Composer

:

George Frederick Handel

Genre

:

Choral

Style

:

Oratorio

Compose Date

:

1741

Average_duration

:

167:30

Movement_count

:

111

Movement ....

"Samson, HWV 57" is an oratorio composed by George Frederick Handel in 1741. It premiered on February 18, 1743, at the Theatre Royal in Covent Garden, London. The oratorio is divided into three acts and tells the story of Samson, a biblical hero who was blessed with immense strength by God but was ultimately betrayed by his lover Delilah and blinded by his enemies, the Philistines. The first act of the oratorio begins with a chorus of Hebrews praising God for the strength he has given to Samson. Samson himself then appears and sings an aria expressing his gratitude to God. The Philistine Harapha challenges Samson to a physical duel, but Samson refuses, saying that he will only fight for God's glory. The act ends with a chorus of Philistines mocking Samson. The second act focuses on Samson's relationship with Delilah. She seduces him and convinces him to reveal the secret of his strength, which she then uses to betray him to the Philistines. The act ends with Samson being captured and blinded. The third act begins with Samson in prison, lamenting his loss of strength and his blindness. He is visited by a boy who leads him to the temple of the Philistine god Dagon, where he prays to God for one last burst of strength. Samson then pulls down the temple, killing himself and his enemies. "Samson, HWV 57" is characterized by Handel's masterful use of choral and orchestral music to convey the drama and emotion of the story. The oratorio features several memorable arias, including "Total Eclipse" and "Let the Bright Seraphim," which have become staples of the classical vocal repertoire. The music is grand and majestic, befitting the biblical subject matter, but also contains moments of tenderness and introspection. Overall, "Samson, HWV 57" is a powerful and moving work that showcases Handel's skill as a composer of oratorios.

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