Recorded at the théâtre antique d’Orange / les Chorégies d’Orange

Author : Camille Saint-Saëns

Libretto : Ferdinand LEMAIRE

Director: Jean-Louis GRINDA

Conductor : Yves Abel

Cast :

Marie-Nicole LEMIEUX – Dalila

Roberto ALAGNA – Samson

Nicolas CAVALLIER – Le grand prêtre de Dagon

Julien VÉRONÈSE – Abimélech, Satrape de Gaza

Christophe BERRY – Un messager Philistin

Nicolas COURJAL – Un veillard hébreu

Marc LARCHER – Premier Philistin

Frédéric CATON – Deuxième Philistin

Prisoners of the Philistines, a group of Hebrews is begging Jehovah for relief. Samson, a valiant hero, kills Abimelech and encourages his people to rebel against the Philistines. The people of Israel then break their chains and manage to flee – under the venomous threats of the High Priest of Dagon, who swears revenge. He meets the voluptuous Delilah, who is determined to seduce Samson in order to discover the secret of his strength - with the sole aim of avenging her people. In a duet overflowing with lyricism, Delilah captures the heart of the hero who, despite the warnings of an old Hebrew man, succumbs to his love... and to the trap set by Delilah: hardly has he revealed that his strength lies in his hair than Samson is arrested, his hair cut off and his eyes gouged out. In prison, begging forgiveness for his weakness, he prays for his people. At a Philistine bacchanal, God restores his strength and Samson manages to pull down the pillars of the temple, crushing himself along with Delilah and her people.