The Oresteia: Agamemnon, The Libation Bearers and The Furies

The classic trilogy about murder, revenge and justice, as heard on BBC Radio 3 – plus a bonus documentary exploring Aeschylus's seminal Greek tragedy

A chilling tale of homecoming, violent death and bloody vengeance, The Oresteia dates back to the 5th Century BC, but its themes still resonate today. At once a family saga, morality tale and courtroom drama, it recounts how two generations of the cursed House of Atreus become locked into a deadly cycle of atrocities. To break the chain, their private vendetta must become public, as questions of guilt and justification are decided in the first ever homicide trial…

Agamemnon The Trojan War is over, and conquering hero Agamemnon arrives home to Argos. But victory came at an appalling price – the sacrifice of his eldest daughter, Iphigenia. Now, his wife Clytemnestra is determined to take a grisly revenge …

The Libation Bearers Returning from exile, Agamemnon's son Orestes vows to avenge his father’s death by murdering his killer, his own mother Clytemnestra. But where can he find the strength to carry out such a horrific deed?

The Furies Having committed matricide, Orestes flees to Delphi. But the remorseless Furies, ancient deities of vengeance, are on his trail and baying for blood. Can the young gods Apollo and Athena save him from a terrible fate?

Adapted by three of Britain’s most imaginative writers, Simon Scardifield, Ed Hime and Rebecca Lenkiewicz, these contemporary versions of Aeschylus’s trilogy are atmospheric, fast-moving and superbly accessible. The star casts include Lesley Sharp as Clytemnestra, Hugo Speer as Agamemnon and Will Howard as Orestes.

Each of the plays is introduced by Edith Hall, Professor of Classics at Kings College London.

Also featured is an episode of In Our Time, in which Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss how The Oresteia has fired the modern imagination, inspiring artists ranging from Richard Wagner to T. S. Eliot.

Written by Aeschylus

Agamemnon The Chorus – Arthur Hughes, Philip Jackson and Carolyn Pickles Clytemnestra – Lesley Sharp Agamemnon – Hugo Speer Cassandra – Anamaria Marinca Calchas – Karl Johnson Aegisthus – Sean Murray Iphigenia – Georgie Fuller Herald – John Norton Guards – Steve Toussaint and Harry Jardine Adapted by Simon Scardifield Directed by Sasha Yevtushenko BBC Concert Orchestra Percussionists: Alasdair Malloy, Stephen Webberley and Stephen Whibley Singer: Adriana Festeu Sound design by Colin Guthrie First broadcast BBC Radio 3, 12 January 2014

The Libation Bearers Orestes – Will Howard Electra – Joanne Froggatt Clytemnestra – Lesley Sharp The Chorus – Sheila Reid, Amanda Lawrence and Carys Eleri Aegisthus – Sean Murray Cilissa – Carolyn Pickles Pylades – Joel MacCormack Servants – David Seddon and John Norton Iphigenia – Georgie Fuller Adapted by Ed Hime Directed by Marc Beeby BBC Concert Orchestra Percussionists: Alasdair Malloy, Stephen Webberley and Stephen Whibley Singer: Adriana Festeu Sound design by Cal Knightley and Colin Guthrie First broadcast BBC Radio 3, 19 January 2014

The Furies Narrator – Niamh Cusack Alecto – Polly Hemingway Megaera – Maureen Beattie Tisiphone – Carolyn Pickles Orestes – Will Howard Athena – Chipo Chung Apollo – Joel MacCormack Clytemnestra – Lesley Sharp The Pythia – Priyanga Burford Girl – Carys Eleri Judge – Sean Murray Adapted by Rebecca Lenkiewicz Directed by Sasha Yevtushenko BBC Concert Orchestra Percussionists: Alasdair Malloy, Stephen Webberley and Stephen Whibley Sound design by Colin Guthrie First broadcast BBC Radio 3, 26 January 2014

In Our Time Presented by Melyvn Bragg With Edith Hall, then Professor of Greek Cultural History at Durham University; Simon Goldhill, Professor of Greek at the University of Cambridge; Tom Healy, Professor of Renaissance Studies at Birkbeck College, University of London Produced by Charlie Taylor First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 29 December 2005

© 2020 BBC Digital Audio (Lydbog): 9781787539617

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Lydbog: 16. april 2020