Camille Saint-Saëns’s sweeping biblical epic, Samson et Dalila, returns to the big screen in a visually spectacular and emotionally charged presentation from the Metropolitan Opera Live in HD series. Set in Gaza in 1150 B.C., the grand opera opens with the Hebrew people crying out for deliverance from their Philistine oppressors. Their charismatic leader, Samson, inspires them with his legendary, God-given physical strength, leading a successful revolt after slaying the Philistine commander Abimélech. However, the political conflict quickly turns deeply personal when the beautiful Philistine seductress, Dalila, appears outside the temple of Dagon. Ignoring the solemn warnings of his elders, Samson finds himself utterly paralyzed by his past passion for her, setting the stage for a classic, dangerous tale of love, obsession, and ultimate betrayal.

The dramatic and musical tension reaches its peak in the second act within the stormy vale of Sorek, where Dalila uses all her cunning to uncover the secret of Samson’s immense power. Feigning heartbreak and weeping over his reluctance to trust her, she coaxes him into revealing that his strength lies in his long hair, allowing hidden Philistine soldiers to ambush, capture, and blind the Hebrew hero. The masterpiece culminates in a sensational third-act finale that features the famous, exotic Bacchanale dance inside the Temple of Dagon. As the high priest and a mocking Dalila taunt the shackled, sightless Samson, he offers a final, desperate prayer to Jehovah, mustering a colossal effort to pull down the temple’s twin supporting pillars and crush both himself and his captors in a spectacular theatrical climax.

Estimated Run Time: 3 hrs 35 mins

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