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Samson et Dalila

13 May3 June 2026

Samson et Dalila

13 May3 June 2026

Samson et Dalila

13 May3 June 2026
Main Stage
Opera and music

When Samson falls in love with Dalila, his strength – both physical and spiritual – is put to the test.

In the center of the stage stands a large sculpture of a clown’s torso. They have a blue face, gold hair, a red nose and a few gold teeth and hold up a slot machine in one arm and a gold bag filled with arcade chips in the other. A performer wearing blue striped tracksuit bottoms holds up another performer wearing the same clothes. Behind them stands a performer wearing gold trousers. The stage is backlit with eerie red lighting which shows the outline of a line of performers. There are several helium balloons with the clown's face scattered on stage. They are performing the opera Samson and Delilah.

Richard Jones’s ‘vibrant’ (The Guardian) production returns, starring the electrifying Aigul Akhmetshina and SeokJong Baek as the biblical lovers.

Running time
The performance lasts approximately 2 hours and 40 minutes, including one interval
Guidance
Parental guidance recommended
Language
Sung in French with English surtitles. Captions and translations in English will be displayed on screens above the stage and around the auditorium.
#royaloperahouse
Exceptional philanthropic support from

Royal Ballet and Opera Principal Julia Rausing Trust 

A biblical epic

The mezzo-soprano singer Elina Garanča performs as Dalila in The Royal Opera’s production of Samson et Dalila. She stands with one hand on a metal bar and wears a blue beaded dress that splits in the centre to her knee, with a half-moon shaped beaded headdress. Her makeup is vivid with glittery blue eye makeup and black lipstick.  

Samson, the leader of the oppressed Israelites, rouses his people to war against the Philistines. But it is his transgressive passion for Dalila that will ignite a conflict with deadly consequences. Where does his extraordinary strength come from? In the battle for faith and loyalty, Samson’s power – both physical and spiritual – are put to the ultimate test.

Background

SeokJong Baek and Aigul Akhmetshina star as the biblical lovers in Richard Jones’ production, which bursts with energy and ‘wild colour’ (The Telegraph). Alexander Soddy conducts Camille Saint-Saëns’ opera, a rollercoaster ride of seduction (including Dalila’s popular aria, ‘Mon cœur s'ouvre à ta voix’ – 'Softly awakes my heart'), emotional choruses and an eye-popping, spectacular finale, in the Bacchanale.

A French prodigy and a hybrid work

Camille Saint-Saëns is best known today as the composer of the orchestral work, The Carnival of the Animals, and his bombastic organ symphony. A musical prodigy, he was born in 1835 and raised in Paris, where he studied organ and composition at the city’s Conservatoire. His opera, Samson et Dalila, started life as an oratorio (a work for concert performance), and it remains something of a hybrid piece, existing in the space between opera and oratorio. Saint-Saëns was encouraged to complete the work by the composer and pianist Franz Liszt. Their pivotal conversation took place after Saint-Saëns attended a performance of Wagner’s opera Das Rheingold, conducted by Liszt.

 

A song of seduction

The most famous aria from Samson et Dalila is Dalila’s seductive aria, ‘Mon coeur s’ouvre à ta voix’ (Softly awakes my heart). It is sung by Dalila as she persuades Samson to give into temptation and sleep with her. The beautiful melody – a soaring tune that rises to the upper limits of the mezzo-soprano range – belies the violent consequences it will engender: in a moment of weakness, Samson will reveal the source of his strength, leading to his betrayal by Dalila, his imprisonment and, lastly, his blinding by his Philistine captors.

 

A biblical epic for the ages

The Samson and Delilah story has inspired a famous painting by Peter Paul Rubens, an oratorio (Samson) by Handel, and a host of films. They are biblical figures, and their story is found in the Old Testament Book of Judges. Samson’s extraordinary strength, which resides in his long hair, is one of the great legends of the bible. His strength disappears when he is betrayed by Delilah and she cuts his hair.  

 

A Bacchanalian Frenzy

The Bacchanale, during which the Philistines worship their god, Dagon, is a great showcase for the orchestra. The music builds to a dizzying frenzy, and, if the original stage directions are followed, culminates in a full-scale orgy! In Richard Jones’ production, a huge blue sculpture is wheeled on, and the Royal Opera Chorus, costumed in glittering gold costumes and jewellery, perform a thunderous line dance in Dagon’s honour, while dancers leap and prance across the stage in a jaw-dropping spectacle.

Cast and Creatives

Cast
The cast of this production may vary depending on performance date. Go to cast and dates to see these.
See cast and dates
Creatives
Set designer

Hyemi Shin

Costume designer

Nicky Gillibrand

Lighting designer

Andreas Fuchs

Choreographer and Movement Director

Lucy Burge

Reviews

The Independent
The Guardian
The Telegraph
The Times

Access

There is lift access and step-free routes to over 100 seats in the Stalls Circle, Balcony and Amphitheatre. There are 10 steps or fewer to some seats in the Stalls Circle, Balcony, Amphitheatre and the Donald Gordon Grand Tier. All seats in the Orchestra stalls are accessed by 9 steps or more. A handheld bell is rung by Front of House staff to signal guests to take their seats before a performance. The bell is loud and can be startling. The bell is rung approximately ten minutes before the show starts and at each interval.  

We have an assistive listening system available to use.

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