Shirley Verrett was born to sing Dalila. She harnesses her formidable vocal resources to convey warmth, seduction, and venomous spite. Richard Cassilly's oversized tenor approaches biblical scale as Samson, yet he never sacrifices the natural sweetness of his voice. Together, they create a gripping dynamic that elevates the drama to something near mythic.

Georges Prêtre brings surprising depth to Saint-Saëns' lush score, drawing out orchestral detail that often gets overlooked in performances of this opera.