0ence when in France TO
write him letter assuring him OF her I'M
alterablc affection, and this letter IS in the
hands OF the divorced Catherine, now liv-
ing in retirement at Kilnbolton Castle.
Anne hes what Il Frenchman would call
the toupct TO seek out The Queen and
to ask her to return the letter. Cathe-
riDe promises 10 do so. but ony into
the Kings hands. At this moment Henry
appears. 4 word from Catherine would
ruin her rival, but she hesitatcs to pro-
nOunce il, for she knows that she is dying,
md she wishes TO die at peace with all the
world. The King feels that she has a secret
- tell hin, and initiating the delicacy OF
Anne's behavior. asks the late wife, OF all
people. what she knows against the present
one. There il terrible conflict in Cattle
rine's mind Nil the more so az Henry, to
stimulate her 10 disclosures, improves on
he exquisite refinement Of his behavior by
'iicctioDate daliance with Anne before her
ace. Still, the better angel in Catherine
riumplis: she throws the letter in tic fire
md falls back dying with the effort. The
victory has cost her her life. This brings
he piece so close.
The scenery is magnificent. 1t is the
first English piece the Opera has mounted,
md there were no materials for il in the |
library CT the institution, so kind OF
srtistical embassy for help was sent TO Eng !
and with a recommendation TO the Prince |
II W0!es-0f course with the most salts |
factory results. The trial scene in West |
minister Halt has never been surpassed, |
even. at the opera, and view in the |
Of Windsor in one OF the |
,ariier acts seems TO touch the point at |
shich painting meets high art. The |
,aSt includes all the Old hands. Lassalle |
Is Henry VIII. looks every inch that par |
ocular King, as nature herself has padded |
him for the part; Krauss is Queen Cathc-
line. and Billie. Richard Anne Boleyn. |
Here my competence, and consequently |
ny praise, stops. 1 regretfully confess |
myself unable to appreciate the music, or
i must speak Of it 10y the mere light OF |
nature, ask permission TO say that it is |
% scientific" 20 the verge of absolute !
bored0m---a dreary waste Of recitative. |
with I'M occasional oasis OF tune. But |
know and l feel that this is all Wreur. |
md that competent critics will tell us that |
u is Wagnerian, and at the same time in |
some mysterious way thoroughly and glo-
riousy French. To me, again regret TO |
'ay, il only commends itself in any way in
being occasionally English, Irish, and
Scotch 10y virtue OF a gorgeous ballet in
native airs.
After The Orleans princes had been dis
missed from the French army, fortnight
100 they were watched Driy.to 49, |