Samson et Dalila - Opera - Season 16/17 Programming

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Samson et Dalila

Opéra Bastille - from 01 October to 05 November 2016

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Samson et Dalila

Opera Camille Saint-Saëns

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Opéra Bastille - from 01 October to 05 November 2016

3h05 with 2 intervals

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In few words:

"Strip the invulnerable shield from his heart and discover the secret of his strength."

Samson et Dalila, Acte II, scène 2

Lightning streaks through the skies as Dalila declares her love to Samson in one of the finest arias of romantic opera. “My heart awakens to your voice like a flower to the kiss of dawn.” An enchanting yet treacherous beauty… When the thunder at last rumbles, Dalila betrays Samson and offers him up to his enemies: “Come up, for this time he has shown me all his heart”, she whispers to them in the night (The Old Testament, Book of Judges). Based on a violent and erotic biblical story, Saint-Saëns’s opera – composed in 1877, much to Liszt’s insistence – would not be performed at the Palais Garnier until fifteen years later. This first Parisian performance in 1892 included the hitherto unperformed “Dance Of The Priestesses”. Nevertheless, it became one of the most performed French operas in the world, together with Faust and Carmen. Conducted by Philippe Jordan, this new production brings back a repertoire masterpiece that has not been performed at the Paris Opera for twenty-five years. Ever sensational as a femme fatale, Anita Rachvelishvili plays the murderous Priestess in a production staged by Damiano Michieletto.

Act I
The Israelites, enslaved by the Philistines, beg for their freedom. Samson blames his brothers, reproaching them for having lost their courage and their faith. He promises that with God’s help he will break the chains that fetter them. His rousing words convince the Israelites: however, their cries alert Abimelech, the satrap of Gaza. He scoffs at Jehovah, the God of the Israelites, and sings the praises of Dagon, the deity adored by the Philistines. Samson calls on his people to revolt. Abimelech seizes his sword and races towards Samson but the latter grabs the weapon from him and slays him. At the head of the Israelites, Samson drives out the Philistines. The High Priest of the temple of Dagon appears and orders the revolt to be quelled. He is interrupted by a messenger who tells him that the Israelites have risen up and are now ravaging the country. The High Priest curses the Jews and flees with his partisans. The Israelites extol the virtues of Samson and his warriors. Samson thanks God for the victory. Just then, Dalila comes out of the temple, accompanied by a cortege of Philistine women. Together, they celebrate Samson’s glorious work. Dalila reminds Samson that he once conquered her heart and invites him to visit her at her house near Gaza. An elderly Hebrew man warns Samson not to fall victim to Dalila’s charms but Samson turns a deaf ear to all advice.

Act II

Dalila calls on all-powerful Love to help her seduce Samson again and reap vengeance. The High Priest appears and informs her of Samson’s new victories. He offers to give her gold if she can wrest the secret of his supernatural strength from him but she declines any remuneration. All she dreams of is vengeance. She tells the High Priest that she will use her love-spurned tears to ensnare the hero. Left alone, Dalila starts to doubt her power but, just then, Samson approaches. He would like to avoid the young woman but finds himself irresistibly attracted to her. Dalila unleashes all her charms, but her words of love are not enough to coax him into revealing his secret. Dalila reproaches him for not loving her then runs towards her house just as a storm breaks out. Samson decides to follow her. As soon as Dalila learns the secret of his strength, she summons soldiers to surround the house. They overpower Samson.

Act III

Samson is shackled in chains inside the prison at Gaza. He beseeches God to have pity on his people, once again under the Philistine yoke. The Israelites lament the fact that they were let down by Samson because of a woman. The guards then lead Samson to the Temple of Dagon. The Philistines hail the new day. Samson is exposed to the priests’ sarcastic comments. Once again, the High Priest provokes Jehovah by challenging him to restore Samson’s former strength. Samson is brought forward so that the crowds may see him kneel before Dagon. Samson implores God to restore his strength. The temple collapses upon him and the Philistine people.

CHARACTERS

Dalila: A Philistine seeking revenge on Samson
Samson: A brave Hebrew, famous for his strength, leader of his people
The High Priest of dagon: High Priest of the Philistines
Abimelech: Satrap of Gaza, the administrative governor
An old Hebrew
A Philistine messenger
Two Philistines

Samson et Dalila

Opera in three acts and four scenes (1877)

In French

Music :

Camille Saint-Saëns

Libretto :

Ferdinand Lemaire

Conductor :

Philippe Jordan

Director :

Damiano Michieletto

Set design :

Paolo Fantin

Costume design :

Carla Teti

Lighting design :

Alessandro Carletti

Chorus master :

José Luis Basso
Orchestre et Chœurs de l’Opéra national de Paris

French and English surtitles
Dalila :

Anita Rachvelishvili

Samson :

Aleksandrs Antonenko

Le Grand Prêtre de Dagon :

Egils Silins

Abimélech :

Nicolas Testé

Un vieillard hébreu :

Nicolas Cavallier

Un Messager philistin :

John Bernard

Premier Philistin :

Luca Sannai

Deuxième Philistin :

Jian-Hong Zhao

Performances

Available in audiodescription

Advantages

Full

Available in audiodescription

Advantages

Full

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Gallery

1/11 : © Vincent Pontet / OnP

2/11 : © Vincent Pontet / OnP

3/11 : © Vincent Pontet / OnP

4/11 : © Vincent Pontet / OnP

5/11 : © Vincent Pontet / OnP

6/11 : © Vincent Pontet / OnP

7/11 : © Vincent Pontet / OnP

8/11 : © Vincent Pontet / OnP

9/11 : © Vincent Pontet / OnP

1/8 : Anita Rachvelishvili & Aleksandrs Antonenko : Duo entre Samson et Dalila

2/8 : Samson et Dalila - Extrait

3/8 : Samson et Dalila - Trailer

4/8 : Damiano Michieletto à propos de Samson et Dalila - Par le Cercle Berlioz

5/8 : Entretien avec Anita Rachvelishvili - Par le Cercle Berlioz

6/8 : Anita Rachvelishvili interprète « Mon cœur s'ouvre à ta voix » - Par le Cercle Berlioz

7/8 : Aleksandrs Antonenko et Damiano Michieletto à propos de Samson et Dalila - Par le Cercle Berlioz

8/8 : L’élaboration des costumes de Samson et Dalila - Par le Cercle Berlioz

Audio clips

Samson et Dalila - Camille Saint-Saëns

— By In partnership with France Musique

About the work

Podcast Samson et Dalila

By France Musique
Too human

By Damiano Michieletto
Schönberg, Verdi, Wagner and Berlioz: the commitment to cycles

By Octave

Partners

With the support of the Cercle Berlioz

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Sponsor of the Paris Opera initiatives for young people and of the avant-premières

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Sponsor of the Paris Opera's audiovisual broadcasts

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With the support of AROP

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Ce spectacle fera l’objet d’une captation audiovisuelle

Une co-production Opéra national de Paris et Telmondis avec le soutien du CNC et la participation d'Arte Concert, réalisée par François-René Martin.
Diffusion en direct au cinéma le 13 octobre, diffusion sur Arte Concert à partir du 14 octobre.
Diffusion sur France Musique le 23 octobre.

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