Act II with concert ending
Sir Anthony Van Dyck, Samson and Delilah(1627-32)
Just like La Damnation de Faust, Samson et Dalila began its life as an oratorio and this is apparent in several parts of score. The first scene shows the clearest signs of the work's origins, with a fine, sombre opening for the chorus leading to a fugue. Nevertheless, since its first performance (Weimar, 1877, mounted by Lizst) the work has been performed as an opera.
A second production in German took place in Hamburg, 1882, and it eventually reached France in 1890. It was first given at Rouen and later at other French provincial cities, finally reaching the Opéra in 1892. None of Saint-Saens later operas suffered the tribulations of Samson et Dalila but none ever enjoyed the same enduring success.
Libretto of Act 2
Samson, recherchant ma presence
J'ai gravi la montagne
En ces lieux, malgré moi
Mon coeur s'ouvre à ta voix