Samson

Claus Guth
2024-07-06

Aix-en-Provence 2024
0
146 min

When, in 1733, Voltaire, the most brilliant mind of his day, collaborates with Rameau, its greatest composer, in undertaking an ambitious reform of operatic practice, the result is the biblical opera Samson. But the libretto is condemned and the score lost – possibly reworked here and there in later compositions. Claus Guth and Raphaël Pichon, haunted by this interesting project that had turned into one of the most intriguing failures in operatic history, have tried, not to recreate the letter, but to revive the spirit: to marry a strong, noble libretto with the most eloquent music. Supporting Jarrett Ott, Jacquelyn Stucker and Lea Desandre in the principal roles, the Pygmalion chorus and orchestra become important actors in a fresco that is both sublime and astonishingly modern.

Cast

Name Character Team
Jarett Ott Samson Unowned
Jacquelyn Stucker Dalila Unowned
Lea Desandre Timna Unowned
Nahuel Di Pierro Achisch Unowned
Laurence Kilsby Elon Unowned
Raphaël Pichon Conductor Unowned