Symfonisch Orkest en Koor van de Vlaamse Opera . Tomas Netopil

A surprisingly topical opera on the mechanisms of fanaticism: the biblical story of Samson and Delilah offers an exemplary picture of how religious and political motives can prevent reconciliation. Saint-Saëns shows the deadly conflict between two hostile cultures and religions on the basis of the impossible love between the Jewish Samson and the Philistine Delilah. For the Palestinian-Israeli duo of directors, the young Amir Nizar Zuabi and the experienced Omri Nitzan, the complex relations between the oppressed and the oppressors lie at the heart of their view of the work. Their production expresses the hope that peace and reconciliation must not remain unattainable, while showing great respect for every note and line of this key work from the French opera repertoire. Bookings: +32 (0)70 220 202 or www.vlaamseopera.be