Richard Jones’ clunky Samson et Dalila returns to Covent Garden

Samson et Dalila, Act 3

Aigul Akhmetshina (Dalila)

SeokJong Baek (Samson) and Aigul Akhmetshina (Dalila)

SaekJong Baek (Samson) and William Thomas (Old Hebrew)

Łukasz Goliński (High Priest) and SeokJong Baek (Samson)

By Dominic Lowe, 14 May 2026

Loading, please wait...

See full listing

“this production of Saint-Saëns’ masterpiece is hard to love”

Reviewed at Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London on 13 May 2026

Saint-Saëns, Samson et Dalila

The Royal Opera

Alexander Soddy, Conductor

Richard Jones, Director

Hyemi Shin, Set Designer

Nicky Gillibrand, Costume Designer

Andreas Fuchs, Lighting Designer

Orchestra of the Royal Opera House Covent Garden

Royal Opera Chorus

SeokJong Baek, Samson

Aigul Akhmetshina, Dalila

Łukasz Goliński, High Priest of Dagon

Ossian Huskinson, Abimélech

William Thomas, The Old Hebrew

Emmanuel Fonoti-Fuimaono, First Philistine

Siphe Kwani, Second Philistine

Emyr Lloyd Jones, Philistine Messenger

Lucy Burge, Choreography

Peter Grimes drops anchor again at The Royal Opera

Christopher Woodley, 5th May

Allan Clayton and Sir Bryn Terfel lead a strong cast in a revival of Deborah Warner's dark staging of Britten's signature work at Covent Garden.

****1

Two funerals and a bedding at the Linbury Theatre

Eleanor Knight, 1st May

Tales of love and loss as operas by Elena Langer, Charlotte Bray and Elizabeth Maconchy form a varied triple bill in this showcase for The Royal Opera’s Jette Parker Artists.

****1

The Turn of the Screw at RBO Linbury: Darkness and denial

Eleanor Knight, 26th March

Natalie Abrahami’s mesmerising new production of Britten’s ghostly tale of sexual abuse is very dark indeed.

*****

A riveting Rigoletto revival at the Royal Opera House

Dominic Lowe, 25th March

Sir Mark Elder celebrates 50 years at Covent Garden by returning to his first opera there in 1976 – Verdi's Rigoletto – in a revival of Oliver Mears' excellent 2021 production.

****1

Siegfried at the RBO: Kosky and Pappano surprise and delight

David Karlin, 17th March

A revelatory orchestral performance and a cast led by Andreas Schager, Christopher Maltman and Elisabeth Strid make this a Siegfried for the record books.

*****

Terfel’s craggy Boris Godunov returns to Covent Garden

Mark Pullinger, 29th January

The second revival of Richard Jones' staging of Mussorgsky's original 1869 version of Boris Godunov once again stars the Welsh knight.

****1

More reviews...

Dominic Lowe

Dominic Lowe recently completed a degree in Classics, and one of his great interests is the reception of Greece and Rome in opera. A regular opera-goer since his very early teens, he is particularly keen on the hidden operatic gems of the 19th century. He is largely based in the South of England.

Praying for better: Richard Jones’ clunky Samson et Dalila returns to Covent Garden