July 25: The Metropolitan Opera‘s March 23, 2019 performance of Samson et Dalila by Camille Saint-Saëns.A towering biblical epic, Saint-Saëns’s operatic take on the story of Samson and Delilah has many of the hallmarks of grand opera—show-stopping vocal displays, thrilling choruses, and an engrossing plot set against a sweeping, pseudo-historical backdrop. Samson et Dalila has been chosen to celebrate the opening of the Met’s season four times in the company’s history, including this bold production from Darko Tresnjak. Tenor Roberto Alagna is the heroic Samson, who ultimately falls victim to the seductive power of Dalila—the captivating mezzo-soprano Elīna Garanča. Bass-baritone Laurent Naouri sings the sinister High Priest of Dagon, with conductor Sir Mark Elder on the podium.