Oresteia

The classic trilogy about murder, revenge and justice, as heard on BBC Radio 3 - plus a bonus documentary exploring Aeschylus's seminal Greek tragedyA 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...AgamemnonThe 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 BearersReturning 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 FuriesHaving 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 AeschylusAgamemnonThe Chorus - Arthur Hughes, Philip Jackson and Carolyn PicklesClytemnestra - Lesley SharpAgamemnon - Hugo SpeerCassandra - Anamaria MarincaCalchas - Karl JohnsonAegisthus - Sean MurrayIphigenia - Georgie FullerHerald - John NortonGuards - Steve Toussaint and Harry JardineAdapted by Simon ScardifieldDirected by Sasha YevtushenkoBBC Concert Orchestra Percussionists: Alasdair Malloy, Stephen Webberley and Stephen WhibleySinger: Adriana FesteuSound design by Colin GuthrieFirst broadcast BBC Radio 3, 12 January 2014The Libation BearersOrestes - Will HowardElectra - Joanne FroggattClytemnestra - Lesley SharpThe Chorus - Sheila Reid, Amanda Lawrence and Carys EleriAegisthus - Sean MurrayCilissa - Carolyn PicklesPylades - Joel MacCormackServants - David Seddon and John NortonIphigenia - Georgie FullerAdapted by Ed HimeDirected by Marc BeebyBBC Concert Orchestra Percussionists: Alasdair Malloy, Stephen Webberley and Stephen WhibleySinger: Adriana FesteuSound design by Cal Knightley and Colin GuthrieFirst broadcast BBC Radio 3, 19 January 2014The FuriesNarrator - Niamh CusackAlecto - Polly HemingwayMegaera - Maureen BeattieTisiphone - Carolyn PicklesOrestes - Will HowardAthena - Chipo ChungApollo - Joel MacCormackClytemnestra - Lesley SharpThe Pythia - Priyanga BurfordGirl - Carys EleriJudge - Sean MurrayAdapted by Rebecca LenkiewiczDirected by Sasha YevtushenkoBBC Concert Orchestra Percussionists: Alasdair Malloy, Stephen Webberley and Stephen WhibleySound design by Colin GuthrieFirst broadcast BBC Radio 3, 26 January 2014In Our TimePresented by Melyvn BraggWith 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 LondonProduced by Charlie TaylorFirst broadcast BBC Radio 4, 29 December 2005