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Music:Camille Saint-Saëns Lyrics: Ferdinand Lemaire.
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Worldpremière at Hoftheater i Weimar 1877
| Role | Voicetype |
|---|---|
| Samson hebreisk härförare | tenor | Dalila, filistéisk prästinna | mezzosoprano | Guden Dagon,ö:verstepräst | baritone | Abilemek,filistéisk Satrap i Gaza | baritone | Den gamle hebrén | baritone | I:e filistén,sändebud | tenor | 2:e filistén,sändebud | baritone |
The Israelites lament their persecution by the Philistines. Samson calls upon his people and strengthens their weakening resolve. Their defiance provokes Abinélech, the satrap of Gaza, who scorns the Israelite God. Infuriated, Samson kills the satrap. The temple gates open and the high priest of Dagon enters, surrounden by guards. A group of Philistine maidens, headed by Dalila, approach Samson, ostensibly to celebrate his valour; oblivious to warnings from the elders, Samson finds himself drawn to her.
Dalila is persuaded by the high priest to find the secret of Samson´s strength. Samson arrives; though reluctant to reveal his secret, he is mesmerized by Dalila and betrays himself. Her cries of triumph summon the Philistines and, deprived of his hair, Samson is overpowered.
In a Gaza prison , Samson has been blinded.He is tormented by the voices of the Hebrews who sing of his apparent betrayal of them. Led by a child, the once mighty Samson is paraded into the temple before the mocking Philistines. He asks to be led to rhe temple´s two central columns and, praying to God for the return of his strength, he brings the temple crashing down, burying himself and his people´s oppressors.
