Samson HWV 57

Samson HWV 57 [1741]

Aria: Let the Bright Seraphim in Burning Row

Handel’s Samson is one of his most widely successful oratorios, containing three acts. It depicts the biblical story of Samson of Israel during his time with the Philistines. Towards the end of the Oratorio after Samson has died along with the destruction of his enemies, Manoah, Samson’s father, calls upon the people to cease their grieving and lamentations.  The sense of triumph is expressed in Let the Bright Seraphim in Burning Row, a magnificent da capo aria for soprano and piccolo trumpet. The aria is characterised by joyousness, brilliance and lofty melismatic inspiration. The vocal and trumpet lines alternate in the introduction and reinforcement of the melody. Moments of unison and parallel thirds between the two lines depicting the relationship between Seraphim and the golden trumpets used to convey the works and word of God.

Norah O’Leary