SAMSON ET DALILA
Opera in three acts
Libretto by Ferdinand Lemaire, based on the Book of Judges.
First performed at at the Grossherzogliches (Grand Ducal) Theater in Weimar on 2 December 1877.
CAST
Abimélech
- Richard Paul Fink
Philistine Messenger- Charles Anthony
First Philistine - Bernard Fitch
Second Philistine - Alfred Walker
Metropolitan Opera Chorus, Orchestra and Ballet conducted by James Levine
Recorded live at the MET on 28 September 1998
Produced by Elijah Moshinsky
Sung in French, with English subtitles
SYNOPSIS
ACT 1
As the opera begins, the Hebrews bemoan their enslavement by the Philistines. Huddled near the temple of the Philistines god Dagon, they beg God to end their suffering. Samson emerges, and the Hebrews' entreaties heighten in pitch. Abimelech, the despotic ruler of Gaza, remarks that the Hebrews would be better off if they prayed to the Philistine god Dagon instead. Enraged, the Hebrew leader Samson kills the despot and calls on his brethren to cast off their oppressors chains. Hearing of this rebellion, the Philistine High Priest flees and curses the Hebrews. Beautiful Philistine girls, among them Dalila, emerge from their temple to adorn the victorious Samson with garlands. Dalila seduces Samson by singing of spring and love in the first of her remarkable arias. An old Hebrew warns Samson to avoid the temptress, but the warning goes unheeded. The enamored hero gladly follows Dalila to her home in the valley of Sorek.
ACT 2
Dusk falls over the valley, and Dalila knows that the hour of vengeance has arrived. She calls on love to give her the strength to carry out the Philistine revenge against Samson. The High Priest arrives and breaks the news to Dalila: the Hebrews have secured Gaza. Only Samson's destruction will break their resolve. The High Priest orders Dalila to discover the source of her lover's secret strength. In spite of knowing that avoiding Dalila altogether would be the wisest course of action, Samson cannot resist her and arrives for one final encounter. Samson declares that even if a thunderbolt were to strike him down, he would die declaring his love for Dalila. In her famous solo, Mon coeur s'ouvre a ta voix, Dalila begs him to repeat his sweet declaration, and he acquiesces. She asks that he tell her the secret of his strength as proof of his love, but Samson resists. A violent thunderclap interrupts their reverie. Samson, still unable to escape the spell of her charms, enters Dalila's house as Philistine soldiers approach stealthily. Dalila calls to them, and they rush the house, capturing Samson.
ACT 3
Samson, in chains, his strength gone and blinded, pushes a millstone in Gaza's prison. He calls on God to witness his misery and his distress. Outside, he hears the Hebrews, oppressed by the Philistines once more, asking why he betrayed them and God for a woman. Inside the temple, whose roof is supported by two columns, the High Priest, Dalila, and the rest of the Philistines praise the daybreak and give themselves over to a hedonistic celebration to the delirious music of a bacchanal. As their unbridled indulgence winds down, a child leads Samson in. The assembled company hurls insults at the fallen hero and his God. Dalila mocks Samson for loving her and revels in her triumph over the Hebrew hero. At the altar, the Philistines invoke their god Dagon. The High Priest orders the boy to take Samson to the altar and demands that the hero supplicate himself to Dagon. Samson whispers to the boy, asking to be led toward the columns. He prays that the Lord return his former strength for a moment, and God answers his prayer. Samson smashes the columns, bringing the temple crashing down on the wailing, helpless Philistines and sacrificing himself.
