Charles-Camille Saint-Saëns (1835–1921) was a French composer, today chiefly known for works such as Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso (1863), the Second Piano Concerto (1868), the First Cello Concerto (1872), Danse macabre (1874), the opera Samson and Delilah (1877), the Third Violin Concerto (1880), the Third (‘Organ’) Symphony (1886) and The Carnival of the Animals (1886).
Samson and Delilah premiered in 1877. The opera is based on the Biblical tale of Samson and Delilah found in Chapter 16 of the Book of Judges in the Old Testament. It is the only opera by Saint-Saëns that is regularly performed.
The love story has been retold in numerous works of art, including the 1949 Cecil B. DeMille film, and a famous Rubens painting.
Two of Delilah’s arias are particularly well known: Printemps qui commence (Spring begins) and Mon cœur s’ouvre à ta voix (Softly awakes my heart). The latter is one of the most popular recital pieces in the mezzo-soprano/contralto repertoire.
The opera does not include the accounts of Samson’s heroic deeds which earned him both fame and leadership among the Hebrews. Instead, the plot focuses on Delilah. She is portrayed as a manipulative, conniving, ruthless woman bent on revenge.
In this aria from Act 2 she begs Samson to respond to her caresses, hoping that he will finally let go of all other things and concentrate completely on her, although it proves to be a very fatal decision.
In the sound clip the mezzo-soprano part is being played by a flute (AI-generated sound).
NOTE: The set of parts contains a solo trumpet part as an extra to be played when there is no singer. Alternatively, flute can play the mezzo-soprano part.
The sound clip is computer generated using sampled sounds (AI). Transcriptions and descriptions are not AI-generated.
The aria is in its original key of D flat major. French and English texts are included. The aria, commonly known in English as ‘Softly awakes my heart’, is here reproduced in a different translation by Nathan Haskell Dole as ‘My heart at thy dear voice’.
Set contains one score and one copy of each part, as download or on paper. Copying allowed by acquiring band for their performances only. Additional copies may be obtained from the J. W. Pepper webshop.
Charles-Camille Saint-Saëns (1835–1921) was a French composer, today chiefly known for works such as Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso (1863), the Second Piano Concerto (1868), the First Cello Concerto (1872), Danse macabre (1874), the opera Samson and Delilah (1877), the Third Violin Concerto (1880), the Third (‘Organ’) Symphony (1886) and The Carnival of the Animals (1886).
