Handel’s Samson

Plymouth Philharmonic Choir knows only too well to avoid asking your partner for a quick trim! Their next concert, at 7.15pm in The Minster Church of St Andrew, Plymouth, is Handel’s Samson, with a back story about a relationship with more intense vitriol and loathing than even the Brad and Angelina break-up, involving not only individuals but sworn enemies, the Philistines and Israelites. Upon discovering the secret of Samson’s supernatural strength, his Philistine wife Delilah, betrayed him by cutting his hair whilst he slept, enabling the Philistines to capture Samson, whereupon they made him blind and imprisoned him. 

This oratorio begins on a festival day in honour of the Philistine god Dagon, before a series of emotionally charged, dramatic events starting with the shock of Samson’s Israelite friends upon seeing the state he is in, and the attempted re-seduction and reconciliation by Deliliah. Samson is then insulted by the Philistine warrior Harapha who challenges Samson to a duel, then claims it is beneath his dignity to fight a blind man, choosing instead to humiliate him and parade him at the festival. The culmination of the story sees Samson’s strength return, enabling him to pull down the temple onto himself and his tormentors. Handel’s compositional genius brings the characters to life with Delilah’s seductive aria, musical ‘swagger’ for Harapha, solemn gravity for the Israelites and hedonistic choruses for the Philistines. The choir welcomes four first-class soloists: Soprano Susanna Fairbairn, Mezzo-soprano Kate Symonds-Joy, Tenor Matthew Minter and Baritone Thomas Humphreys. Tickets available at wegottickets.com/event/586914 and further information at plymouthphilchoir.org, or Facebook. 

Mary Johnson