Le Déluge (Saint-Saëns)

The libretto, a "poème biblique" by Louis Gallet, is based on the biblical story of Noah and the flood.

Stylistically, the work shows the influence of Berlioz and Wagner in its musical illustrations of the narrative and use of recurring motifs.

Part I describes the sinfulness of man and God's decision to destroy the world ("J'exterminerai cette race").

Part II is a long crescendo and decrescendo depicting the rain and rising waters of the flood.

Part III evokes the flights of the dove and ends with God's promise not to curse the earth ("Je ne maudirai plus la terre") and a choral fugue ("Croissez donc et multipliez").