Camille Saint-Saens started work on Samson et Dalila in 1867 as an oratorio but ran into roadblocks because of objections from religious authorities in France. With encouragement of Franz Liszt the work was re-cast as an opera and completed in 1877. It was Liszt who arranged to have the opera staged in Weimar, where it received its premiere in the Court Theater on December 2, 1877 with Eduard Lassen conducting. The opera was not an immediate success but after a succssful staging in France in 1890 (Rouen, then Paris) it soon found audiences throughout Europe and by 1892 was performed in New York. The biblical 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 from the third act and depicts the Priests of the temple in a wild savage dance after the capture of Samson. Offered here is the superb critical performance edition originally prepared in 2001 by Clinton F. Nieweg and Nancy M. Bradburd. Serenissima is proud to serve as the only authorized publisher for Nieweg's highly-regarded performance editions. This study score is produced in a convenient 8.5 x 11 size which helps in following the large orchestral forces employed by Saint-Saens.