Summary: <p>She seduces, she traps, she destroys. She's a <em>femme fatale</em> and her signature aria is the dangerously alluring “Mon coeur s’ouvre a ta voix” from <em>Samson et Dalila</em> by Camille Saint-Saëns. "<span>My heart opens to your voice,” sings Dalila, "like the flowers open to the kisses of the dawn." It sure sounds like a love song, but just below the surface it’s simmering with seduction and betrayal. </span></p> <p><span>In this episode, host Rhiannon Giddens welcomes mezzo-soprano Elīna Garanča, writer James Jorden of Parterre Box and scholar Caroline Blyth. Her guests reflect on the Biblical story of Samson and Delilah, the trope of the <em>femme fatale</em> and how Saint-Saëns created this unforgettable moment that sounds as if Dalila’s slowly removing her clothing, one note at a time. Plus, you'll hear <span>Garanča</span> sing the complete aria from the Metropolitan Opera stage.</span></p>
