A New Life for Rameau’s 'Samson': An Innovative Revival at the Aix-en-Provence Festival

This Saturday at 1:00 p.m., WHRO FM 90.3 brings you an extraordinary interpretation of Jean-Philippe Rameau’s lost opera “Samson”. In a groundbreaking production at the Festival d’Aix-en-Provence, conductor Raphaël Pichon and director Claus Guth breathed new life into this Baroque masterpiece, creating a pastiche that intertwines fragments of Rameau’s music with Voltaire’s original libretto. The result is a fascinating and coherent reimagining of the Biblical tale, brought to vivid life by the Pygmalion Ensemble.

This innovative revival presents Samson as a suicide bomber, a radical interpretation of the biblical hero. On stage, amidst the ruins of buildings, we see Samson’s mother, portrayed by Andréa Ferréol, grappling with the loss of her son while she is remembering his life.

Jarrett Ott in the title role of Samson delivers a powerful performance capturing both the character’s inner turmoil and explosive violence. Opposite him, Jacquelyn Stucker shines as Delilah, her crystalline voice cutting through the drama, especially during the opera’s most intense moments. Lea Desandre offers a moving portrayal of Timna and Nahuel di Piero embodies the Philistine leader Achisch.

This bold and inventive production, while not a strict reconstruction of the original opera, captures the essence of the lost work and delivers a stirring modern-day interpretation of Rameau’s timeless music. Tune in to WHRO FM 90.3, or listen online, this Saturday at 1:00 p.m. to experience this extraordinary revival of Samson for yourself.