Samson & Delilah

Melbourne Opera offers a great opportunity to experience this very dramatic opera. The story recounts the biblical tale predominantly from the perspective of the betrayal that Samson experiences. In this opera he is portrayed as a flawed heroic leader while Dalila is cast as evil and conniving. In this production both the characters are portrayed as icons of their respective cultures and the conflict between them.

The staging of this opera is delicate and understated and this allows the audience to focus on all the extraordinary drama of the story, the music, and the amazing singing. Dalilah (Deborah Humble) and Samson (Rosario La Spina) both have exceptional strength in their vocal quality. This makes the strong emotions they perform extremely powerful and moving. High Priest (Simon Meadows), Old Hebrew (Eddie Muliaumaseali'i) and Abimelech (Jeremy Kleeman) are equally impressive with their formidable stage presence.

The set is arranged so that the orchestra sits on stage which almost immerses them in the action. The chorus often mysteriously appear above the orchestra via the use of some very evocative lighting (Harry Cope). The set (Jacob Battista) is simple and echoes the cold ruthless nature of the story. Slabs of concrete-like pillars and pathways create a monumental looking stage and give grandeur to the entrances and exits. This also allows the lighting and the costumes (Rose Chong) to stand out against the grey backdrop. The resulting mood is intensely sombre and emphasises the tragedy that unfolds.

The dance sequences create striking moments of sensuality via the choreography and the costumes. The intensity of the celebratory mood of the Philistines as they revel in their victory over Samson in the temple of Dagon is especially well captured. The themes of love, betrayal, and revenge are vividly brought to life in this quasi-hedonistic sequence. This sets up a great contrast with the destructive finale.

This is a well thought out production that focuses its exploration on the extreme emotions central to the opera.

Patricia Di Risio 

Photographer: Robin J Halls