Saint-Saëns’ Danse Bacchanale from “Samson and Dalila”: A Wild Revelry
Set out in Chapter 16 of the Book of Judges, it’s one of the Old Testament’s most scandalous and alluring stories. Samson, an Israelite judge of supernatural strength, is chosen by God to free the Hebrews from their tyrannical Philistine conquerors. Falling in love with the seductive Philistine Dalila, Samson betrays his calling. He confesses to Dalila that the source of his power came from his uncut hair. While he sleeps, Samson is …