The combined choruses of Ilkley and Otley societies will perform Handel’s Samson at St Margaret’s Church, Ilkley, on May 17.

Samson is considered by many to be one of Handel’s finest dramatic works.The work is usually performed as an oratorio but has occasionally been staged as an opera.

The well-known arias, Let the bright Seraphim for soprano, and Total Eclipse for tenor, are greatly admired.

Total Eclipse, in which Samson bewails the loss of sight, was known in later years to move both Handel and the London audience to tears, as Handel, spending the last ten years of his life blind, sat unseeing at his harpsichord during the oratorio performances.

Handel began composing Samson immediately after completing Messiah on September 14, 1741. The work was completed in 1742 with the premiere given in 1743 at the Covent Garden Theatre, London where it ran successfully for eight performances.

It was a great success and continued to be popular throughout Handel’s lifetime.

The work uses a libretto by Newburgh Hamilton who in turn based it on Milton’s Samson Agonistes, which in turn was based on the figure of Samson in Chapter 16 of the Book of Judges. Handel’s approach to his work was new, having written and hired all English singers and performers.

The performance begins with Samson blind and in chains, recovering from slavery and grieving at his fate while the Philistines are having a festival in honour to their god Dagon.

The Israelites observe how their once invincible hero is now blind and with no hope. Samson reproaches himself because of his betrayed by his wife Delilah and longs for death, but is comforted by the Chorus of Israelites suggesting that he will in time triumph over death.

The performance begins at 7pm.

Tickets for this concert are available from choir members or from the Grove Bookshop, Ilkley.