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Programme Note

SYNOPSIS

Samson is blind and in chains. He acknowledges that his misfortunes were caused by revealing the secret of his strength to Dalila. But he sees value in the continuation of his life while there is hope that Jehovah might use him take revenge on the Philistines. Dalila enters, accompaniedto by her Virgins.She attempts to make her peace with Samson, without success. Harapha, the Philistine champion, revels in Samson’s misfortune, and summons Samson to attend the sacrifice to Dagon. He agrees, joining the feast only to destroy his tormentors and their temple. But lamentation is succeeded by praise to Jehovah for his ultimate triumph: ‘Samson like Samson fell – ruin is left: to him eternal fame’.