Started in 1867 and first conceived of as an oratorio, Camille Saint-Saëns completed his most famous opera Samson et Dalila in 1877 with the encouragement of Franz Liszt. It was Liszt who arranged to have the opera staged in Weimar. The story focuses around Dalila and her seduction of Samson to learn the secret of his strength. She is portrayed as a manipulative women bent on revenge. The Bacchanale, known more as a concert piece, is in act 3 and depicts the Priests of the temple in a wild savage dance after the capture of Samson. This new beautifully engraved score by Richard W. Sargeant, Jr. of one of Saint-Saëns's most famous and beloved works, is truly tempting. IMSLP page (opera) Wikipeida article (opera)