Samson (oratorio) - Definition and Overview

Samson is an oratorio by George Frideric Handel. It was based on a libretto by Newburgh Hamilton, who based on Milton's Samson Agonistes, which in turn was based on the historical figure Samson in sixteenth chapter of the Book of Judges. Samson is considered one of Handel's finest dramatic works.

The premiere was given in London on February 21, 1743. It was a great success, leading to a total of seven performances in its first season, the most in a single season of any of his oratorios. Samson retained its popularity throughout Handel's lifetime and has never fallen entirely out of favor since.

Samson is usually given as an oratorio in concert-form but upon occasion it has also been staged as an opera.

External links

• Notes on Samson (http://www.cybercom.net/~cecilia/notes/samson.html)
• Entire libretto (http://opera.stanford.edu/iu/libretti/samson.htm)