Opera HD: Samson et Dalila at the Metropolitan Opera
Stream Saint-Saens’s biblical epic with Elina Garanca and Roberto Alagna in the title roles from the MetOpera stage on June 24, 2020
Darko Tresnjak’s production of sensual French Grand Opera by Camille Saint-Saens on the biblical story of Samson et Davila can be streamed from anywhere on June 24, 2020 from 7.30 pm. The stream is available for 23 hours.
The explosive duo of tenor Roberto Alagna, Samson and soprano Elina Garanca, Dalila, and the rest of the powerful cast in this brave production make for an exciting opera night. Tellingly, it opened the 2018-2019 season of MetOpera on a very high note.
Darko Tresnjak, a 2014 Tony Award Winner for best direction of a musical, debuts at the Met Opera with a monumental staging that brings us to ancient Gaza of 12th century BC from the Old Testament’s Book of Judges. Sensual music, an electrifying performance, and vivid stage design promise a memorable experience for every opera fan.
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The French composer, Camille Saint-Saens, turned to the biblical hero of Hebrews Samson and his betrayer Dalila following Voltaire’s libretto Samson written for Rameau. At the time, choral arrangements received widespread popularity in France. That influenced Saint-Saens, an admirer of Handel, to compose an oratorio on the subject. The librettist, approached by Saint-Saens for this project suggested he write an opera instead.
Saint-Saens started the work in 1867 initially writing Act 2 with its most famous aria for Dalila and a duet for the main characters. The readouts in a chamber setting with the composer at the piano didn’t lead to the positive reception of the opera in France, so Saint-Saens brought his work to Weimar Germany. Lizts was very enthusiastic about the work and his influential support led to the opera premiere on the Weimar Theater stage in 1877.
By 1890 the opera was already quite popular outside of France, but it was staged at Paris Opera only in 1892. On the Metropolitan Opera stage, it premiered in 1895. By the beginning of 20th century, it was performed about 200 times and was becoming part of the standard repertoire of the opera houses around the world. Some observers attribute a longer than usual gestation period for finding public acceptance for a piece of such significance to the fact that Saint-Saens was an acclaimed symphonist and not a renown opera composer. Indeed the orchestration in Samson et Dalila is rich and intensely lyrical particularly for the seductive scenes in Act 2.
Roberto Alagna and Elina Garanca who triumphantly opened the 2018-2019 Metropolitan Opera Season with Samson et Dalila, had sung in its modern version at at the Vienna Opera in the 2017-2018 season. While critics found the transposition of the biblical setting to the 20th century unconvincing, the singing received high acclaim. Alagna is particularly credited for delivering the best performance and bringing the role to the next level. Alagna’s interest in the subject of biblical heroes has roots in his childhood and in the culture he was brought up in. This makes his performance as impulsive lover and a fearless leader of the ancient tribe moving and persuasive.
Elina Garanca’s interpretation of her heroine accents and draws out Dalila’s feelings for her lover and portraying affection and genuine interest in Samson. As this mezzo-soprano role is considered to be one of the greatest in the operatic repertoire, Garanca’s delicate approach adds distinct features to the story.
Samson et Dalila has a wide and very distinguished discography and filmography including one from the Met Opera stage with Placido Domingo and Olga Borodina in the title roles.
Samson et Dalila performance run time is 3 hours and 45 minutes in three acts with two intermissions.
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Venue: 30 Lincoln Center Plaza, New York, NY 10023
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